C-SPAN
Should States Shift to Mail-In Voting during the Coronavirus Pandemic?
With the coronavirus pausing many norms in American society, officials are trying to decide how to safely hold voting in the 2020 presidential election. Using curated video clips, including speeches from Congress, journalists, and...
Curated OER
Fracking: Positive or Negative Impact?
Your teenagers may have heard of fracking, but do they really know what it is? And could they debate the benefits and risks? Educate your environmental science class with a lesson about hydraulic fracturing, non-renewable energy sources,...
Museum of the Moving Image
Understanding the Language of Political Ads
The verbal techniques and emotional appeals contained in the language used in political ads plays a vital role in creating the impact of the ad. As class members continue their study of Presidential campaign commercials from 1952–2012,...
C-SPAN
Primary and Secondary Sources: Trailblazers in Congress
Trailblazers forge the path into uncharted territory, they establish a precedent for others to follow. Young historians research trailblazers in Congress using primary and secondary sources to profile outliers that changed the face of...
Reading Through History
Early History and Exploration Unit
We all know about Christopher Columbus, but who else explored the Americas, and specifically, the future United States of America? Learners find out these answers and more in a resource that includes four different reading sections,...
American Museum of Natural History
Being an Archeologist: Chuck Spencer
Meet Chuck Spencer, an archeologist who studies the Zapotec people who lived in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico over 2000 years ago. Spencer shares in print his response to questions posed by kids.
Teaching American History
Interpretation of the Declaration of Independence
Ready to interpret the Declaration of Independence and understand its meaning? The resource divides scholars into pairs, where they work as a team to match translations with excerpts from the declaration. The class then engages in...
Curated OER
The Selection of Judges
Students analyze documents to determine the steps taken in the selection of judges.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Impacts of Climate Change
Scholars become experts on the eight major impacts of climate change through a jigsaw and grand conversation. They then research and present what they learned about effects specific to their region.
Curated OER
Panhandlers May Go Begging Elsewhere
Pupils research what laws affect panhandlers in the community or nearest city, what other cities do about panhandlers and businesses, and what homeless advocate groups suggest is a humane solution. Students then create a presentation for...
Curated OER
Understanding Tax: Your Role as a Tax Payer
Every adult should know that it is their responsibility to help fund public goods and services by paying taxes. Help young people get a handle on the history, evolution, purposes for, and reasons why they should pay taxes too.
Curated OER
Don't Flick Your Bic!
Students research the ban on lighters in the airport and how it is being enforced. Individually, they create and conduct a survey on family members who smoke about this issue. Using the internet, they discover what airports are doing to...
Curated OER
Requiring HPV vaccine
Students research the HPV vaccine and discover what it is supposed to do. In gropus, they consult with doctors and local health officials to discover the possible side effects of the vaccine and presents their findings to the class. They...
Curated OER
Supreme Court Decisions and Their Effect On Us
Consider five Supreme Court cases and how their outcomes have directly affected the American population. Government students research and compose a 1-2 page pager outlining the examples of our daily life that have specifically been...
Curated OER
Some see art, some see vandalism
Pupils find out what the laws are concerning graffiti in the community. Is it a misdemeanor, does being caught result in a fine? Jail? Community service to remove it? The information is found by interviewing key people in the community.
Curated OER
You and the U.S. Constitution
Fourth graders explore the U.S. Constitution and how is protects the rights and freedoms of American citizens. They run through various circumstances and decide whether a person's rights have been violated.
Curated OER
Reporter Rights vs. Legal Access...
High schoolers explore cases that have occurred in the past in which reporters refuse to reveal their confidential conversations with government sources and investigate the status of the current bills in Congress. Students use this...
Curated OER
Don't Answer That Phone!
Students research the rights of customers in private stores like Subway and the dry cleaners and the use of cell phones. Students determine what laws, if any, are related to such cell phone use and present findings to the class along...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Watchdogs
Use this political cartoon as a class warm up or discussion starter. Upper graders examine the role of newspapers as government watchdogs. Items for consideration are available, alongside a vivid cartoon.
Curated OER
Parents and Alcohol: Who's To Blame
Young scholars use the internet to read research to find out what other communities are doing to solve the problem of underage drinking. They interview local experts and law enforcement. As a class, they debate the pros and cons of...
Curated OER
Measuring Civic Engagement
Students begin the lesson by defining what a citizen is in today's society. In groups, they brainstorm a list of qualities and responsibilites a good citizen should have. They also develop and give a survey that measures the amount of...
Curated OER
Canada, O Canada
Students study the similarities and differences between Canada and the United State in this unit. They examine geography, government and culture as they "travel" through Canada.
Curated OER
Public officials, DUI and role models
Students watch a video clip discussing the story about the mayor and answer the following: What kind of people should be role models for students today +++ Are they politicians and government employees, movie stars, or professional...
Curated OER
U.S. and Canada: How are We the Same? How are We Different?
Get high school geographers to compare and contrast Canada and the United States. They begin by drawing a freehand map of North America, then complete readings to gain insight into Canada. The text is not provided; however, another text...