Did you know that September 17 is Constitution Day and Citizenship Day? A day established as a reminder of the moment in 1787 when the U.S. Constitution was signed. At the heart of that vision is the preamble—a short but powerful statement of the nation’s goals.

Teaching students to analyze and unpack the preamble is more than an exercise in reading history; it’s about connecting with the promises of justice, liberty, and common good that still shape the nation today. And because interpreting the preamble is a common expectation on standardized assessments, it is both a civic and academic priority. More importantly, when students learn to decipher this primary source, they gain the ability to question, reflect, and recognize their own role in carrying forward the ideals of citizenship.

That’s where Britannica Expedition: Learn! comes in; explore how our experts use our Primary Source Text Analysis graphic organizer to analyze primary sources like the U.S. Constitution! 

Check out how our experts use The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution lesson to help students deconstruct, explain, and summarize complex primary source texts.

Download the Content Spotlight

Primary Source Text Analysis with Expedition: Learn! 

The graphic organizer, included in the download, can be used with the featured Expedition: Learn! lesson—or you can try it out with an excerpt from your favorite Constitution Day and Citizenship Day primary sources! 

Here are some suggestions you can try in your classroom: 

• The Preamble to the Declaration of Independence (1776)
• The Fourteenth Amendment (1868)
• The Atlanta Compromise speech by Booker T. Washington (1895)
• The Suppressed Speech by Wamsutta (Frank James) (1970)
• Then Came the War speech by Yuri Kochiyama (1991)

Expedition: Learn! is grounded in decades of research and evidence-based practice. Lessons can be used for whole-class instruction, small-group reteaching, or independent practice. Expedition: Learn! helps students develop meaningful skills that they can use in and out of the classroom, all year long!  Book a demo of Expedition: Learn!

Expedition: Learn! in the Classroom

Check out how to use The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution lesson, which features engaging activities, thoughtful discussion questions, graphic organizers, and more!

The post Celebrate Constitution and Citizenship Day with Britannica Education! appeared first on Britannica.

Artificial intelligence is everywhere and your students are already using it. From asking ChatGPT for help on essays to turning to AI-driven search tools, today’s learners are navigating a world where answers come fast but not always fairly, safely, or accurately.

For educators, that creates a real challenge: how do you harness the power of AI without undermining research skills, academic integrity, or student safety?

That’s where ASK Britannica comes in. It’s the classroom-ready AI feature built directly into Britannica School: High School.

What Makes ASK Britannica Different?

Unlike other AI tools trained on the open internet, ASK Britannica is AI with guardrails that make it curated, safe, and built for learning. Students can type natural-language questions and receive clear, concise answers that link directly to Britannica’s expert-reviewed content.

In short: ASK Britannica delivers the curiosity-sparking power of AI without the risks.

Curiosity Without the Chaos

Students want answers quickly, but they also need accuracy. With ASK Britannica, learners can explore complex questions confidently, knowing what they find is reliable, age appropriate, and designed to support real understanding.

Research Skills That Stick

Every response connects back to Britannica articles, giving students a built-in pathway to learn how to verify, cross-check, and synthesize information. Instead of skipping the hard work of research, ASK reinforces it.

Integrity Built In

Essay writing, misinformation, and bias? Not here. ASK Britannica avoids the pitfalls of generative AI by focusing on credible answers only, helping teachers promote responsible use of AI in the classroom.

How Educators Can Use ASK Britannica

Think of ASK Britannica as a launchpad for inquiry. Teachers are already finding creative ways to integrate it:

• Kick off a lesson:
  Start with a big question, “How do ecosystems maintain balance?” and let ASK spark discussion. 

• Support research projects:
  Students can refine topics and locate credible background info.

• Develop critical thinking:
  Have students compare ASK answers with primary sources or related articles.

• Promote media literacy:
  Show students what responsible AI looks like and how it differs from tools that cut corners.

Why This Matters

AI isn’t going away. Students will use it, inside and outside the classroom. The question is: will they use it responsibly?

With ASK Britannica, you can guide them toward safe, trustworthy, and curiosity-driven exploration without sacrificing accuracy, academic integrity, or learning goals.

Ready to Try ASK Britannica?

ASK Britannica is now available in the High School level of Britannica School. If your school already subscribes, your students can start using it today. If not, we’d love to show you how this feature can elevate inquiry-based learning in your classrooms.

Bring Responsible AI Into Your Classroom.

The post AI in Schools: 3 Big Risks, 1 Safe Solution appeared first on Britannica.

Teach Britannica, our open-access, ready-to-go educator toolbox, contains literally hundreds of time-saving activities and worksheets that you should definitely plan to use with your students. We’ve narrowed down the list to our six favorites for starting the school year; here’s some ideas for how to use them!

Jump-start any class with Teach Britannica’s bell ringers. This collection really takes the cake when it comes to speed. Our quickest K-12 activities will grab your class’s attention, even before the bell rings.

Know what you want to teach or discuss with your class, but not sure how to facilitate the topic? Give our instructional strategies a try.

A quick-hitting worksheet is always a good idea! Students can fill out the following graphic organizers as a way to introduce themselves to you and their classmates.

Body Biography

Bubble Web

We at Britannica Education hope your 2025-26 school year is unmatched in energy, attention, and learning! Visit Teach Britannica anytime, anywhere, for more resources like these all year round. 

Interested in subscribing to our student-facing solutions? Contact us!

The post 6 Time-Saving Activities to Start the School Year Right appeared first on Britannica.

Dive into the school year by planning science lessons that ignite students’ curiosity, support diverse learners, and enhance literacy skills—oh, and don’t forget to promote critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and collaboration while you’re at it! 

That’s a tall order, but using Britannica Expedition: Learn!’s content-rich lessons with embedded hands-on experiences can make planning easier. Expedition: Learn!’s four types of hands-on activities enhance students’ understanding of topics in all areas of science, allowing them to explore events and processes that affect their lives. Explore how our experts use The Earth System and Subsystems lesson to engage in hands-on learning—just in time for back to school! 

Explore how our experts use The Earth System and Subsystems lesson to challenge students to dig deeper with hands-on learning—just in time for back to school.

Download the Content Spotlight

Challenge Students to Dig Deeper

Hands-on activities have been shown to have many positive effects on science learning. Using activities from a trusted source, with robust teacher support materials, enhances the experience for students and teachers alike! For example, share with students a local example of interactions of Earth’s subsystems, such as a recent weather event, local evidence of weathering and erosion, or nearby impacts of climate change. 

Then use Expedition: Learn!’s wide variety of lessons and hands-on activities to dig deeper! For example, have students model interactions between Earth’s spheres, analyze data about the occurrence of natural hazards, or research factors that affect average global temperatures to build their understanding of the world around them.

Getting Hands-On with Expedition: Learn! 

Use the hands-on activities embedded in many Expedition: Learn! lessons to engage students, enhance their understanding of key topics and current events, and promote three-dimensional learning. Each activity includes detailed teaching materials and answer keys with sample student responses. 

Expedition: Learn! has four types of hands-on activities:

• Model
• Research
• Investigation
• Skills Practice

Each activity type is designed to promote understanding of concepts and develop essential skills in science through an active learning experience.

Britannica Expedition: Learn! is grounded in decades of research and evidence-based practice. Lessons can be used for whole-class instruction, small-group reteaching, or independent practice. Expedition: Learn! is the perfect solution to help students work toward standards mastery. Each lesson provides standards-based content and assessment items to support your science instruction. Book a demo of Expedition: Learn!

Expedition: Learn! in the Classroom

Explore other ways to use the featured lesson, The Earth System and Subsystems, alongside our full Content Spotlight, which features engaging activities, thoughtful discussion questions, graphic organizers, and more!

The post Ignite Curiosity in Science with Hands-On Activities appeared first on Britannica.

The start of the school year is the ideal time to establish classroom routines. At the same time, teachers are expected to teach essential social studies skills that students will rely on throughout the year. Juggling these tasks, along with countless other demands, can be overwhelming. And with literacy rates dropping nationwide, educators are increasingly called on to reinforce literacy skills across subjects.

That’s where Britannica Expedition: Learn! comes in; ease into building literacy skills using our newest content spotlight, all about teaching students to analyze quotes. Quotes, while typically short, can be complicated. Analyzing quotes requires repeated practice and consistent application across various social studies topics. Explore how our experts use quotation analysis to kick off the Landmark Cases: Marbury, Tinker, Hazelwood lesson. 

Explore how our experts use the Landmark Cases: Marbury, Tinker, Hazelwood lesson to analyze primary sources through quotation analysis—just in time for back to school!

Download the Content Spotlight

Analyzing Quotes with Expedition: Learn! 

Quotes are often used as primary sources in state assessments, and analyzing them requires students to apply vocabulary knowledge, interpret complex texts, and think critically. 

Teach Britannica’s Quote Analysis activity helps you weave these skills into your social studies routine. With regular use, students can become more confident in drawing meaning and identifying multiple perspectives. They will purposefully engage with rich content while strengthening the literacy skills essential for academic success and navigating the world.

When using Teach Britannica’s Quote Analysis activity, consider:

• Presenting the quote at the beginning of a lesson or unit to spark interest
• Prompting students to define unfamiliar terms
• Relating the quote to contemporary issues
• Providing the necessary context
• Closing a lesson or unit with the quote as a final reflection 
• Pairing the quote with an image to deepen understanding

Bonus! Quote Analysis Discussion Questions

Explore our curated quotes on key social studies topics to implement with the Quote Analysis activity.

Expedition: Learn! is grounded in decades of research and evidence-based practice. Lessons can be used for whole-class instruction, small-group reteaching, or independent practice. Expedition: Learn! helps students develop meaningful skills that they can use in and out of the classroom, all year long! Book a demo of Expedition: Learn!

Expedition: Learn! in the Classroom

Explore other ways to use the featured lesson, Landmark Cases: Marbury, Tinker, Hazelwood, alongside our full Content Spotlight, which features engaging activities, thoughtful discussion questions, graphic organizers, and more!

The post Back-to-School Refresh: Foundational Social Studies Skills appeared first on Britannica.

In today’s digital world, students are flooded with content the moment they open a browser. As AI-generated answers and clickbait headlines increasingly shape what they see, one question keeps rising to the top for educators: How do we help students learn what—and who—to trust?

At Britannica Education, we believe the answer starts early.

1. Curiosity Should Start with Credibility

When children first ask “Why do leaves change color?” or “Where does the sun go at night?” they’re not just being curious; they’re beginning their journey as learners. These first moments matter. They’re when students start to form habits around how they learn, where they go for answers, and what they believe.

That’s why we built Britannica School: Early Elementary to be a place where curiosity meets credibility—where facts are clear, content is age-appropriate, and learning is joyful and safe.

2. The Challenge of Trust in a Noisy World

As Chief Product Officer, I’ve seen the shift happening fast. Students are growing up with AI tools that can produce information on demand—but not always with context, accuracy, or source transparency. For young learners, this can make everything seem equally trustworthy… and equally disposable.

We’re not here to compete with AI. We’re here to complement it by giving students a foundation of fact-based knowledge they can use to evaluate the world more critically, responsibly, and independently.

3. Designed with Educators in Mind

We built Britannica School: Early Elementary not just for students but for the educators who guide them. Teachers told us they needed nonfiction that was engaging, inclusive, and ready to use. Librarians asked for resources that support digital literacy, multilingual learners, and equity.

That’s why every article, video, and activity in Britannica School is leveled, standards-aligned, and built for real classrooms. And it’s why we’re honored to share that Britannica School: Early Elementary was just named Overall Early Childhood Education Solution of the Year by the 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Awards.

4. Trust Is the Foundation

When we talk about lifelong learning, it’s easy to focus on content or test scores. But trust is the real foundation. If students learn to ask good questions—and know where to turn for good answers—we’ve given them something far more lasting than a single lesson or a digital tool.

So, what does award-winning early learning look like?

Engaging Nonfiction

While all content is verified and accurate—it’s also a delight to discover new information and keep students invested.

Age-Appropriate Media

At this age, visual learning is vital to enhancing comprehension and driving motivation. Choice of images, videos, and even platform design were all chosen with young children in mind.

Native Spanish Translation

Spanish-speaking students can simply flip a switch to transform articles to the language they know best.

Built-in Navigation

Teach students the importance of citations. Share discoveries via Google Classroom, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, or classic print copies. Or, make Britannica School work for students; zoom and translation features can be a huge stepping stone for understanding.

Literacy Assistance

Support independent learning with read-aloud, word-by-word highlighting, and a quick-click Merriam-Webster dictionary.

Educator Developed, Britannica Verified, Consistently Refreshed

We are so proud of all Britannica School: Early Elementary has accomplished so far—and even more excited for what is to come. The rest of 2025 will see us adding even more new content as we strive to support schools in the earliest—and most important—stages of learning.

At Britannica, we like to say, “When curiosity leads, learning follows.” But we also know that trusted content has to lead the way.

The post Why Early Learning Needs Curiosity—and Credibility appeared first on Britannica.

But before you settle in—we asked the experts (librarians nationwide!) to make your students’ summer reading truly sensational—or rather, sun-sational! They helped us curate the book list for this year’s Britannica Education FREE Sun-sational Summer Reading Packet. Their reading recs are full of new releases and timeless classics for readers of all ages! 

Your Easy, Breezy Book List

We’re not going to gatekeep your love of reading! Meet the five librarians and their picks for young fiction and nonfiction lovers alike.

Patricia Alvarado
Library Media Services Director
Dallas ISD, Texas

1. It’s the End of the World and I’m in My Bathing Suit by Justin A. Reynolds
2. Invisible Isabel by Sally J. Pla, illustrated by Tania de Regil
3. The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla
4. Zuri Ray Tries Ballet by Tami Charles, illustrated by Sharon Sordo
5. La Guitarrista by Lucky Diaz, illustrated by Micah Player

Susan Henke Brinkman
Library Media Specialist
James Wilson Young Middle School, New York

1. A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
2. What is Color? by Steven Weinberg
3. The Language of Plants by Helena Haraštová, illustrated by Darya Beklemesheva
4. The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
5. Olivetti by Allie Millington

Jennifer Fleck
Selection Librarian
King County Library System, Washington

1. Mural Island by Katie Yamasaki
2. Brave by Weshoyot Alvitre
3. I Got You: A Brother’s Promise by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice
4. Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat
5. Faith Takes the Train by Kesi Augustine, illustrated by Mokshini

Uma Nori
Selection Librarian
King County Library System, Washington

1. Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
2. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
3. She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice For Change by Suma Subramaniam, illustrated by Shreya Gupta
4. Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
5. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Karina Quilantan-Garza, MLS, EdD.
Library Media Specialist
Jaime Escalante Middle School, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD), Texas

1. What Fell from the Sky by Adrianna Cuevas
2. The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II by Candace Fleming
3. Dinosaur Sanctuary by Itaru Kinoshita
4. Weirdo by Tony Weaver Jr., illustrated by Jes Wibowo and Cin Wibowo
5. Louder than Hunger by John Schu

Which of those would you read first? Downloading the packet might make your decision easier, since it also lists each book’s general grade level, subject matter, and even additional reading links to Britannica School and Britannica Library.

Plus, beyond that list, the full packet can be your ultimate reading companion for your summer, and even supplement any programming you’re facilitating or participating in. You’ll get:

Make the Most of Your Summer Reading

At the end of the day though, summer reading is about fostering a love for reading! It also can boost literacy skills, reduce stress, and even prevent learning loss. Here’s some things to try to make it work for you and your readers:

1. Set Reading Goals
   Want to read five books this summer? Or maybe 10? Whatever your goal is, make it realistic, and keep track of your progress. Having a goal makes reading even more rewarding.
   
2. Mix It Up
   Use a book list (ours or otherwise!) to discover something new. No matter your age, you don’t have to stick to one genre. Explore a mix of fiction, nonfiction, verse, and graphic novels. It’s the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone!
   
3. Join a Summer Book Club
   Reading with others is always more fun! Whether it’s a group of friends, family, or even an online community, sharing your thoughts on books can lead to great discussions and new perspectives.
   
4. Get Creative
   Try drawing your favorite scene from a book, writing a letter to a character, or even imagining an alternate ending to a story. The possibilities are endless!
   

Time for Some Fun in the Sun

It’s easy to get started! Just fill out the form below, download the packet, and let the summer reading fun begin. Your summer of books and adventures is only one click away. And, contact us anytime to learn more about how Britannica School and Britannica Library can be a summer reading resource!

Shoutout to you—the rockstar librarians and educators wrapping up the school year. Your well-earned summer reads are waiting.

The post 5 Funky Fresh Summer Reading Recs appeared first on Britannica.

The school year may end soon, but learning doesn’t have to take a break. No matter the state or school, the executive branch is a must-teach in every civics classroom. But the topic isn’t confined to classroom lessons—it’s in the headlines. From new legislation to executive orders, current events can be utilized as stimulus-based questions and are a powerful teaching tool to keep students thinking about what they’ve learned, not just through summer, but for life. 

That’s where Britannica Expedition: Learn! comes in. When students connect classroom lessons to what’s happening in the world, those complex ideas become more meaningful, more relevant, and much easier to remember. 

Explore how our experts use the featured lesson, The Executive Branch, to help students practice how to extract key information from a scenario. Plus, get the bonus matching game!

Download the Content Spotlight

Help Students Understand Why It Matters

Understanding how the executive branch operates helps students recognize their rights and the importance of their voice as informed members of society and future voters. They can understand how government decisions affect them and gain a foundation for forming their own opinions. This knowledge empowers students to engage with the world around them.

Understanding Stimulus-Based Questions

The Question Pyramid strategy enhances students’ question-formulation skills using the essential interrogatives: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. This strategy enhances critical thinking by guiding students to explore topics from various angles using different types of questions. Use the Teach Britannia Question Pyramid instructional strategy to help students extract key information from a scenario. 

Bonus! Presidential Pets Matching Game

Wrap up the year with a little help from the White House V.I.Ps (Very Important Pets). Included in the download!

Expedition: Learn! is grounded in decades of research and evidence-based practice. Lessons can be used for whole-class instruction, small-group reteaching, or independent practice. Expedition: Learn! helps students develop meaningful skills that they can use in and out of the classroom, all year long! Book a demo of Expedition: Learn!

Expedition: Learn! in the Classroom

Explore how our experts use the featured lesson, The Executive Branch, to help students practice how to extract key information from a scenario. Plus, get the bonus matching game!

The post Summer Smarts: Keep Young Minds Growing All Season Long! appeared first on Britannica.

Is there life on other planets? Recently, NASA announced an amazing discovery. Analysis of data from the James Webb Space Telescope indicates that an exoplanet, called K2-18b, has gases in its atmosphere that just might indicate the presence of living things! But does this discovery prove that space aliens are real?! As researchers, students must be able to develop a coherent and scientifically based view of the world around them. Discoveries like this provide a relevant and fun opportunity to evaluate current scientific discoveries. 

That’s where Britannica Expedition: Learn! comes in. Our science lessons and hands-on activities guide students to read and evaluate information from multiple sources and defend a conclusion based on research. Explore how our experts use the featured lesson, The Solar System, to investigate related content and build background knowledge.

Explore how our experts use the featured lesson, The Solar System, to investigate related content and build background knowledge.

Download the Content Spotlight

Help Students Understand Why It Matters

Our solar system contains eight planets that orbit the Sun. Exoplanets are planets that orbit a star other than the Sun. There are more than 5,000 confirmed exoplanets out there, with many, many more waiting to be confirmed. Is exoplanet K2-18b home to living things? How can we find answers to these questions? Evaluating scientific information and assessing the reliability of claims are essential skills in today’s world.

Where do we get information about scientific breakthroughs? The answer might be anything from social media to academic journals. No matter where the information comes from, it must be carefully evaluated. Providing students with the skills needed to obtain reliable information about the world they live in (and other “worlds” in distant space!) can help them avoid dangerous misinformation and become well-informed consumers of scientific knowledge. 

Evaluate Science Concepts

Evaluating information is a foundational skill in science—one that builds critical thinking and deep understanding. With Expedition: Learn!, you can walk students through the process of assessing the credibility of information. The result? Informed students who are empowered to gather information, evaluate credibility, and synthesize information to form a conclusion supported by evidence. 

Use the Teach Britannica Evaluating Resources graphic organizer to help students assess the accuracy and credibility of information about scientific breakthroughs and discoveries. 

Expedition: Learn! is grounded in decades of research and evidence-based practice. Lessons can be used for whole-class instruction, small-group reteaching, or independent practice. Expedition: Learn! is the perfect solution to help students work toward standards mastery. Each lesson provides standards-based content and assessment items to support your science instruction. Book a demo of Expedition: Learn!

Expedition: Learn! in the Classroom

Check out other ways to use the featured lesson, The Solar System, using our full Content Spotlight that features engaging activities, thoughtful discussion questions, graphic organizers, and more!  

The post Space Aliens? Not So Fast! appeared first on Britannica.