Educator Toolkit
Ready-to-use lesson plans, discussion guides, and printable resources for classrooms, community groups, and civic organizations. All free.
20 Values — Printable Summary
A one-page reference card with all 20 shared values, key stats, and sources. Perfect for bulletin boards and handouts.
View & Print →Discussion Facilitator Guide
Step-by-step instructions for leading productive conversations about common ground in any group setting.
View Guide →Source Library
Complete bibliography of all research cited on this site, organized by topic. Ideal for research papers and fact-checking.
View Sources →Lesson Plans & Activities
Each plan includes objectives, materials needed, step-by-step activities, and assessment ideas.
Grades 6–8: Discovering Common Ground
45 minutesObjective: Students explore shared American values through group discussion and a research-backed card activity.
Activities
- 1.Warm-up: Students list 3 things they think "all Americans" agree on.
- 2.Card Sort: Groups receive cards with the 20 values and rank them by how widely shared they think each is.
- 3.Reveal: Teacher shares actual research percentages. Students compare predictions to reality.
- 4.Reflection: Journal entry — "What surprised me most about what Americans share?"
Grades 9–12: Media Literacy & Manufactured Division
60 minutesObjective: Students analyze how media incentives and algorithms distort Americans' perception of each other.
Activities
- 1.Hook: Take the "Test Your Assumptions" quiz as a class.
- 2.Mini-lecture: The business model of outrage — who profits from division?
- 3.Source Analysis: Compare how the same shared value is covered by different outlets.
- 4.Debate: "Is social media making us more divided, or just making division more visible?"
- 5.Exit Ticket: One action students can take to counter manufactured division.
Community Groups: Building Bridges
90 minutesObjective: Facilitate a structured conversation about shared values in a mixed-perspective group.
Activities
- 1.Opening: Each participant shares one value from the list that matters most to them and why.
- 2.Small Groups: Groups of 3–4 discuss a specific value and share personal stories connected to it.
- 3.Gallery Walk: Each group presents their stories and insights to the larger group.
- 4.Action Planning: What can our community do to strengthen this shared value locally?
- 5.Closing: Participants write one commitment on a shared board.
The 20 Values — Quick Reference
Use this as a classroom handout or discussion starter. Each value includes the key statistic and source.
Family Comes First
78% of United States adults consider spending time with family and loved ones a "very important" ingredient of a good life.
Source: GallupA Deep Love of Freedom
92% of Americans consider freedom of speech essential to their own sense of freedom.
Source: Pew Research CenterBelief in Hard Work
73% of Americans believe that hard work is "very important" to getting ahead in life, significantly higher than the global median.
Source: Pew Research CenterWanting Safe Communities
87% of Americans support the goal of investing in healthy, safe, and walkable neighborhoods.
Source: Livable NY InitiativeValue of Education
84% of Americans support increased investment in public K–12 education to strengthen the national workforce and democracy.
Source: PDK PollBasic Fairness & Equal Rules
79% of Americans believe that fair and equal treatment under the law is a fundamental right that should be guaranteed to everyone.
Source: YouGovRespect for Veterans & Service Members
More than nine-in-ten Americans (over 90%) express pride in military troops and respect for their service.
Source: Pew Research CenterBelief in Opportunity
87% of Americans feel their family's journey resonates with a story of working hard and passing on a better life to the next generation.
Source: More in CommonPride in Community
71% of Americans agree there is more common ground among the American people than news media and political leaders portray.
Source: Public AgendaGenerosity and Kindness
Americans donated a record high of $557 billion to charity in 2023, driven by individual and corporate philanthropy.
Source: Giving USA FoundationSpirit of Innovation
The U.S. ranked #1 globally for international trademark applications in 2024 and remains a top-tier source for global patent filings.
Source: WIPOLove of the Natural World
74% of Americans across political lines believe the government should be doing more to combat the effects of climate change and protect natural lands.
Source: Yale Program on Climate Change CommunicationRespect for Spiritual Life
Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) call religion "very important" in their personal lives, and 72% believe in an afterlife.
Source: Pew Research CenterBelief in Justice
81% of Americans agree that "Equal Justice Under the Law" is a founding principle that must be served and preserved for all.
Source: Harvard Law SchoolWanting Affordable Healthcare
88% of Americans believe the government should negotiate prescription drug prices to make them more affordable.
Source: KFF Health Tracking PollFaith in Democratic Ideals
93% of Americans identify the right of every citizen to vote as a core value required to be "truly American".
Source: PRRIBasic Human Dignity
77% of Americans view treating all people with dignity as a personally "very important" value.
Source: Public Religion Research InstituteEntrepreneurial Spirit
62% of Americans admire the drive of those who start their own business and believe entrepreneurship is a key to economic opportunity.
Source: GallupProtecting Children
Over 3 million child welfare referrals are filed annually in the U.S., involving more than 5.5 million children.
Source: Mary Bridge Children'sOptimism About the Future
66% of Americans aged 50 and older remain optimistic and confident in receiving their future social safety net benefits.
Source: GallupUsing These Resources?
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