“Now is the time. Needs are great, but your possibilities are greater.” —Bill Blackman

Dear Educators,
Welcome back to school! It’s that time for freshly sharpened pencils, new faces, and … elections.

Debates are an invigorating election fixture. Use the media buzz to spark your students' interest in the issues and candidates that affect their future. I am excited to share Debate Watching Tools from the venerable, nonpartisan League of Women Voters. These tools will teach your students to look beyond the candidates’ appearance and instead focus on their stands on the issues.

Then move from the debates to an agenda shaped by everyday Americans, not party lines, in Purple America, the current issue of YES!

I encourage you to use this newsletter’s lesson plans and resources to capture your students' attention and get them involved in the election. Now is the time.

Best,

Jing Fong
Education Outreach Manager, YES! Magazine

P.S. Forward this newsletter to teaching colleagues so they too can benefit from YES!

The Power of Youth
26-year-old Heather Box describes her journey through politics where she learned the importance of fighting for her beliefs. Read about her involvement with The League of Young Voters and her message to educators and young people across the nation.
Here is her story.

MORE OF YOUR STORIES of inspiring teaching and students taking action.
SEND US your own story to share with our growing network of YES! educators.

Debates (the first is on Sept. 26) are one of many ways we can educate ourselves about candidates and what they stand for. The League of Women Voters’ Debate Watching Tools include Debate Watching 101, How to Judge a Candidate, and a candidate scorecard.

Watching a debate is more exciting as a group. So, gather your students and be part of history!

Populist Toolkit Passionate about a cause? From building trust to building coalitions, these tips and tools outline how to realize your goals. Advocating ideas and mobilizing your community will seem more do-able with this “how to” guide.

The Page That Counts Who gets hired? How many pounds of asparagus can you eat? Educate and amuse your students with these fascinating statistics. 10 Policies Americans Want What policies would you create for a better America? Have your class dream up a common agenda that demands change and reflects what Americans want. Conversation Cafés Want to encourage meaningful discussions? These guidelines will help your students learn patience, tolerance, and open-mindedness in the classroom and beyond.

Use this election season to hone your students' skills in media literacy, deciphering political cartoons, and evaluating candidate voting records.

PBS Vote 2008
A comprehensive curriculum for elementary and secondary students called Access, Analyze, Act: A Blueprint for 21st Century Civic Engagement. Lesson plans on interpreting media messages and creating political videos and blogs will surely pique their interest.

What are America’s values?
Take a video tour of New York City, Atlanta, Cleveland, Williamsport, Los Angeles, and Little Rock, then use Purple America’s discussion guide to engage in a frank and thoughtful dialogue with your students about values we share (or not) as Americans.


Analyzing Political Cartoons
As students form opinions about social and political issues, it’s important that they also develop their media literacy. In ReadWriteThink’s lesson plans, high school students learn to evaluate political cartoons for their meaning, message, and persuasiveness.


Project Vote Smart
A database of accurate and relevant information about “those who govern us and those who wish to replace those who do.” Voting records, campaign contributions, and positions on issues help your students assess state and federal candidates. Lesson plans included.

Eliza Gilkyson inspires her audience with hope through lyrics from her song The Great Correction. Read and listen to the song with your students, then take a moment to share stories of the difference we can make in this world.

Detail of photo by Yizhou Jiang

Peace Day is September 21.
Celebrate Peace Day at your school. Check out the Peace Day Magazine with event listings from all over the world and explore activities with your students to show they care about peace.

Get a FREE CLASS SET of the YES! book Making Peace: Healing a Violent World for your school.

“Be The Change” Tour
Off-the-grid eco-festivals are coming to schools and university campuses.
Learn more and request a stop at your school.

Vote With Your Heart
Musician John Legend encourages youth to make value-based decisions before casting their presidential vote.

One Woman Takes on Hunger
Student Dana Frasz took the initiative to alleviate hunger in Bronxville, New York and says we can do the same in our communities.

WTO Quiz
A new film about the WTO protests in Seattle is about to be released. Take the quiz: What's real and what's not?

¿Podemos hablar?

Transform your class-room into a Conversation Café to see how your students can respectfully talk about things that really matter.

Photo by Abdi Sami

In Iran With Rick Steves
Experience the people, history, and beauty of the “true Iran.”