GAPS Libraries Resource Update

Apply Now for the 2026 Young People’s Continental Congress

The Young People’s Continental Congress (YPCC) will provide an opportunity for student-teacher teams* to study history and civics in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 19–25, 2026. Participants will interact with students and teachers from across the country, explore our nation’s founding, and learn how the ideals of the founding era continue to be debated, discussed, and refined over the last 250 years. Learn more from National History Day!

Xolotl: The Dog God of the Aztecs

Xolotl was the dog god of the Mexica people, commonly known as the Aztecs. He is represented in codices, statuary, and other extant examples of Aztec art as a dog or a god with the head of a dog. While this figure might seem obscure, his name and role echo into the present day through a critically endangered amphibian, a scruffy but loyal companion on an adventure to the afterlife, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, a breed of hairless dog. Learn more from World History Encyclopedia.

National Geographic KIDS magazine

National Geographic Kids magazine is filled with amazing animals, science discoveries, brain-teasing puzzles, and inspiring stories that spark a love of learning. All school and public libraries in Oregon have free access to National Geographic KIDS through the State Library of Oregon.

AI Quests is a game-based learning experience designed to teach middle school students (ages 11-14) about AI. Through a series of interactive, code-free quests, students will learn what it takes to responsibly build AI applications that address real-world societal challenges. The quests are inspired by actual AI projects led by Google Research. 2025 will see the launch of the first three AI Quests: Predicting Floods, Preventing Sight Loss, Mapping the Human Brain. Teacher Resources can be found here.

History of Halloween

Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. More from History.com and the Library of Congress.

We can teach hard things—and should! But we don’t have to do it alone. Let iCivics support you as you navigate the growing challenges of teaching essential civics concepts amidst historic polarization. Lessons and materials available K-12.

We Can Teach Hard Things, like the Separation of Powers webinar on Oct 16, 4:00 PM Pacific

Beyond History Class: Teaching America’s 250th

The nation's 250th anniversary arriving next year (July 4, 2026) brings a once-in-a-teaching-generation opportunity to engage students with the core ideas of the Declaration of Independence. Join iCivics’ Director of Educator Engagement, Natacha Scott, for a dynamic, interactive webinar where we'll explore how the enduring themes of the Declaration of Independence can be woven into every subject area.

Digital Citizenship Week Resources from Common Sense Media

Digital Citizenship Week is October 20–24, 2025

Each year in October, Common Sense Media leads Digital Citizenship Week, an annual campaign to promote a healthy, balanced, and positive approach to media and tech use among young people. This year they're sharing new resources to support students' digital well-being in the age of AI. Learn more here and find calendars full of suggested activities for each grade level, K–12, as well as events, free PD courses, a fun social media challenge, and more!