Elementary School

The ABCs of Democracy Educational Program for Grades 1-6 introduces foundational humanistic and democratic concepts and helps children examine their application within the classroom, school community, and beyond. It helps develop children’s social skills based on democratic values. It encourages behavior that respects diversity, needs, and wishes, supports fairness, equality and other rights and responsibilities. Through a range of topics, students explore democratic values and examine how they are expressed in everyday life.

The program is taught experientially through diverse, hands-on activities, grounded in the unique facilitation method developed by the Adam Institute, “Betzavta – Converting Conflict into Dilemma.” Activities combine theoretical learning with practice, drawing from literature, visual arts, drama, music, games, and creative expression. These varied methods allow every child to express feelings, needs, and ideas, connecting their emotional experiences with thoughtful, rational discussion. The program places special emphasis on personal empowerment, focusing especially on bolstering socially disadvantaged groups.

The eight-unit program is a spiral, modular year-long curriculum, with sequenced lessons tailored to each grade level from Grades 1–6. It expands opportunities for both theoretical and practical learning, connecting democratic concepts to current events and to social and educational issues at school.