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Four Famous Faces
Each one of our quarters is embellished with a famous face or image representing the state it came from. This lesson plan uses South Dakota's state quarter to get kids thinking about monetary value, what the president of the United...
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Follow the Leader
Here is a phenomenal lesson on the three branches of government for your second and third-graders. It presents this often-confusing information in an easy-to-understand format. Many excellent activities and worksheets are embedded in the...
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Follow the Leader
Students examine the roles of national leaders and the three branches of government and their duties. They view and discuss the images on the South Dakota Quarter Reverse transparency, complete a worksheet, and create a mobile of the...
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South Dakota Quarter Lesson Plans
Learners research the history of the South Dakota quarter. Students study the rich history to South Dakota. Learners share reasons why the South Dakota quarter was made the way it was made.
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Is Government Necessary?
Learners investigate the purpose of Congress and determine how it affects them. They explain what life would be like without government.
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The Role of Government and Citizens
Students define term representative democracy, explain how the government responds to the needs of its citizens, describe the role of citizens in a representative democracy, and explain how citizens can influence public policy.
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Express Your Opinion
Students explore local, state, and national levels of government and discuss which level of government they should contact to get information, express their opinions, or get help on specific issues.
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What is Government?
Students explain purpose of government, describe functions of government, and explain how the government impacts individuals and society.
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Going for the Gold
Students determine the impact of gold mining operations in 1879 on the immediate environment and compare the early impacts to extraction methods and regulatory laws governing mining operations today in South Dakota.
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Does Money Talk?
Students describe role that money plays in politics, and write an editorial that explains whether or not they think money gives some people too much influence in government.
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The Tax Man Cometh
Students examine websites and resources related to Bush's 2001 tax plan. They discuss the history of taxes and other tax topics. They look for evidence in the local newspaper of government spending at work.
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Skepticism Toward Government
Students explain how the media portrays certain events and its effects on public opinion of government. They focus on Watergate, the Vietnam War, and the Clinton impeachment. They write essays about skepticism promoted by the media.
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Members of Congress Who Have Made a Significant Contribution
Students examine laws that have benefited the nation in a variety of ways. The congressperson in the legislative branch of the government primarily responsible for the passage of the law and the current representatives are sought in this...
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How Ordinary People Can Have an Impact
Students identify three or more ways the Federal Government impacts their daily lives and then explore ways in which citizens can influence political leaders.
Advocates for Human Rights
The Right of Indigneous Peoples in the United States
The sovereignty of U.S. Native American nations is the focus of a resource that asks class members to compare the Right to Self-Determination in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples with a fact sheet that details the...
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Life before Congress
Students name some interesting backgrounds of Members of Congress, identify their current representatives in the legislative branch of the national government, and describe the background of one local representative or senator.
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Mount Rushmore
How did those faces get on that mountain, and why did they choose those particular presidents? Learn about Mount Rushmore's construction and the history behind the men represented on the mountainside with a short reading passage and set...
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Territory and Statehood of Iowa
Fifth graders recognize the steps to create a territory, a district and a state. In this Iowa lesson, 5th graders discuss the three capitals and their importance. Students recognize the key people in the development of Iowa. Students...
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The Gilded Age & the Progressive Era (1877–1917)
In this online interactive philosophy worksheet, learners respond to 7 short answer and essay questions about the Gilded Age and Progressive Era in the United States. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
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The Story of Sitting Bull
Students complete activities with the book The Story of Sitting Bull by Jeffrey A. Rucker. For this literature lesson, students review new vocabulary and practice finding capital letters. They read the story, answer comprehension...
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This Land is my Land-Westward Expansion During Reconstruction
Students analyze policies regarding Native American territories during Westward Expansion. In this Reconstruction lesson, students research primary and secondary sources pertaining to the transfer of Native American land. Students take...
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Celebrate Beef
Students read about the history of cattle, discover new technologies, and fill out worksheets about cattle use. In this cattle lesson plan, students identify states that raise cattle and draw pictures of how cattle is used.
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Native Species Restoration and its Impact on Local Populations
High schoolers watch video clips of ecosystems and answer questions relating to them.
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Separate is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education
Students analyze photographs that feature segregation. In this human rights lesson, students examine photographs of a segregated movie theater, a Ku Klux Klan gathering, a segregated business sign, and an illustration from "Harper's...