How do you inspire young people to participate in democracy?
You take the “People’s Document” on a road trip to share its inspiring message.
The brainchild of legendary TV producer and philanthropist Norman Lear, this nonprofit, nonpartisan project took an original copy of the Declaration of Independence (one of 26 known Dunlap broadsides) on a three-and-a-half year cross-country tour of the United States.
Traveling to some 100 cities in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, the Declaration of Independence Road Trip (DOIRT) was designed to inspire America’s youth to:
- see citizenship as an opportunity
- participate in civic life
- exercise their rights
- VOTE!!!!!
Combining elements of education, entertainment, and community outreach, the multimedia exhibition presented the document in both historical and contemporary contexts and highlighted social and political movements that helped shape the United States and continue to influence countries around the world.
Curriculum Kit
As Art Director at Scholastic, I designed the DOIRT curriculum kit that dovetailed with existing American Revolutionary history curriculum.
Through its focus on the Declaration’s global impact, the content went beyond classroom lessons to provide students with indelible life lessons every dedicated teacher hopes to impart:
- social responsibility
- civic awareness
- the larger meanings of history
Poster
Teen Declaration of Independence
Today’s students can’t always see how ‘ancient history’ relates to their lives. That’s why the ‘road trip’ curriculum was written and designed to speak directly to teens by showing how words written more than 225 years ago are still relevant.
I reimagined the broadside as a Teen Declaration of Independence to demonstrate how words can make an impact and actions can make a difference. I even left at the bottom for students to add their own ‘John Hancocks’.
If you look carefully, you can see the poster on the classroom wall in the movie, School of Rock.
Program Guide
Classroom Instruction
The Program Guide included:
- a reading of the Declaration of Independence by renowned actors including Kathy Bates, Mel Gibson, Whoopi Goldberg, Guillermo del Toro, Kevin Spacey, and Michael Douglas
- lessons and reproducibles aligned to national standards
- frequently asked questions
- a history of the Dunlap Broadside, one of the first printed copies of the declaration
Student Magazine
Classroom Instruction
The Student Magazine was designed to engage and inspire teens by:
- showing that, as in the past, our country has always looked to young people to lead the way for change
- demonstrating how young people can participate in our democracy by becoming active, news-watching, letter-writing, sign-carrying, opinion-probing, vote-placing Americans
- empowering young people to help breathe life into their families, schools, neighborhoods, country, world, and planet by getting involved and being heard
