Curated OER
Branches of Government
Young scholars explore the three branches of government. In this government and U.S. history lesson, students listen to a story about a boy who attempts to sponsor a bill to ban cartoons. Young scholars interview three teachers who each...
Curated OER
Peace and Aggression: A Challenge of Our Time
Students examine the arguments for and against the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. In groups, they must assign the Vietnam War a just or unjust war using the techniques used to fight and the reasons used by the government...
Curated OER
Why Do We Suffer From The Rights Of Others?
Students examine how diversity within populations has caused problems. In groups, they develop their own definitions of racism and discrimination. They participate in role-plays in which they gather the appropriate techniques to deal...
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A Look at Virginians During Reconstruction
Fourth graders examine slavery and Reconstruction in Virginia. In this Virginians during Reconstruction lesson, 4th graders research primary sources for the story of William Jasper and other slaves. Students hypothesize how rights became...
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US Constitution
Think about the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence with your budding historians. They analyze the importance of historical documents by examining several famous documents, and then they complete activities that check...
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 instructional activity that asks them to first read a fact sheet that details the arguments for and against...
Facing History and Ourselves
The Weimar Republic: Historical Context and Decision Making
Did you know that way before Hitler became a dictator, he actually spent nine months in a German jail? Provide the background for the escalating point before the Nazi party took over in World War II through the exercises in the resource....
Student Handouts
Comparing Countries’ Constitutions
Analyze the constitutions of five different countries and see how they relate to each country's culture and traditions. Pupils read the preambles to the constitutions of India, Ireland, Russia, Suriname, and the United States. After...
Curated OER
Community Voting Habits
Students prepare a survey about voting habits in the community. Students give the survey to parents, teachers, business owners, and other voting age members of their community, and analyze the data.
Curated OER
Developing Kids with Character Through Service Learning
Students discover service learning and how it can help them build character. In this community lesson, students brainstorm ways they can assist their classmates with problems, and write about it in their journal. Students...
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Families and Neighborhoods
Students build their own neighborhood. In this instructional activity on community, students are introduced to books about families and neighborhoods. As a class, the students create their own neighborhood, elect a leader for their...
Curated OER
A Helping Hand: The Role of Guides During Western Expansion
Students research and examine the lives and culture of western mountain guides during the early to mid 1800s. Students write reports about a guide they research, do a simulation of the guide by keeping a journal, managing money and...
Curated OER
Community Role Models in the Classroom: The Vietnam Era
Learners research information about the Viet Nam Era. They listen to a guest speaker talk about his/her role in the Viet Nam War. Students write articles for the classroom newsletter or other appropriate publication.
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Social Studies Lesson: Apartheid
Young scholars examine the Apartheid system of South Africa through a role-play activity. The role-play activity ends with a class discussion on how the events affected each individual. A class discussion continues after reading an...
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Student Travel in the Shadow of War
Students research on the Web and in magazines and newspapers what a variety of school districts have decided on student travel during the War in Iraq. Students examine the rationale the administrators or state officials use for canceling...
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
Bill of Rights: Rights and Responsibilities
Students explore the meaning of freedom. In this U.S. History instructional activity, students research the Declaration of Independence and how it relates to American freedom by completing activities and a mock trial.
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George Washington & Civic Virtue: The Necessary Elements of the Republic
Middle schoolers examine the character of George Washington. In this George Washington lesson plan, students read "Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior," Washington's First Inaugural Address, and his Farewell Address. Middle...
Curated OER
Putting Thought Into Political Action
Students examine the Parliamentary and Legislative functions of the Canadian government. They select an idea they believe should be made into a law, and research the area of the government capable of responding to their ideas.
Curated OER
Special Protections-Session Six
Parents and children work together in a community circle to discuss caring for people with special needs. In separate groups, the children sing and listen to a story. They discuss ways people are alike, and ways they are different....
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Democracy and Freedom
In this reading comprehension instructional activity, students read four selections about democracy and freedom and choose which multiple choice answer correctly states the meaning of each boldfaced word. Students interact with the words...
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Westward Expansion
Students explore the Westward Expansion Movement of U.S. history. In this Westward movement lesson plan, students use primary and secondary source documents research personal accounts of those who travelled west during the era....
Curated OER
Hitler's Fatal Gamble
Students consider the differences between totalitarianism and democracy. In this comparative politics lesson, students will read a handout describing the major components that comprise totalitarianism and democracy, then they will...
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Politics in Your Own Back Yard
Students take a closer look at local government in Britain today. In this current events lesson plan, students visit selected websites to discover a history of county councils and neighborhood authorities. Students...