Law Day for Families and Friends
Much civic knowledge and many civic sensibilities are formed through families and friends. Or maybe there’s a wish to engage those conversations and discuss civic values with these groups. The resources here are designed to facilitate simple conversations, from your living room or the café table, and engage whole families with accessible questions and activities.
- Start a Conversation
https://livingroomconversations.org/
Living Room Conversations was started by the Mediator’s Foundation to foster civil discussions about contemporary topics. They have a discussion guides for a variety of contemporary civic and law-related topics that are accessible to families and small groups of all ages. - Game On: iCivics for Families
https://vision.icivics.org/get-involved/families/
The renowned civic education organization started by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor offers free games and resources that are valuable to families as well as classrooms. Families can play the games, use the discussion guides, and connect with the same materials their students may be seeing in school. - New York: A Documentary Film Clips with PBS Learning Media
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ellis-island-video/new-york-documentary-film/
The outstanding New York film might be a bit much for a Law Day program, but the bite-size clips about Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and The New Colossus, with questions created by PBS Learning Media, is perfect. - Our American Voice Family Civics Curriculum
https://staging.hub.ouramericanvoice.org/package/oav-civics-curriculum/fclessons/
The Our American Voice project comes from DePaul University in Chicago, and includes free guided family conversations that explore civics as a way of life, right and responsibilities in our communities, family identity, and core values. - Your Democracy
https://whyy.org/programs/your-democracy/
Gloria J. Browne Marshall hosts this accessible show about democracy and law, and our rights and responsibilities within it. The animation is fresh and appeals to young people and adults.
Books and Films for Instant Discussion (Elementary to Adult)
Movies
- Lincoln (2012) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443272/
- Glory (1989) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097441/
- The Six Triple Eight (2024) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24458622/
- Encanto (2021) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2953050/
- An American Tail (1989) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090633/
- The Joy Luck Club (1993) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107282/
- Milk (2008) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/
- Malcom X (1982) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104797/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031679/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1
- 12 Angry Men (1957) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_5_nm_3_in_0_q_12%2520
- Selma (2014) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020072/
- Iron Jawed Angels (2004) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338139/
TV Shows and Documentaries
- American Experience
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/
Many of the American Experience episodes may be watched free online. There are so many opportunities to explore law, the U.S. Constitution, rights, responsibilities, and promises—check out all of the topics that are available. In particular, try The Harvest, The Busing Battleground, The Vote, Stonewall Uprising, or the American Diplomat. Many programs are also available in Spanish. - Great Migrations: A People on the Move
https://www.pbs.org/show/great-migrations-a-people-on-the-move/
This 4-hour docuseries hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the transformative nature of Black migration in American history and how it has shaped society. - Journey to America
https://www.pbs.org/show/journey-to-america-with-newt-and-callista-gingrich/
For generations, immigrants from around the world have come to America with the hope of realizing the American dream. Their stories are united by the shared belief in the founding principles of our nation. “Journey to America: with Newt and Callista Gingrich” features inspiring immigrant stories from those who have come to the United States and excelled. - Constitution USA
https://www.pbs.org/tpt/constitution-usa-peter-sagal/
Over the course of the four-hour series, NPR’s Peter Sagal hits the road, travelling cross country on a customized red, white and blue Harley-Davidson, to find out where the Constitution lives, how it works, and how it unites us as a nation. - Benjamin Franklin
https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/benjamin-franklin/
Ken Burns’s two-part, four-hour documentary, Benjamin Franklin, explores the revolutionary life of one of the 18th century’s most consequential and compelling personalities, whose work and words helped create the United States.
Nonfiction Books
- A Brilliant Solution, by Carol Berkin (2003)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/a-brilliant-solution-carol-berkin?variant=39936639434786 - The Barn, by Wright Thompson (2024)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/679066/the-barn-by-wright-thompson - How the Word is Passed, by Clint Smith (2021)
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/clint-smith/how-the-word-is-passed/9780316492935/?lens=little-brown - The World Rushed In, by J.S. Holliday (2002)
https://www.oupress.com/9780806134642/the-world-rushed-in/ - Democracy Awakening, Heather Cox Richardson (2024)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717588/democracy-awakening-by-heather-cox-richardson/ - Americanization of Benjamin Franklin, by Gordon Wood (2005)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/292765/the-americanization-of-benjamin-franklin-by-gordon-s-wood - Civil War By Other Means, Jeremi Suri (2022)
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jeremi-suri/civil-war-by-other-means/9781541758544/?lens=publicaffairs - Impossible Subjects, by Mae Ngai (2014)
https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691160825/impossible-subjects?srsltid=AfmBOora8UvoLv1Vxomycy3o5upz-OIUWksABj4yFUhasXD0CWnPiCMk - Blood in the Water, Heather Ann Thompson (2017)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/178182/blood-in-the-water-by-heather-ann-thompson - The Ungrateful Refugee, by Dina Nayeri (2019)
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-ungrateful-refugee-what-immigrants-never-tell-you-dina-nayeri/9840291 - Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson (2011)
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-warmth-of-other-suns-the-epic-story-of-america-s-great-migration-isabel-wilkerson/6711593 - Once I was You, Maria Hinojosa (2020)
https://bookshop.org/p/books/once-i-was-you-a-memoir-maria-hinojosa/14363806?ean=9781982128661&next=t&next=t
Fiction Books
- Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
https://bookshop.org/p/books/americanah-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/586378?ean=9780307455925&next=t&next=t - We Need New Names, by NoViolet Bulawayo
https://bookshop.org/p/books/we-need-new-names-noviolet-bulawayo/110711?ean=9780316230841&next=t&next=t - House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-house-on-mango-street-sandra-cisneros/943876?ean=9780679734772&next=t&next=t - American Street, by Ibi Zoboi
https://bookshop.org/p/books/american-street-ibi-zoboi/6437985 - Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel
https://bookshop.org/p/books/station-eleven-emily-st-john-mandel/586327 - Ministry for the Future, by Kim Stanley Robinson
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-ministry-for-the-future-kim-stanley-robinson/14532414?ean=9780316300148&next=t&next=t - Take My Hand, by Dolen Perkins Valdez
https://bookshop.org/p/books/take-my-hand-dolen-perkins-valdez/17556269?ean=9780593337714&next=t&next=t - James, by Percival Everett
https://bookshop.org/p/books/james-percival-everett/20246670?ean=9780385550369&next=t&listref=bookshop-org-best-sellers-of-the-week
Children’s Books
- Lions of Little Rock, by Kristin Levine
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-lions-of-little-rock-kristin-levine/11329149?ean=9780142424353&next=t&next=t - Emma’s Poem, by Linda Glaser
https://bookshop.org/p/books/emma-s-poem-the-voice-of-the-statue-of-liberty-linda-glaser/7083633?ean=9780544105089&next=t&next=t - Her Right Foot, by Dave Eggers
https://bookshop.org/p/books/her-right-foot-american-history-books-for-kids-american-history-for-kids-dave-eggers/7580515?ean=9781452162812&next=t&next=t - All the Way to America, by Dan Yaccarino
https://bookshop.org/p/books/all-the-way-to-america-the-story-of-a-big-italian-family-and-a-little-shovel-dan-yaccarino/8565023?ean=9780375859205&next=t&next=t - Justice Is…, by Preet Bharara
https://bookshop.org/p/books/justice-is-a-guide-for-young-truth-seekers-preet-bharara/16215227?ean=9780593176627&next=t&next=t - Just Help, by Sonia Sotomayor
https://bookshop.org/p/books/just-help-how-to-build-a-better-world-sonia-sotomayor/17477088?ean=9780593206263&next=t&next=t - Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, by Andrea Beatty
https://bookshop.org/p/books/sofia-valdez-future-prez-andrea-beaty/10850269?ean=9781419737046&next=t&next=t - Let Us March On!, by Yohuru Williams and Michael G. Young
https://bookshop.org/p/books/let-us-march-on-james-weldon-johnson-and-the-silent-protest-parade-michael-g-long/20699368?ean=9781665902786&next=t&next=t - Duck for President, by Doreen Cronin
https://bookshop.org/p/books/duck-for-president-doreen-cronin/7531549?ean=9780689863776&next=t&next=t - Click, Clack, Moo, by Doreen Cronin
https://bookshop.org/p/books/click-clack-moo-cows-that-type-doreen-cronin/217957?ean=9781442408890&next=t&next=t - Equality’s Call, by Deborah Diesen
https://bookshop.org/p/books/equality-s-call-the-story-of-voting-rights-in-america-deborah-diesen/12983042?ean=9781534439580&next=t&next=t - Milo Imagine’s the World, by Matt de la Pena
https://bookshop.org/p/books/milo-imagines-the-world-matt-de-la-pena/14654609?ean=9780399549083&next=t&next=t - Something Happened in Our Town, by Marianne Celano and Marietta Collins
https://bookshop.org/p/books/something-happened-in-our-town-a-child-s-story-about-racial-injustice-marianne-celano/15178760?ean=9781433828546&next=t&next=t - Maybe Something Beautiful, by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell
https://bookshop.org/p/books/quizas-algo-hermoso-como-el-arte-transformo-un-barrio-maybe-something-beautiful-spanish-edition-f-isabel-campoy/6961431?ean=9780544357693&next=t&next=t - The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-lorax-dr-seuss/11263945?ean=9780394823379&next=t&next=t