Curated OER
George Washington's Birthday
Students recognize George Washington and why his birthday is celebrated as a national holiday through pictures, a story, crossword puzzles, and other activities involving other presidents.
Curated OER
Presidential Power and Influence
Students analyze the powers and duties that Article II of the US Constitution grants the President. They determine the influence the President has on the nation and how philanthropy changes in a nation.
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The Kennedy Administration and the Civil Rights Movement
Students evaluate the Kennedy Administration's involvement in the civil rights movement. In this Civil rights instructional activity, students read and take notes from speeches connected to the historic March on Washington from the...
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War Support
Students view a video clip on Vietnam war veterans. They discuss the video on Vietnam War veterans. Students use the veterans statements about the war to relate it to the decrease in support for the war. They read section 3, and...
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iCivics: Executive Command
Students explore the role of President of the United States. In this executive branch lesson plan, students play an online game that requires them to consider the needs of Americans as they act as president.
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LBJ-- Escalation in Vietnam and Domestic Programs
Eighth graders investigate the Vietnam War. In this Vietnam War lesson plan, 8th graders research the escalation of the war during Lyndon Johnson's presidency. Students also explore the domestic programs that Johnson promoted. Students...
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Social Life in the 1950's and Domestic Politics and Policy
Eleventh graders examine the cultural mood and politics of the 1950's in the United States. They read a section of their text and take notes, view a clip of the movie "Pleasantville" and discuss societal roles in the 1950's, and listen...
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What Is the Role of the President in the American Constitutional Government?
Students read about the role of the president. In this US government lesson, students read about the role of the president as stated in the US Constitution. Students examine issues of presidential power and identify various checks and...
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Constitution Day: The 1965 Alabama Literacy Test
Tenth graders examine the United States Constitution. In this American Government instructional activity, 10th graders read excerpts from President Johnson's speech to Congress and parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. ...
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What Does 'Post Racial' Mean, Anyway?
Eighth graders explore where they personally stand on a post-election continuum, spanning from euphoria to despair. In this American History lesson, 8th graders read and discuss an article immediately following the election and a later...
Curated OER
Our Unfinished Work
Students investigate the racism elements after the election of President Barack Obama. In this racism lesson, students read a recent article about 'post-racial' society. Students compile a list of achieving a post-racial society and...
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Tale of Two Speeches
Learners view and read portions of John F. Kennedy's Cuban Missile Crisis speech from October 22, 1962. Later in the year, students recall what they remember about the speech and use a Venn Diagram to compare it to Patrick Henry's...
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Indian Removal
Fourth graders read The Trail of Tears and create a timeline to show the sequence of events that effected the Native American tribes during Andrew Jackson's presidency. In this Native American lesson plan, 4th graders discuss the...
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Woodrow Wilson: Prophet of Peace
Students read and discuss various speeches by Woodrow Wilson, and write and present a brief radio address that will persuade the nation to return to world peace. Students analyze current events and discuss whether the world has upheld...
Smithsonian Institution
In His Own Words: George Washington Quotation Timeline
Students read and analyze a series of excerpts from George Washington's letters, journal, and speeches to match quotations to the event or date in his life. They identify the author or source of the historical document or narrative. They...
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Slavery
Fifth graders complete a short unit on slavery and the U.S. Civil War. They read and analyze the book, "Follow the Drinking Gourd," compose their own secret song, complete an Abraham Lincoln crossword puzzle, and dramatize a historical...
EngageNY
Studying Conflicting Information: Varying Perspectives on the Pearl Harbor Attack, Part 1
Scholars read President Roosevelt's Day of Infamy speech and analyze the speech's words using close reading guides. Readers determine Roosevelt's point of view after reading the speech and filling in the guides.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt
Discuss the life of Franklin D. Roosevelt. This story, called "Franklin D. Roosevelt" by Laura Hamilton Waxman, is used to explore comprehension skills. Some of these skills include identifying prefixes and suffixes, making comparisons,...
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The Election Is in the House: The Denouement
Students research the US Presidential election of 1824. They explain why the election of 1824 was decided in the House of Representatives. They summarize relevant portions of the Constitution on presidential election procedures.
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The Drafts of the Declaration of Independence
Seventh graders compare drafts of the Declaration of Independence. In this primary source analysis lesson, 7th graders access copies of Thomas Jefferson's original draft of the document and compare it the final document that gave birth...
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Assignment #10: Internet Scavenger Hunt
Test your learners' Internet research skills with this scavenger hunt. Of the twenty questions provided, scholars research ten and provide the answer, the URL, the search engine, and the keywords they used. While some of the questions...
Curated OER
USA Today: Global Awareness Edition
Bring global awareness into the classroom. Young politically minded learners read an article about the ban on arms sales to China and discuss political concerns about this issue. They research other embargos on foreign trade and use a...
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Protesting within First Amendment Rights
Students research the First Amendment and what it says about the right to peaceably assemble as well as read in particular about those who were arrested or removed from an area for being disruptive during a protest on the War in Iraq....
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Could the Civil War Been Avoided Through Compromise?
Students determine whether the American Civil War could have been avoided. In this Civil War instructional activity, students examine primary and secondary sources to prepare to participate in a classroom debate that requires them to...