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An Accessible Interdisciplinary Civics Education For All
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Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back: SDG 4 and Education During COVID
What happened?
In the U.S. before COVID, the education inequality gap already existed. While the impacts of the pandemic are affecting all students' access to quali...
Can TikTok Users Hold Fast Fashion Companies Accountable?: SDG 12 and Sustainable Fashion Trends
What happened?
While fast fashion is affordable, it comes at a cost many of us are unable to see. Since the clothes are cheap and trendy, they do not last long, and the g...
Where Did All the Jobs Go?: SDG 8 and Unemployment during COVID
What happened?
When COVID-19 led to a global lockdown in March 2020, many people did not know what to expect. However, since then, nearly half of the world’s workforce ha...
Quacking Mad: Lame Ducks & 2020 Elections
What happened?
In 2020, Donald Trump lost the election to Joseph Biden. He refused to concede, or to accept the results, essentially calling the election a sham. Since th...
Death Row Inmates Deserve to Live: John Taurek, “Should the Numbers Count?” and the Death Penalty
What happened?
Since 1976, 1532 people have been executed in the U.S. across 28 states. However, in regards to federal executions, the U.S. has come under scrutiny for co...
So You Know It All: Cognitive Biases and Conspiracy Theories
What happened?
Do you know anyone who believes powerful world governments created COVID-19 to make money selling vaccines? Or by a scientist modifying a strand of HIV? Doesn't ...
Commanding Clout: Presidential Mandate and Joe Biden’s Agenda
What happened?
Joe Biden won the 2020 Presidential Election and will be inaugurated on January 20th. The hard part comes after that when he and his administration must be...
The World’s Oldest Democracy Under Attack?: Peaceful Transition of Power and the Trump – Biden Transition
What happened?
On Thursday, January 7th, President Donald Trump finally acknowledged an end to his presidency the day after violence broke out on Capitol Hill. However, s...
Psychology
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Zero-risk Bias: No Risk, No Reward
Problem
Alberto is bobbing for apples at the carnival. There are two barrels with five apples each, but only one designated apple in each barrel is considered a winner. Luckily fo...
Little Albert Experiment: Oh, Rats!
Introduction
You're headed to the park when you see someone walking a massive German Shepherd. You make eye contact with the dog as you're about to cross each others' paths. Sudde...
Identifiable Victim Effect: Monkey See, Monkey Help
The Problem
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was killed when police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for over eight minutes during an arrest for allegedly using counterfeit mo...
Clustering Illusion: See the Bigger Picture
Problem
During World War II, German forces laid siege on Britain with a string of bombings in central London. A handful of neighborhoods were particularly hard hit by the attacks,...
Harlow’s Rhesus Monkey Experiments: Monkeying Around With Love
Have You Ever?
You’re helping your uncle Brian watch his children at an aquarium. A fire alarm goes off, and scares your youngest cousin Cordelia. Cordelia runs from your side to ...
The Marshmallow Test: You’re Hot Then You’re Cold
Have You Ever?
Picture yourself in a mall, staring at a very expensive product that you really, really want - maybe a piece of clothing from a high-end fashion designer, or a newl...
Planning Fallacy: Bit Off More Than You Can Chew?
Have You Ever?
Picture this: it’s 6 P.M. on a school night. Your favorite TV show is just about to air a new episode and you really want to know what happens, but you also have an...
Selection Bias: Don’t Forget About Me!
Have You Ever?
Have you ever wondered why some studies show results that just aren’t consistent with reality? This can happen for many reasons, and one of them is when the subject...
Status Quo Bias: If It Ain’t Broke, Why Fix It?
Have You Ever?
Ever heard the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? As you probably well know, that saying refers to the idea that if things are fine the way they currently a...
Philosophy
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Syllogism: Deducing True Conclusions
Introduction
Little Jane really wants a puppy. More specifically, she wants a yellow puppy. Her parents agree to adopt a golden retriever puppy named Rusty. When she hears the goo...
Virtue Theory: The Right Action in the Right Way
Introduction
Michelle is an all-around great person. She’s the type of person that volunteers at nursing homes on weekends, never forgets her friend’s birthdays, listens, and offe...
Susan Wolf’s “Moral Saints”: Not A Heavenly Existence
The Problem
We all strive to be the best we can be, but is it feasible for us to reach that pinnacle of goodness, a special kind of moral saintliness? Furthermore, is it a goal we...
Intelligent Design: Appeal to Purpose
Introduction
Nature is full of patterns and artful composition. Snowflakes exhibit sixfold symmetry, and many of us are familiar with naturally occurring Fibonacci spirals, such a...
Just War Theory: It’s Hard to Fight if the Fight’s Not Fair
Problem
Imagine that your sibling steals your sweatshirt. It was wrong of them to take, and the only way to right that wrong is to take it back. So you sneak into their room and g...
Prichard, “Does Moral Philosophy Rest on a Mistake?”: The Gut’s Guide
The Problem
While studying moral philosophy, it’s not unusual to start questioning our own moral impulses and intuitions. Are we really obligated to tell the truth, repay our debt...
John Taurek, “Should the Numbers Count?”: Less Is Equal To More
The Problem
You’ve recently created a lifesaving drug. You’re on your way to meet up with your investors, drug in tow, when disaster strikes. After the immediate danger has passed...
Determinism vs. Free Will: God’s Plan
Why Are You Reading This Right Now?
Why are you reading this right now? Did you choose to open up your laptop, type “Academy 4 Social Change” into your search bar, and click a ser...
Thomas Aquinas’ 5 Arguments for God: Natural Reasoning
Introduction
Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue? You know something is true - namely, the sky is blue - yet might not be able to explain it. Philosophers ask questions to ...
Economics
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Choice Overload: Spoiled For Choice
Have You Ever?
You’re at a new restaurant with some friends and having a great time. You’ve been so busy talking and catching up that you haven’t paid much attention to the menu. ...
Social Proof: Following the Crowd
Have You Ever?
Can you think of a time you bought something because all your friends seemed to have it? Have you ever wondered how your decisions are affected by the people around...
The IMF: Protector of the World Financial Order?
Introduction
Did you know that the combined national debt of every country in the world hovers at approximately sixty-nine trillion dollars? This is a testament to just how compli...
Human Development Index: Quantifying Quality of Life
How Do You Quantify “Quality of Life”?
How are you doing, really? Beyond the knee-jerk reaction of “I’m fine, thanks,” if you pause and give this question some true consideration,...
The Federal Reserve and Monetary Policy: All the Money in the Economy
Have You Ever?
Imagine a world where money was free-flowing, and there were no rules on how to spend, borrow, or lend it. Sounds kind of nice, right? Well, hold on to your seat fo...
Prisoner’s Dilemma: It’s You or Me
Problem
Maggie and Lou are found at a crime scene. Given the physical evidence, they’re each looking at about one year in prison. However, the cops want more than that. They take ...
Introduction to Behavioral Economics: Acting Irrationally
Have You Ever?
Picture yourself at the mall. When you go shopping for clothes or electronics, how do you make the choices that you make? What’s influenced you to make these decisi...
World Bank: The Purse Strings of Global Development
Introduction
Currently, about 10 percent of the global population lives in extreme poverty. This is approximately 700 million people living on less than $1.90 per day. To put this...
The Federal Reserve and Interest Rates
Have You Ever?
You’ve heard it before on the news: “The Federal Reserve lowers interest rates to 0.50 percent” or “The Federal Reserve raises interest rates to 3.0 percent”. All t...
History
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The Trial of Socrates: Free Speech on Trial
Background
The trial of Socrates occurred in the wake of arguably the most disastrous and tumultuous period in the history of the Greek city-state of Athens. In 404 B.C., Athens w...
Shirley Chisholm: ‘Unbought and unbossed’
Introduction
Though the U.S has yet to have a woman president, the presence of women in the political arena is a powerful statement regarding the ongoing fight for gender equality...
National Woman Suffrage Association: Split Opinions about Suffrage
Introduction
Sara’s high school is choosing a new mascot, and the administration has decided to put it to a student vote. However, since it is a large school and the administrator...
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Cooperative Contracts
Introduction
Your principal decides she’s going to hold a meeting to get student feedback on how to improve the school. She decides it will be at three o’clock on Wednesday. Unfor...
The French Revolution: Liberté, Egalité, and Fraternité
Have You Ever?
Your teacher assigns you to work on a group project with Joris and his friend Lena. Joris was chosen by your teacher to lead the group, and he’s very particular abo...
Lavender Scare: Banning Homosexuality in the Federal Government
Introduction
Molly’s history class is doing an activity where they pretend they are U.S. government officials, and they need to protect against enemy spies who could carry back da...
Constitutional Convention: The Birth of the Constitution
Background
Although Americans gained their independence with the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783, winning the war was only the first step toward building a strong and unified...
Twelve Tables: Equal Access to the Law
Problem
Imagine you are a citizen living in a society that is governed by laws that are not written. Suppose your neighbor breaks a law, and the government official who is in char...
Declaration of Independence: A Necessary Break
Introduction
When the Revolutionary War began in April 1775, most colonists were fighting for increased rights from Great Britain, not for independence. As the war continued, howe...
U.S. Government
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Loving v. Virginia (1967)
Case
The United States government has a long history of laws banning miscegenation, which is marriage or procreation between people of different races. Forty-one states have had l...
Department of Health and Human Services: More than just Medicine!
Introduction
Xavier is having a great time making cookies for their birthday. When they finish scooping all of the dough onto the baking pan, they notice that there are still some...
Override Veto: Congress Versus the President
Introduction
Camila and her sisters are trying to convince their parents that they should get take-out for dinner. They made a list of places they could get food from and gave it ...
Department of Homeland Security: You Can Keep Your Shoes On
Have You Ever?
It’s likely that in your lifetime, you’ve had to wait in the security line at the airport and remove your shoes before sending your haphazardly-packed bucket of car...
Department of State: Furthering Foreign Policy
Introduction
Lian’s neighborhood is planning a party for the summer, and they want to use the nearby park for space. However, the neighborhood behind them is planning a baseball g...
First 100 Days: A Presidential Benchmark
Introduction
Have you seen a presidential candidate give a speech before? Usually, hopeful politicians use a variety of strategies to make their speeches compelling to a broad pub...
United States v. Virginia (1996)
Case
In 1976, the Supreme Court decided Craig v. Boren, a case which declared that sex classifications were subject to intermediate scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause of t...
Inauguration Day: A New Chapter in American History
Introduction
You may have seen pictures of a newly elected American President standing in front of a crowd, raising one hand as if taking a pledge. Their family might have been lo...
Voter Turnout: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Casts Their Ballot
Introduction
If you had to explain how the United States government works to a friend, what would you say? Would you explain how our government is different from a monarchy or a d...
Global Issues
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Divestment: Money Talks
Problem
The burning of fossil fuels is one of the primary causes of climate change. Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide, which traps heat in the atmosphere and destabiliz...
Migrant Workers: A Global Labor Crisis
Introduction
How come 60 to 80 percent of the workforce in the Gulf states was born in another country?
Why is it that, as of 2019, there were 255,800 foreign domestic workers ...
Hegemony: Domination and Influence
Introduction
Carlos’s family just moved to a newly-built community, divided into six neighborhoods. Each one is meant to be equal in resources, with the same number of houses, sto...
Sovereignty: My House, My Rules?
Have You Ever?
Imagine you just bought your own house. It’s all yours and you can do whatever you want in it without the interference of others. You can pick out the furniture, dr...
Domestic Violence: Not Always Home Sweet Home
Problem
Anika has been married to Romesh for five years. They're deeply in love - at least, that's what Anika would say. They're going to have their first baby in a few months. Ev...
Clean Water: The Nations’ Hydration
Have You Ever?
Have you ever thought about where your water comes from? When you want a glass of water, how much time does it take to think about where you will get it from? Are y...
Gun Violence: Stop the Shots
Introduction
Jasmine is a freshman in high school and a gun control advocate. To help raise awareness about gun violence, she's planning a panel on the topic. She’s already invite...
Carbon Tax: Paying for Pollution
Introduction
Emma owns a business that makes and sells bathing suits. As the company owner, her primary concern is maximizing profits by selling many bathing suits. She may not th...
UN Security Council: To the Rescue!
Have You Ever?
Have you ever mediated a fight or disagreement between family or friends? What was the fight about? Did it involve differing ideas, beliefs, values, and interests, ...