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Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: "Alexander Hamilton" by Jessica Mc Birney

For Students 7th - 8th
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) was an American political figure and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. In this informational text, Jessica McBirney discusses Hamilton's life and accomplishments, specifically his...
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Our New Nation

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
After studying the American Revolutionary War, students learn about the founding of the United States of America. Pretending to be the founding fathers, students will divide into small groups to create and design their own nation and...
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Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Framing, Ratification and Amendment Quiz

For Students 9th - 10th
Quiz yourself over the framing, ratification, and amendments to the Constitution.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Religious Freedom and the Founders

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the background for the Founding Fathers' support of freedom of religion and separation of church and state. Included are parts of letters in which George Washington and Thomas Jefferson celebrate the fact that the United States was...
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Website
Robin Chew

Samuel Adams: American Patriot & Politician

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a brief overview of the life of Samuel Adams, one of the founding fathers of the United States. Links to other resources about Adams are included.
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Handout
Other

Are We a Democracy or a Republic?

For Students 9th - 10th
An essay on the present political state in America contending the country is leaning further towards a republican form of government instead of a democracy. Defines and explains the major differences between democracy and republicanism...
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Handout
Other

Colonial Hall: Biography of Alexander Hamilton

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed biographical information on one of our founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. He was a signer of the Constitution, a General, and a co-author of The Federalist Papers.
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Lesson Plan
Center For Civic Education

Center for Civic Education: What Is a Republican Government?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The founding fathers studied different forms of government throughout history to come up with the best form of government for our new nation. They decided a republic suited our nation the best. Find out the advantages of this type of...
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Website
US House of Representatives

Office of the Clerk: The Role of the House

For Students 6th - 8th
Why did the founding fathers create two separate chambers in Congress - the House of Representatives and Senate? Find out the reasons for the dual chamber and the responsibilities of each one. Included is a glossary and printable puzzles...
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: The Constitutional Convention

For Students 9th - 10th
Travel back to 1787 and become a delegate to the convention in Philadelphia. As the Founding Fathers struggle to decide how the young nation will be governed, explore how very different men representing their states' conflicting...
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Website
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Federal Versus State Government

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Learning Adventure teaches about the differences between federal and state governments as written in the Constitution and shares reasons the founding fathers wanted it this way.
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Handout
The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute: Benjamin Franklin Fa Qs

For Students 9th - 10th
Dozens of frequently asked questions about Ben Franklin with answers that cover all the essential facts about one of America's favorite founding fathers.
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Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: John Locke Mini Lesson

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Introduce learners to the ideas and writings of John Locke that influenced the likes of Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers.
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Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Montesquieu Mini Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Meet the Baron de Montesquieu, one of the great thinkers of the 18th century. He spent a lot of time thinking about how governments should be created and maintained. These ideas guided the Founding Fathers when they wrote the...
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Interactive
iCivics

I Civics: The Enlightenment Mini Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The Enlightenment was a period of time, starting around 1715, when people developed new ideas about human existence, including people's basic rights and the purpose of government. When our Founding Fathers created a government for the...
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Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: A Dive Into Democracy

For Students 6th - 8th
The Founding Fathers had many influences. Discover how aspects of Athenian democracy shaped the structure and ideals of the U.S. government.
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Website
Aaron Shepherd

Aaron's Storybook: Folktales

For Students Pre-K - 1st Standards
Many folktale resources are offered here. Texts of stories, "extras" including music and audio files, posters and background information can be found for some stories.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Margo's Idea

For Teachers 1st
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a little girl named Margo who had an idea to build a birdbath with her dad. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: James Madison

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of James Madison. Find out why James Madison was called the father of the constitution. Learn how his life affected the United States. (In Spanish)
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Debate Over Ratifying the Constitution [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about why ratification of the United States' new constitution was such a struggle. Find arguments for and against ratification, and discover who supported the Federalist position and who the Anti-Federalist position. [PDF]
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: George Washington as Chairman

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview of the significant contributions of George Washington and his importance as an early leader in forming the U.S. government.
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Primary
Other

Liberty Online: Locke's Second Treatise on Government: Of Conquest

For Students 9th - 10th
At this site you can read Chapter XVI, Of Conquest, by John Locke stating that the basis of any government must be the consent of the people, and implying in the writing that war or revolution is often mistaken as consent. (Published in...
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Primary
Other

Liberty Online: Patrick Henry: Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death

For Students 9th - 10th
Full text of the "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" (1775) speech by Patrick Henry.
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Activity
Other

University of Delware: Franklin and Friends

For Students 9th - 10th
Using historically significant documents and photos from its collection, this exhibit probes the various interests of Franklin and the influential friends that shared his interests.

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