Let’s be real: the first few days of Civics or AP Government are full of silent judgment.
Some students are already thinking, “Ugh, this is going to be so boring.”
Others are eyeing the syllabus, wondering, “Do I have to memorize all these amendments?”
And in AP classes especially, kids are thinking: “How much homework? How hard is the exam? What’s an FRQ?”
Some students don’t like politics.
Others are tired of hearing about it.
And more than a few are wondering, “What does any of this have to do with me?”
So, how do you kick off your civics class in a way that gets past all that?
- You give them something interesting to do.
- You let them wrestle with big questions before throwing terms at them.
- You show that this isn’t just a class about government.
Here are three first-day-of-civics activities that do exactly that.
1. The Postcards Protocol
This might be my favorite first-day-of-civics activity ever.
Enter: Postcards. A low-key, high-impact protocol I borrowed (and tweaked) from The Power of Protocols. I first tried it in a Human Rights class, and it worked so well that it now lives in my Start of Government Class folder.
How it works:
Step 1: Every student gets a random postcard. No words. No context. Just a striking, thought-provoking image.
They respond to two prompts:
- List three things that stand out.
- How does the image make you feel?
(That second one always opens a door.)
Step 2: They find someone with the same image and compare answers. Did they notice the same things? Did the image make them feel differently?
Step 3: We end with a go-round. 30 seconds each to share a takeaway—something they saw, felt, or learned from their partner.
Then I reveal the kicker. “Every image you analyzed connects to an issue affected by government decisions. That’s what this class is about.”
(In AP Government, I provide an image that represents something from each unit).
Boom. They get it. And I haven’t said “checks and balances” once.
If you want to kick off your civics class with intention, this activity nails it.
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2. What Is Government For?
Want your quietest students to start participating from the very first day? This first-day-of-government activity lets them lead—without saying a word.
It’s called a Chalk Talk. Perfect for the start of civics class when no one’s ready to raise their hand yet, but everyone has something to say.
What you’ll need:
- 4 large pieces of chart paper taped around the room. If you have a large class, you can do two charts per prompt or add more prompts.
- Markers (several colors = bonus)
- Big prompts written at the top of each sheet
Here are my go-to prompts:
- What is the point of government?
- What should the government NOT do?
- Who gets to decide what’s “fair”?
- When should people be allowed to break the law?
What students do:
- Move silently between posters
- Write their responses, respond to each other, draw arrows, circle phrases, and ask questions
- Read all the posters once everyone’s rotated through
Then we debrief:
- “Who wrote something you agreed with?”
- “Where do you see disagreement?”
- “Which one of these questions still messes with your head?”
Why it works:
- It gives every student a voice, especially those still warming up.
- It introduces the biggest philosophical questions of the course on Day One
- And it sets the tone: this is not a sit-and-get class
If you want to kick off your government class with a calm vibe, this is the activity for you.
3. You Be the Judge: Who Decides What’s Fair?
This is the noisiest, most engaged I’ve ever seen students on the first day of government class.
Students don’t just judge scenarios—they wrestle with values, laws, and gray areas.
How it works:
Students get real-life-inspired scenarios and must:
- Decide: YES, NO, or IT’S COMPLICATED
- Defend their answer with at least two reasons
- Present and discuss their rulings with the class
Scenarios (all tied to major government or civics units):
- Free Speech or Disruption? Should schools be allowed to discipline students who don’t stand for the Pledge?
- Voting Age Dilemma: Should 16-year-olds vote in local elections?
- Felony and the Franchise: Should people with felony convictions regain voting rights after their sentence?
- Taxation Showdown: Is a sugary drink tax good public policy or unfair government overreach?
- Who Controls the Internet? Can states regulate how social media platforms moderate content?
- Emergency Powers in a Crisis: Should governors be allowed to make emergency rules without asking lawmakers first?
- Fair Representation? Is it fair for politicians to draw voting maps that help their own party stay in power, or does that hurt democracy?
Group Debrief:
During share-outs, I encourage responses like:
- “We agree because…”
- “We’d push back because…”
- “That reminds us of…”
Optional extension: Match your scenario to a Constitutional principle, a branch of government, or a civic value (liberty, justice, equity).
Why it works:
- It introduces every major theme of the course
- It creates space for disagreement without getting personal
- It gives students an immediate, active role in thinking like citizens
If you want to kick off your civics class with authentic engagement, this one’s a winner.
The Big Idea?
These first-day-of-civics activities get students thinking, talking, and doing—right from the start.
They engage students from the start, encouraging them to think, share, and explore.
Kick off your civics class with an activity instead of a lecture to get past students’ first-day doubts and the “this is boring” feeling. It also helps answer the question, “Why does this matter to me?” This shows right away that the class is about real issues, not just memorizing facts.
You’ll give students a chance to jump in and think about real issues right away.
This isn’t just about memorizing facts or passing tests.
It’s about understanding the questions and decisions that affect their lives.
That’s how you start a year of real-world learning.
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Want more first day fun? Check out these first day activities for World History and U.S. History:
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