New Hampshire Department of Education Releases 42 State-Specific Digital Civics Lessons for K–12

The New Hampshire Department of Education (NHED) has published the first 42 lessons in a new, state-focused civics curriculum designed for K–12 classrooms across New Hampshire. These digital resources, developed in partnership with Discovery Education and guided by the Commission on New Hampshire Civics, are available through the New Hampshire Civics Channel on the Discovery Education Experience platform. The lessons are tailored to help students understand the New Hampshire Constitution, the structure of state government, and the civic responsibilities of citizens.

Purpose and reach

The lessons were created to support educators who want engaging, standards-aligned civics material with a New Hampshire emphasis. NHED made Discovery Education available at no cost to every public school in the state, and since selecting the Discovery Education Experience K–12 platform, the department reports full participation from New Hampshire schools with more than 1.6 million learning experiences created on the platform. This initial suite of resources extends that access with focused, locally relevant content for students of all grade levels.

What the new lessons include

The first release contains 42 ready-to-use, multimodal lessons designed for convenient integration into existing social studies and civics instruction. Resources feature New Hampshire-specific digital assets and primary source documents to help students explore the origins and meaning of the New Hampshire Constitution, the functioning of state government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Custom videos, interactive activities, and supporting instructional materials are included to frame thought-provoking civic questions and to engage media-savvy learners.

Grade-level structure and future rollout

When the project is completed, teachers will have access to a full set of interactive lessons across grade bands. The final collection will include a comprehensive suite for grades K–5 and 15 lessons each tailored for grades 6–8 and 9–12. These grade-appropriate units are intended to scaffold students’ civic knowledge from early elementary through high school, providing continuity in civic learning and opportunities for deeper study as students mature.

Voices from the commission, state leaders, and classroom teachers

Ovide Lamontagne, chairman of the Commission on New Hampshire Civics, emphasized the value of grounding students in the state’s founding story and constitutional principles. He noted that understanding New Hampshire’s history and constitution helps students appreciate the foundations of the Constitutional Republic and prepares them to participate fully as citizens.

Commissioner Frank Edelblut of NHED highlighted the importance of teaching the New Hampshire Constitution to empower young people with knowledge of their rights and responsibilities, fostering informed civic participation and preserving principles of liberty and justice for future generations.

Teachers who have previewed the lessons praise their flexibility and classroom usefulness. Hollis Wilson, a sixth-grade teacher at Weare Middle School, described the lesson plans as creative supplements that teachers can adapt or combine with their own curriculum, calling them “helpful in so many ways.”

Professional learning and collaboration

All New Hampshire educators who use the Discovery Education resources have access to the Discovery Educator Network. This global professional learning community connects educators across districts and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, offering opportunities for idea exchange, collaboration, and continued professional growth.

Implementation and availability

Discovery Education released these initial New Hampshire civics resources on Presidents Day, providing teachers and students immediate access to the materials. The project was produced in close collaboration with the Commission on New Hampshire Civics, whose guidance helped ensure the resources reflect local history, primary sources, and civic contexts important to the state.

Educators wishing to access the new civics materials can find them on the New Hampshire Partnership resource page within Discovery Education’s platform. These resources are intended to support classroom instruction, enrich existing social studies units, and cultivate informed, civically engaged students throughout New Hampshire.