Curated OER
The Abolitionist Movement: A Fight for Freedom
Sixth graders investigate the Civil War by identifying famous figures of the era. In this slavery abolitionist activity, 6th graders read a text on the history of the Civil War and discuss heroes of the era such as Harriet Tubman and...
Curated OER
Civil Liberties and National Security
Students identify the civil liberties outlined in the U.S. Bill of Rights and discuss the importance of these liberties in today's society. They research examples of when Congress has taken legislative action to protect national security.
Curated OER
Helping Ourselves: Why Philanthropy Works
Students discover the concept of philanthropy. In this civics lesson, students investigate the role of philanthropy in our society, and how it makes life better for all.
Curated OER
Jerry Rubin, Abbie Hoffman, and the 60s Counterculture
Students identify how American society responded to the 1960's counterculture. In this 1960's America lesson, students investigate multimedia sources in order to examine the movement and its impact on the country.
Curated OER
World History Fair and Exposition
Students role-play as invitees to the World's Fair to develop a virtual electronic pavilion or poster presentation about the United States, its history and challenges. They act as tour guides giving their presentations and answering...
Curated OER
Safe Cyberpals
Students compare cyberpals and face to face friends. They explain that a cyberpal is still a stranger. They recall that private information should not be given to anyone in cyberspace without permission of a parent of teacher. Students...
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
Power to the People
Students work together to research leaders of disadvantaged groups. They identify how these people use the nonprofit sector to make positive changes. They discuss how the leader uses the democratic core values and present the information...
Curated OER
Prejudice and Discrimination
Middle schoolers are read-aloud an excerpt from The Friendship by Mildred Taylor. They pick strips of paper, white or brown, and sit according to color drawn. Students are given preferential treatment if their paper is white while the...
Curated OER
Understanding the Importance of the Declaration of Independence
Eighth graders examine the importance of the Declaration of Independence
by using a variety of research sources and computer technology to obtain information. They internalize the thoughts, actions, and motives of the signers of the...
Curated OER
What Is Government?
Young scholars investigate and describe the various levels of government. They develop a list of the services provided by each level of government, and identify the needs not being met by the government.
Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
Vaclav Havel: Free Expression
Develop an understanding of universal human rights, particularly the freedom of expression, with the questions and activities that analyze the conflicts of Vaclav Havel. Learners define, interpret and rephrase the human rights article in...
Canadian Civil Liberties Education Trust
That’s Not Fair!
As part of a series of critical thinking exercises, kids consider issues of social justice, especially the factors that must be considered when trying to balance conflicting rights and freedoms.
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
Patriotic Symbols of the United States
Young historians take a close look at the most famous patriotic symbols of the United States and determine what they actually stand for. Symbols such as Uncle Sam, The Statue of Liberty, The Bald Eagle, and The Liberty Bell are studied....
Curated OER
Black Kentuckians and the Civil War
Students demonstrate how the American Civil War affected black Kentuckians socially and politically. They identify and discuss the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which forced the end of slavery in Kentucky months after the...
City University of New York
Electoral College
A presidential election is a lot like the 2004 World Series, and it's also a lot like choosing an orange in a paper bag. Apply the process of the electoral college to these two analogies with a set of lessons about government...
Curated OER
Beaver, or not?
Students study the role of the beaver in Illinois during the 1800's and how overtrapping cause the near extinction of the beaver colonies in Illinois by 1900. Students role play various people in 1945 who have an opinion about the...
Curated OER
Sam Houston for President...Again
Fourth graders discover the political career of Sam Houston. In this Texas history instructional activity, 4th graders research primary resources and create a modern-day version of Sam Houston's political campaign of the 1840s.
Tennessee State Museum
Deciphering the Document: Unlocking the Meaning of the Emancipation Proclamation
Help your learners truly understand the Emancipation Proclamation by asking them the put it into their own words. After reading the document out loud to the class, and briefly discussing the legal language, split your class into small...
Curated OER
Doing Our Jobs
First graders identify traits of good listeners and speakers and role-play these traits in pairs. They brainstorm acceptable and unacceptable behaviors for the classroom and identify what jobs are appropriate for first-graders to perform...
Curated OER
National Service: Lesson Plan
Learners explore and take postions on the concept of mandatory community service. They then debate the issue in class as a learning model.
Curated OER
"History of My Family"
Students explore world geography by participating in a family history project. In this U.S.S.R. lesson plan, students read assigned text regarding the Stalinist era of Russia and the intolerance that thrived there. Students answer a list...
Curated OER
American Justice on Trial
Students role play a trial in which they consider if the United States government violated the rights of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor.