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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kirit C. Shah, M.D. v. Stan Harris and Nancy Harris Lesson 1: One Case, Two Sides

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine how lawyers prepare their arguments. They realize that both sides of a legal case may use the same cases as precedents in their positions. They find decisions of the Indiana Supreme Court and the Indiana Court of Appeals...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lena Horne: Race and the American Artist

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars examine how race played a critical role in Lena Horne's life. They conduct Internet research, participate in a class debate, write a letter, and create a presentation based on their Internet research.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

United States Pride

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders learn the responsibility of citizenship and learn facts about a state they choose to research.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphically Speaking

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discover the links between population and Congressional representation. In this government lesson, students research population statistics and create spreadsheets that compare population to the number of Congress members per state.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering Democracy in Canada: Federal Perspectives

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders research one aspect of government. They teach their peers co-operatively about the key elements of Democracy in Canada at the Federal Level by giving group presentations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's All About Justice

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine a specific environmental concern to their local community. In groups, they explore how the justice system would deal with the problem by participating in a treasure hunt. They review the meaning of federal and state...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Asking and Answering Questions Using the Balance of Powers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students complete a diagram showing the relationship between the executive, legislative and judical brances of the government. They form sentences using the question words. They restate who and what questions as well.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Law Day: Constitutional Law Outline

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students receive information about laws. Some of the categories include powers of the federal government, federal powers vs. state powers, and the Bill of Rights. It is in an outline form that looks like the student follows along with...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Government Works and the Rights of the People

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify how to be responsible citizens. In this civics lesson, 8th graders review websites of congressional members and then create questionnaires about the responsibilities of citizens.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Perspectives on Civil Rights

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine speeches of the Civil Rights Era. In this American history lesson, students listen to speeches delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy. Middle schoolers respond to guiding questions as they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Constitutions

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students compare and contrast plans for government. In this government systems lesson, students compare and contrast the U.S. Constitution to the constitutions of selected countries using the provided checklist as a guide. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why or Why Not Law?

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders, in groups, study the law on the Internet.
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Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: American Government: The Judicial Branch

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Complete and comprehensive virtual learning unit on the Judicial Branch. Module includes downloads, interactive activities, questions and writing assignments as well as links to supplemental material. Students can link to online textbook...
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Unit Plan
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

Harry S. Truman Library & Museum: Three Branches of Government

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Interactive teaching unit for Grades 5-8 that helps to explain the three branches of government and the the balance of power. Topics covered include balance of government, how a bill becomes a law, the amendment process, the Legislative...
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Unit Plan
Other

American Civil Liberties Union: Constitution Day Activities

For Students 4th - 8th
Six activities teach students about the U.S. Constitution. Learn about checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, some of the history of the document, and how each of the states became a state. The site also provides teacher resources,...
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Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Judicial Review

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan explores the case that established the power the Supreme Court has today. Learners will learn how the decision in Marbury v. Madison influenced the structure of the third branch, and how the Court's use of judicial...
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Democracy in America: The Constitution: Fixed or Flexible?

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
This unit explores the timeless qualities of The U.S. Constitution, the opportunities to amend it, and how it is a pillar of the American identity, through these activities, videos, and outside resources.
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Website
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Grades K 2

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Here you can learn all about the U.S. Government! Find information on our nation, how our government works, your own neighborhood, and the main government symbols. Games and other activities are also included!
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docs Teach: Checks and Balances in Action

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
In this activity, students will analyze documents that span the course of American history to see examples of 'checks and balances' between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches in action. Students will then match the...
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docs Teach: Separation of Powers or Shared Powers

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
In this activity, students will analyze documents that illustrate the relationship between the legislative, executive and judicial branches. Using the scale in Weighing the Evidence, students will decide whether the United States...
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: The Constitution in Action: Article Iii (Lab Team 4)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity students will analyze the Opinion of the Court by Chief Justice Earl Warren in the Case of Miranda v. Arizona and identify how the document demonstrates content contained within Article III of the Constitution in action.
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Interactive
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Games

For Students 4th - 6th
Test your knowledge of U.S. geography and government with these games and printable activities. In one game, see if you can place all 50 states in their correct location. In the second game, see if you can recognize the powers of each...
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Handout
Travel Document Systems

Tds: Burkina Faso: Government

For Students 9th - 10th
In this article you can read about the government of Burkina Faso, a tentative new democracy. You can find out about the recent elections, government officials, and branches of government. Information is from the U.S. State Dept....
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Article
Other

New Talk: What Is the Role of the Courts in Making Social Policy?

For Students 9th - 10th
New Talk provides an online forum where non partisan experts in their field can discuss relevant domestic issues of today. This discussion focuses on the role of courts in setting social policy and how judges should be selected.