Stanford University
Chinese Immigration and Exclusion
The Chinese Exclusion Act was the first race-based restriction on immigration in American history. Why was the act passed after Chinese immigrants helped build the Transcontinental Railroad? A series of documents, including speeches and...
Curated OER
Carousel on Democracy
Fifth graders examine the municipal, provincial, federal levels of government. They study the process of making a presentation to a level of government.
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Preserving Democracy in Canada
Students discover the challenges that democracy in Canada faces today as they research Federal elections.
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The Constitution (1781–1815)
In this online interactive history instructional activity, students respond to 8 short answer and essay questions about the U.S. Constitution. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive instructional activity.
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President Who? Forgotten Founders and Their Capitols
Students explore the beginning of the United Colonies that were formed in 1774. In this history lesson plan, students discuss the Articles of Confederation and then answer questions about the events surrounding the development of the...
Curated OER
Assembling the Best Possible Cabinet
Students organize a list of qualities that a person must have to become a Prime Minister in Canada, and in groups discuss the quality of choices made by each group. They compare/contrast the list with the current Prime Minister.
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So, You Think You Understand Parliamentary Democracy ?
Tenth graders experience first hand the complexity of the political process. They analyze the relationship between party policies and the political spectrum and develop an understanding of how Canada's laws are debated and passed.
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Exercising the Franchise! The Right to Vote
Students research Canadian election procedures, identify candidates and corresponding political platforms for current elections and hold mock elections. They develop a written report about a specific political party.
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Air Pollution Word Search Activity
Students examine the issues surrounding air pollution. They discover how it affects peoples health and the government's regulations. They complete a word search activity to practice the vocabulary.
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Create Your Own Constitution
Eighth graders explore the processes, purpose and components of a good and just constitution. They focus on the Constitution of the United States of America. Students discuss the purpose of a constitution and reasons why the Constitution...
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You and the Judicial System
High schoolers explore how the structure of the state and federal judicial systems affect them. They select an appropriate media and create a presentation on the structure of the judicial system, the criminal judicial system and a guide...
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Celebrate Constitution Day
Students examine the constitutions structure, content, and underlying philosophy by skimming through as a class then breaking into groups to focus on separate articles. To reinforce learning they individually analyze constitutional...
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A Look at U.S. and Canadian Approaches to Individual Liberties
Students compare and contrast Canadian and U.S. policies regarding social issues. In this sociology lesson, students research social and governance policies in the countries and write personal essays using their findings.
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Geography and Artifacts of Mexico
Young scholars review the structure of government in Mexico and discuss how it is different than the United States. Using artifacts, they must label and identify the city or state in which the artifact originated. They use the artifact...
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Uniform Blues
Fourth graders explore what the U.S. Constitution is and why it is important, the purpose of the state constitution, and its relationship to the U.S. Constitution and the similarities and differences among federal, state and local...
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Native American Sovereignty
Students analyze the meaning of Indian Sovereignty. They describe the authority of Indian governments as sovereign nations, and explain the importance of the Marshal Trilogy of Supreme Court cases between 1821-1832. They examine the...
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Who's Town is This, Anyway?
Fifth graders work in cooperative groups to simulate a town government as they consider an important change in their community growth. They analyze a real problem in the community and then determine their goals to fix it and make a...
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Decision -Making by Parliamentarians: Issues and Decision-Making
Young scholars, using what they know about what influences a representative's decision-making, solve current issues/problems provided by the teacher.
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A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION: A SIMULATION
Young scholars discuss two computerized options to change the current U.S. government. In this Constitutional Convention instructional activity, students write a statement advocating for one of the choices and participate in a mock...
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Analyzing Public Policy Opinions
Students brainstorm a list of the major issues affecting Fairfax County, Virginia. Using the internet, they choose one topic to research in depth. To end the lesson, they analyze the effectiveness of an actual public policy proposal or...
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Creating Laws
Pupils brainstorm ideas for legislation and present their ideas to the class. They draft a bill and take it through the normal procedures of the Canadian Parliament.
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Intoxication: In the Arms of Morpheus
A comprehensive lesson that takes a look at psychoactive plants with this one focusing on the opium poppy. Information about the history, culture, use, source and effects are discussed. There are weblinks to reliable sources about drugs...
Annenberg Foundation
Global America
It's not really a small world after all! The 21st lesson of a 22-part series on American history researches the impact of globalization on the United States. Using photographic and written references materials, as well as video sources,...
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Beach Replenishment Mock Hearing
Learners study the issues and stakeholders involved in a beach replenishment project. In this beach replenishment lesson, students study the point of views for the various stakeholders in a beach replenishment issue. Learners are...