Curated OER
It is Our Right-Don't Waste It!
Students explore the basic rights granted to all American citizens by the U.S. Constitution in the light of women's issues. The women's suffrage movement, the role of Susan B. Anthony, and the timeline of events on voting rights are...
Curated OER
The Perfect President
Young scholars advertise for the perfect president. In this presidential duties lesson, students determine the attributes that the ideal president should have and then write job descriptions for the role.
iCivics
Hey, King: Get Off Our Backs!
Young historians explore the reason American colonists were unhappy under British rule. Class members complete hands-on activities and participate in a group discussions to understand why colonists drafted the Declaration of Independence.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Colonizing the Bay
Eleventh graders review the goals of John Winthrop. In this American History lesson, 11th graders read Winthrop's speech and summarize his key points. Students predict the possibilities for success and failure in the...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Driver’s Licenses And Unauthorized Immigrants
Should driver's licenses be granted to unauthorized immigrants? That is the question class members grapple with in a lesson that asks them to first read a fact sheet that details the arguments for and against licensing unauthorized...
Curated OER
Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 13, Lesson 2 California Fights Smog (pp. 296-300)
Third graders look into certain environmental problems. The governmental branches are investigated and how government takes care to solve problems of the environment.
Curated OER
Early American Government: Cause and Effect
Students explore cause and effect. In this early American government lesson, students research the series of events that led to the revolution, confederation, and constitution. Students use cause and effect examples...
Curated OER
Colorado Water, Water Rights and Ditches
Learners do various activities and research on the history of Colorado water rights and local ditches and evaluate current situations in terms of water rights, water sources, ditches,as well as how different groups have been affected by...
Curated OER
Fighting for Democracy, Fighting for Me
Ninth graders investigate specific individuals involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom and working backward to stories from World War II. For this US History lesson, 9th graders read documents that depict the conflicts faced by...
Curated OER
It's Time to Put Our Money Where Our Mouths Are
Eighth graders choose a person who should be honored on our currency. They write a letter outlining the reasons for their choice.
Curated OER
Everyday Heroes
Students research heroes and create their own criteria of what constitutes a hero. They choose a personal hero and create a web page that portrays the individual and their accomplishments. Students create a presentation for the class.
Curated OER
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
Students read the case text of the Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier case. Using the text, they discuss the case history and the implications of the verdict. They share their findings with the class in the form of a PowerPoint presentation and...
Curated OER
Declaration of Independence
Twelfth graders summarize sections of the Declaration of Independence and share their interpretations with classmates. They write essays on the Declaration or an essay tracing the rights of minorities from the Revolution to the present.
Curated OER
Courts in the Classroom: Ritter v Stanton
Students read the case briefs of Ritter v Stanton. They simulate the trial with classmates taking various parts such as appellant, appellee, bailiff, and justices. After conducting a mock argument, they write their own opinion for the case.
Curated OER
Lincoln: The Man Who Needed Nevada
Students understand how Nevada became a state and the role of Abraham Lincoln in Nevada's statehood. In this Nevada statehood activity, students listen to background information, primary sources and research about Nevada's statehood....
Curated OER
Decision Making, Take a Seat or Get off the Bus
Fifth graders explore the positive and negative consequences of choosing to fight against discrimination. They read the story of Rosa Parks. Students discuss the movement against segregation. Students read other books about...
Curated OER
A Parable on Populism
Fourth graders study the sombolism between Populism of the 1890's and the story of The Wizard of Oz.
Curated OER
Canada's System of Government Overview
Students discover the resources, topics, and issues in the Canadian government and actively participate in decision-making.
Curated OER
Communicating with the World
Students practice their communication skills with people from other cultures. Using predetermined questions, they email their penpal and wait for their responses. They reflect on the value of the information given to them and complete an...
Curated OER
Beauty Behind Barbed Wire: The Relocation Camp Experience of Estelle Ishigo
Eighth graders study World War II through art.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Constitution as Supreme Law
Overview of the history and structure of the U.S. Constitution as the "supreme law" of the land of which state and federal laws may not conflict and can only be changed by the American people.
US Department of State
Bureau of International Information Programs: History Outline: Sectionalism
Article reviews several conditions of American society that sowed the seeds of civil war, particularly slavery and sectional conflict.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Constitutional Government
Article outlining the events which ultimately led to the development and ratification of the U.S. Constitution. The author explains the components of the Constitution and how those pieces were debated and agreed upon.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: State Constitutions
The success of the Revolution gave Americans the opportunity to give legal form to their ideals as expressed in the Declaration of Independence, and to remedy some of their grievances through state constitutions. As early as May 10,...