Maine Civic Digest September 2025

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Monday, September 15, 2025
LWVME + MSV
 

Volume 4:8
September 2025

Dear Educator,

Every day, our students are scrolling, streaming, and sharing—and it’s not always easy for them to tell what’s real, what’s reliable and what should be questioned. In this issue, we recognize the challenge of finding reliable sources and also share with you material to help teach and appreciate the critical skill of media literacy.  

We will revisit the topic of media literacy more fully in January, particularly the use of AI. In the meantime, we plan to include resources on this topic in each month’s digest whenever relevant. As this topic is applicable across disciplines, feel free to share these issues with other teachers as well.

And, as always, remember to check out our monthly updated list of Youth Civic Leadership Opportunities here and below. Share these with your students to inspire them to get involved!

On October 3rd, Maine Students Vote is hosting a free, day-long event at Kennebec Valley Community College for high school and college civic leaders. This is an opportunity for young people to attend nonpartisan workshops, hear from key state administrators and elected officials, and network with other young people passionate about government and civics.

More information on registration and transportation reimbursement can be viewed here. Share this poster and contact Emilia Toth with any questions! 
Digital sources are an increasingly important part of Americans’ news diets – with social media playing a crucial role, particularly for younger adults. Use these resources and accompanying discussion questions to jumpstart a conversation on this important topic! 
 

Start a Conversation in your classroom!

  • What is media literacy?
  • What is your top source for news?
  • What is your opinion on how trustworthy the different social media platforms are for news (first chart)?
  • How often do you check to see if what is posted is accurate, and, if you do, how do you do that?
  • What kind of impact could an unreliable or fake news story have on you and your community? 

"I’ve come to believe that reliable information is to civic health what clean water and proper sanitation are to public health. Never has so much information been at our fingertips as it is today. Whether this bounty will make us smarter and better informed or more ignorant and narrow-minded will depend on one thing: our educational response to this challenge.”  Sam Wineberg, Professor Emeritus Stanford University

Teach the skill of Lateral Reading 

Use the Edutopia CRAPP Test

  • Have students do classroom activities to learn how to assess a source for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose.
  • Download a poster for your classroom.
Hold a classroom discussion on Critical Thinking
  • Use this worksheet and teacher's guide from Common Sense Media to teach your students five critical thinking questions to ask about media.

Get educated on AI in the Classroom 

  • Read up on how educators can learn to manage AI in the classroom.
  • Show a student-led short video (10 min) to help students evaluate whether a source is AI generated.

Highlight media literacy as a priority 

  • Post one or more of these posters from ISTA so students stay aware.

Want even more!?  

  • Check out additional lesson plans, videos, posters and more in this previous Digest issue focused on Media Literacy. 
Share this PDF summarizing the opportunities listed below and help expand civic experiences for all students. 

LWVME Internships applications are open until September 19! Students have the chance to build leadership skills, work with peers to help them register and vote, and get engaged in other issues of interest to them. Interns are paid $15/hour. Share this link and post this flyer. 

PBS News Student Reporting Labs (SRL) is recruiting a Student Advisory Team, a group of 30 students who meet monthly to guide SRL’s editorial coverage. Sign up to join and work with the digital team to produce social media shorts. Deadline September 19.

John Lewis Youth Leadership Award is named for the late Congressman John Lewis and his courageous achievements during the Civil Rights Movement and his long tenure of public service. The National Association of Secretaries of State established this award to recognize a gifted, civic-minded young person in their state each year. To nominate yourself or someone else, complete this form no later than October 31. 

Voice of Democracy provides students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. High school students are eligible for a $35,000 college scholarship and middle school students $5,000. Students must submit an audio essay with an entry form by midnight, October 31 to their local VFW Post on the theme - How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?.
The Nature Conservancy and the Aspen Institute’s This is Planet Ed worked directly with youth leaders to co-produce a Youth Climate Action Toolkit. This Toolkit provides students with the strategies and resources to advance local climate action, including opportunities to fund climate solutions in schools.
LWVME Youth Council is a self-governing group of students ages 14-20 who are passionate about the importance of voting and civic involvement. Check out the website and print this PDF and post! 
Youth Work Makes the Boothwork is recruiting Maine students from a wide variety of school settings and backgrounds to join their Steering Committee and help inform this important work. Fill out this form to apply.
 
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