Curated OER
Canada Belongs to Us All
Tenth graders have the opportunity to meet with people in their own school who have not lived in Canada their entire lives. They describe fundamental beliefs and values associated with democratic citizenship.
Curated OER
Attitudes About Slavery in Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Learners examine the historical attitudes towards slavery in Pennsylvania. They read transcriptions from two Pennsylvania newspapers and compare/contrast the county's Republican and Democratic Parties' positions on slavery.
Curated OER
Launching Your Ship with Citizenship Lesson 4: Hoisting the Flag
High schoolers discuss the U.S. electoral process and brainstorm solutions to increase voter turnout in their community. In this democratic citizenship lesson, students identify keywords in speech and video related to freedom of speech...
Curated OER
Communicating with the World
Learners 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
Pine Barrens
Tenth graders study environmental values vs. economic development. In this environmental decisions instructional activity students role play in a policy making setting.
Deliberating in a Democracy
Freedom of Movement
Class members examine human migration. For this population lesson, they read an article entitled, "Freedom of Movement" and respond to discussion questions about the article related to guest worker programs.
Curated OER
Bill of Rights
US history classes explore constitutional rights as they relate to court cases involving teens. Your class must already be familiar with the Bill of Rights before beginning this series of exercises. In preparation for a debate-style...
Curated OER
The Origins of the Cold War, 1945-1949
Students investigate the early years of the Cold War and the origins of containment. Both supporters as well as critics are probed to examine the differences that emerged in the months following the end of the war in Europe. This unit...
Curated OER
Community Helpers
Community Helpers are the focus of this sociology lesson. Learners brainstorm the many different jobs done in their community, discuss why they are necessary, and think of ways they can be community helpers.
Lerner Publishing
Teaching Community Helpers
Youngsters discover who the leaders in their community are and what it means to build a community in this four-lesson unit.
Library of Congress
Stars, Stripes and Symbols of America: Comparing Our Flag, Past and Present
Your young historians will compare and contrast the details of the American flag today with an an image of the nation's flag from the post-Civil War era, and identify the flag's importance as a national symbol through analysis worksheets...
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...
Curated OER
Civil Liberties and War Powers: Korematsu v. United States
Eleventh graders compare and contrast Supreme Court decisions dealing with the application of civil rights during times of war, with emphasis on discrimination and detention. Working in groups, 11th graders review cases and analyze how...
Curated OER
Learning from the Past: A New Approach
Young scholars research nonprofit organizations. As they research, they learn how those living in the colonial period formed community organizations to provide for the common good of their society. Each pupil chooses one organization to...
Curated OER
Friday Forum
Middle schoolers research a variety of controversial articles to gain knowledge. They form an opinion and defend their position with supporting data. They evaluate opposing arguments and present their viewpoint both verbally and in the...
Curated OER
Friday Forum (Day 4)
Have your young speakers participate in a discussion/debate with their whole class on their prepared argument. They listen and analyze other student's arguments and refute arguments using logic and not emotion.
Curated OER
Demonstrating an Understanding the Evolution of Democracy in the United States
High schoolers explore how democracy in the United States changed and evolved from its birth to the present. They participate in a mock testing environment. Students write a multi-tasked essay on American government and politics.
Curated OER
Fame, Fortune, and Philanthropy
With your middle schoolers, develop concepts such as philanthropy, civic responsibility, community service, and common good. Discuss famous philanthropists and what we can each give of our time, talent and treasure to better our...
Curated OER
Flag Etiquette
Students study flag etiquette. In this US flag lesson, students explore the flag and its history. Students also demonstrate the proper procedures for folding a U.S. flag.
Curated OER
The Mayflower Compact Started It
Young scholars examine the role the Mayflower Compact had in aiding the common good. They analyze the importance of the Compact and what affect it had on the colony. They write a paper summarizing how they interpreted the Compact itself.
Curated OER
Taking a Stand on Bullying
Middle schoolers stand up against bullying in a character-building lesson. After discussing historical figures who became advocates in times of adversity, they brainstorm ways to end bullying at their own school, and use a formal letter...
Curated OER
Washington's Newburgh Address
Students write a persuasive essay that compares George Washington to someone overcoming an obstacle. In this American History lesson, students study Washington's Newburgh Address and the character traits of the president. They write an...
Curated OER
George Washington & the Classics
Students will compare and contrast famous philosophers with George Washington. In this history lesson, students work in small groups to define Classicism, Legalism, Democracy, Republic and Civility, then read some short excerpts so that...
Curated OER
Coming to America: Immigration Today
Learners research their own family histories and current U.S. immigration issues, rules, and regulations. They participate in a class discussion, watch a video about a Mexican immigrant's experience, and complete a WebQuest and a worksheet.