Curated OER
Grow Your Character Bookmarks
Students make bookmarks out of seed paper to study the growth of seeds and complete an activity for the Six Pillars of Character. In this science and character instructional activity, students describe the stages of growth of plants and...
Curated OER
Publisher Skills Assessment
Students complete a technology integration project using Publisher. In this technology lesson plan, students use Publisher to create magazine activities for the American Revolution, indigenous cultures, California missions, colonization,...
Annenberg Foundation
Controversial Issues in Practice
Wow! This resource provides three related lessons on the First Amendment that challenge US government students to explore their personal opinion on the separation of church and state. Each lesson can be adjusted in length, but is...
State Bar of Texas
McCullough v. Maryland
Can a state government tax the federal government? The Supreme Court case McCullough v. Maryland explores different governments in the United States. Scholars research the court's decision with a video and discussion. They formulate...
State Bar of Texas
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Who decides someone is not a real person? Scholars investigate the Dred Scott v. Sandford court case which deals directly with slavery and citizenship. After viewing a short video clip, classmates work in pairs to assess and discuss the...
State Bar of Texas
Gibbons v. Ogden
Have you ever played the game Monopoly? Do you know what it takes to win the game correctly? Scholars research the nature of outlawing monopolies in the United States while controlling trade. They investigate the court case Gibbons v....
Curated OER
Teaching With Documents Lesson Plan: "A Date Which Will Live in Infamy"
Your class examines F.D.R.'s speech for examples of repetition, alliteration, emotionally charged words, etc. They listen to the speech and interview a person who heard it delivered. They finish by writing an article about the experience.
Curated OER
A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution
Sit back, relax, and transport to 1787! This lesson on the Constitution begins with guided imagery of the Constitutional Convention. The class reads A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution in an interactive read-aloud...
Center for Civic Education
Women's History Month Word Clouds
What a great idea for celebrating Women's History Month and discovering the amazing efforts that individuals have put forth on behalf of women's rights! Learners take a closer look at the speeches and other primary source documents of...
Curated OER
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution: The American Revolution
The contributions of African-Americans to the American Revolution are the focus of this Social Studies and language arts lesson. After reading and discussing Linda Crotta Brennan’s The Black Regiment of the American Revolution, class...
State Bar of Texas
Marbury v. Madison
Who has the final say in matters dealing with the rules under the United States Constitution? The case Marbury v. Madison brings to light the issue of judicial review. Learners investigate the Supreme Court's opinion in the case with a...
Carolina K-12
Group Project: Freedom Parade
Parades are a great way to celebrate. Get young historians into the festivities by asking them to create an informational float for a Freedom Parade. Picking a topic from the provided list or suggesting one of their own, class members...
Carolina K-12
African Americans in the United States Congress During Reconstruction
The Civil Rights Act of 1866, which granted citizenship to all males in the U.S., resulted in the first African Americans to be elected to Congress. Class members research 11 of these men, the challenges they faced, and craft...
Curated OER
The Eerie Canal
Students discover bodies of water in the United States by investigating the Eerie Canal. In this U.S. Geography instructional activity, students discuss Lake Eerie and the canal that was built in order to transport goods. Students...
Curated OER
Models of Philanthropy in the Lation Community
Students research the role of Latino Philanthropists. They examine the farm labor movement which started Latino activism. They find examples of good character and civic virtue within the Latino population.
Curated OER
Mapping Human Rights in Our Community
Students work in groups to draw a map of their town or neighborhood. They include their homes, major public buildings and places. Students analyze their maps from a human rights perspective.
Curated OER
Human Rights Around the World and at Home
Students research a set of statements from their worksheet. They generate a list of affirmations and abuses that are specific to their own country and ocmmunity.
Curated OER
Brown vs. Board of Education and NAACP
Eleventh graders examine the issues surrounding Brown vs. Board of Education. In this American Government lesson, 11th graders study the key civil rights legislation passed in 1964 and 1965.
Curated OER
US Patriot Act: Security vs. Privacy
Students use readings, worksheets and discussion to explore the ramifications of the US Patriot Act which was passed by Congress shortly after September 11th. They review Constitutional Amendments and consider how they relate to the...
Curated OER
Building Awareness of the Japanese American Wartime Experience
Pupils research the Japanese American World War II Camp Experience. They discuss the experience in the context of civil rights and the Bill of Rights.
Curated OER
Getting to the Bottom of Gitmo
Students explore, examine and study about the first military tribunal of a Guantanamo Bay camp detainee. They then participate in a collaborative writing assignment in which they have a "conversation on paper" with each other about...
Curated OER
Have Minorities Gained Acceptance
Students cite evidence gathered from magazines about how much Blacks are accepted into the mainstream of American life. They support their conclusions by writing an answer to an essay question.
Curated OER
Music Motivates
Students listen to songs from the Civil Rights movement. They explain how the music might have inspired African-Americans to be activists in the movement. They examine how the Civil Rights movement affected the common good.
Curated OER
Which Freedom?
Fourth graders choose on the freedoms in the Bill of Rights and research it on the internet. They answer specific questions using their research and produce a written document using a computer.