Eligibility
Classroom teachers working at schools in the Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School Program are eligible and encouraged to participate. They are invited to submit an original lesson plan, written independently or for a current academic year class, that has been revised, expanded, and adapted to conform with the Building Better Citizens specifications.
Awards
Ten prize winners will receive cash awards. One first place winner will receive $5000, two second place winners will each receive $2500, and seven third place winners will each receive $1000.
Font and Page Style
Lesson plans should be four or fewer pages, excluding any supplementary materials such as worksheets, documents, or slides. Plans should be submitted in 12-point, Times New Roman font with one-inch margins at the top, bottom, and sides. The accepted document types are PDF, DOC, DOCX, RTF, and ODT.
Organization
Each lesson should be designed to fit within a class period. Top lesson plans have a clearly stated objective that is aligned with one or more of the 100 questions on the citizenship test, engage students in higher-order thinking, plan for diverse learners, clearly lay out a procedure, and assess student growth.
Evaluation
A panel of Gilder Lehrman master teachers will choose the winners. Lesson plans will be evaluated for their clarity, creativity, and the extent to which students have the opportunity to engage deeply with the content of the citizenship test.