Curated OER
How the Supreme Court Affects the Lives of Teens
Students describe the structure and function of the United States Supreme Court. They examine and analyze decisions made by the Court. They participate in a debate about recent issues.
Curated OER
Students Press Law and Ethics
Young scholars research the rights and the responsibilities of journalists in dealing with First Amendment issues. In this First Amendment lesson plan, students research the Alien and Sedition Acts and study the five elements of libel....
Curated OER
Federalist 47
Students will analyze and evaluate political propaganda. In this lesson on the Federalist movement, students will examine the Federalist papers and analyze the Anti-Federalist argument mage against constitutional ratification. This...
Curated OER
Recycling Lesson Plan
Young scholars examine the role of choice in a democracy, the choice to participate and not to participate. They take a position on the role of recycling and whether in a democracy people can be forced to recycle. They break into for and...
Curated OER
Freedom of Hate Speech?
Learners, using a New York Times article as a springboard for discussion, investigate and debate the complex issues of First Amendments Rights and censorship for Hate Groups using Websites for propaganda.
Curated OER
Bringing Peace to the Balkans, Piece by Piece
Learners examine how the bond of traditions became the binding force of nationalism for which the Serbian forces now fight at the cost of the lives and livelihoods of ethnic Albanians. explore human rights issues surrounding the conflict...
University of California
The Civil War: Perspective
Confederate soldiers saw the Civil War much differently than their Union counterparts. Scholars analyze the perspective of the Civil War from the viewpoint of various key figures in the fourth installment of an eight-part series. By...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Options for Affecting Public Policy
Letter-writing, e-mail and telephone campaigns, petitions, marches, meetings, with lawmakers. Options for influencing elected representatives are the focus of resource that details how to craft each of these approaches to influencing...
National Constitution Center
Born in the U.S.A: Music as Political Protest
Though often used in shows of patriotism, Bruce Springsteen's 1985 song "Born in the U.S.A." is critical of America's role in the Vietnam war and its treatment of American veterans. High schoolers analyze the song's lyrics in an activity...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Crime and Punishment
Should the United States ban the death penalty? Scholars use real-life examples of criminal activity to come to their own conclusions on the death penalty. Primary source documents, as well as video clips, open the issue of capital...
University of California
Containing Communism Abroad
Learn more about the policy of the United States to contain communism during the Cold War. The fifth installment of an eight-part series looks at primary and secondary materials about a challenging time in history. After analyzing the...
Annenberg Foundation
Evaluating Evidence
Was the Civil War fought only due to slavery? Using an interactive web tool, scholars investigate the four main causes of the Civil War. Gathering evidence and data to support their claims, they present a final statistical breakdown...
Curated OER
Patriots v. Loyalists
Students consider how colonial citizens chose sides in the American Revolution. In this Revolutionary War lesson, students role play Loyalists, Patriots, and undecideds in a classroom simulation. Students research their positions so that...
Curated OER
Political Spectrum
In this government worksheet, students identify and describe the differences between each part of the political spectrum by listing some points under each title in the chart. Then they choose any of the 9 issues listed, discuss and...
Curated OER
US Patriot Act: Security vs. Privacy
Students use readings, worksheets and discussion to explore the ramifications of the US Patriot Act which was passed by Congress shortly after September 11th. They review Constitutional Amendments and consider how they relate to the...
Curated OER
VA Statute for Religious Freedom, II. Matching Activity
Students read and analyze primary source documents. In this matching lesson plan, students read sections of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Students match the document sections with paraphrased sections and discuss the...
Curated OER
Dual Federalism
Learners compare and contrast the roles of federal and state governments in the United States. In this government lesson plan, students research state and national governments' joint and individual powers prior to debating a topic...
Curated OER
Evolution vs. Intelligent Design
Ninth graders explore the arguments surrounding evolution versus intelligent design have affected relationships among people of different religious backgrounds. In this ethics lesson plan, 9th graders determine whether relationships...
Curated OER
Voting and US Resident Aliens
Twelfth graders examine the process of voting. In this American Government lesson plan, 12th graders evaluate the arguments for and against alien voting. Students participate in a debate on voting rights.
Curated OER
History of Miss America
Students make a time-lines of of decades using images from Miss America. In this history lesson, students looks at the country's beauty pageant and how it changes the lives of women in America. Students debate issues such as size...
Curated OER
Election of 1860
Students determine how the presidential election of 1860 led to the American Civil War. In this election of 1860 lesson, students discover details regarding the election and hold their own mock debate and election. Students also write an...
Curated OER
Symposia: Scholarly Parties
Students hold a symposium during which students debate the benefits of democracy in ancient Greece and the United States. By doing this, students explain the role of symposia in ancient Greek culture and politics.
Curated OER
Public Demonstrations - Lesson Plan
Students examine various handouts to determine the value, necessity and potential limitations of assembly and public demonstrations. They then select a side and debate pre-provided questions.
Curated OER
Lesson Plan on Intellectual Property: Combating Piracy in China
Students determine how counterfeit goods undermine the economy. In this global issues lesson, students examine economic principles. Students discuss how international piracy and property rights undermine trade as they participate in a...