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Content Style Guide

This guide defines the writing and pedagogical standards for Literacy for Kids curriculum content. It applies to all lesson Markdown files across all curriculum repositories.

Audience​

Primary audience: Children ages 8–12 (roughly grades 3–6)
Secondary audience: The adult facilitating the lesson (parent, teacher, librarian, club leader)

Lessons are written to the adult facilitator, but designed so kids can follow along. The facilitator reads, prompts, and guides — kids respond, discuss, and practice.

Tone​

  • Trustworthy, not salesy. State facts clearly. Avoid hype.
  • Curious, not condescending. Treat children as capable thinkers, not passive recipients.
  • Warm, not saccharine. Be friendly without being fake or over-enthusiastic.
  • Direct, not preachy. Explain how things work without lecturing about what to believe.
  • Honest about uncertainty. If something is complex, say so.

Reading Level​

  • Target approximately grade 4–5 reading level for student-facing text
  • Keep sentences short (aim for under 20 words)
  • Use active voice
  • Avoid passive constructions where possible
  • Define any word a 9-year-old might not know

Lesson Length and Format​

Each lesson should take 10–20 minutes to facilitate.

Standard lesson structure:​

  1. Opening question or hook — A prompt or scenario to engage attention
  2. Concept introduction — Explain the main idea using a concrete example
  3. Discussion prompts — 2–4 questions to explore with the learner
  4. Activity or practice — Something to do, not just read (optional in some lessons)
  5. Wrap-up — 1–2 sentences that land the key takeaway

Not every lesson needs all five elements, but most should have at least an opener, a concept, and discussion prompts.

Discussion Format​

  • Include facilitator prompts that tell the adult what to ask (not just what to say)
  • Phrase prompts as open questions: "What do you think would happen if...?" not "The answer is..."
  • Provide suggested follow-ups for common responses
  • Give the adult enough context to guide the conversation without being a subject-matter expert
  • Avoid presenting one "correct" answer to open questions

Vocabulary​

  • Introduce technical terms explicitly: "This is called X. X means..."
  • Repeat important terms across lessons to reinforce learning
  • Avoid acronyms unless explained
  • Don't use jargon as a shortcut — if a simpler word works, use it
  • Curriculum-specific vocabulary lists are encouraged in intro documents

Examples and Analogies​

  • Use real, everyday examples that children actually encounter: apps, school rules, food choices, friendships, allowances
  • Prefer concrete examples over abstract descriptions
  • Use analogies when introducing abstract concepts, but verify the analogy holds up under follow-up questions
  • Avoid examples that assume a specific cultural context (e.g., "like at Thanksgiving") without acknowledging that not all kids celebrate the same holidays
  • Be inclusive: use examples that work across different family structures, income levels, and backgrounds

Sensitive Topics​

Some curricula touch on emotionally sensitive subjects (conflict, health, finance, civic tension). When handling these:

  • Stay descriptive (how things work) not prescriptive (what you should believe or do)
  • Avoid fear, shame, or urgency as motivational devices
  • Do not collect student journal entries, personal data, or emotional disclosures
  • Note when an activity might raise personal feelings and give the facilitator a way to respond
  • Refer to fictional or low-stakes examples when the subject is emotionally charged

Facilitator Notes​

Use facilitator callout blocks for guidance the adult needs but the child does not:

:::note[For Facilitators]
This activity works best in pairs. If the learner is shy, ...
:::

Alternatively, use a clearly labeled "Facilitator Note" section at the start of a lesson.

Political and Social Neutrality​

The curricula are used in diverse settings: conservative families, progressive classrooms, religious communities, and secular co-ops. Content should:

  • Not advocate for a political party or ideology
  • Not present contested value questions as settled
  • Focus on how systems work, not whether they are good or bad
  • Distinguish between factual claims (how the electoral college works) and contested claims (whether the electoral college is fair)
  • Civic Literacy in particular must remain nonpartisan — explain how democratic institutions function without signaling that one political direction is correct

Accessibility in Content​

  • Use plain language (prefer "use" over "utilize", "show" over "demonstrate")
  • Avoid idioms that don't translate across cultures or languages
  • Use alt text for all images
  • Don't rely solely on color to convey meaning in diagrams
  • Write descriptions that work when the visual is missing

What Not to Write​

  • Do not add product placement, recommendations, or affiliate content
  • Do not add religious content (reference to specific beliefs or practices)
  • Do not use fear, threat, or shame as learning motivation
  • Do not suggest that children collect or share personal data
  • Do not position the curriculum as a substitute for professional advice (legal, medical, financial, mental health)
  • Do not advocate for specific commercial tools, brands, or platforms by name

Disclaimer Requirements​

Some curricula include required disclaimers:

  • Civic Literacy: US-scoped civic examples should be noted as such
  • Legal Literacy: Content is educational, not legal advice
  • Health Literacy: Content is educational, not medical advice
  • Emotional & Social Literacy: Includes a facilitator safety guide; content is educational, not therapy

If you are editing one of these curricula, do not remove existing disclaimers.