Curated OER
Helping Students Do History on the First Day of Class
Young scholars watch a video about Barack Obama and problems he faces as the president. In this president lesson plan, students write their own list and then compile a class list of problems and discuss them.
Curated OER
You Know the Answer: Math Riddle
Although the riddle is an outdated political reference, this math challenge is a good practice in operations and domain-specific vocabulary. Learners complete 18 problems, using multiplication, division, subtraction, and addition. Some...
Curated OER
Candidate Obama Support and President Obama's Agenda
Students research categories within President Obama's agenda and create a PowerPoint presentation. In this President Obama agenda lesson, students research a category within President Obama's agenda and present their topic in a...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Obama Baggage
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about President Obama and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
Navigating the Road to the White House
Students explore U.S. politics by researching the Presidential requirements. In this electoral process lesson plan, students identify the main requirements to become a Presidential candidate and the two main political parties. Students...
Curated OER
From the Post Office to the Oval Office
This Presidents' Day, have your pupils write letters to the presidential family. They will read an article about writing letters to President Obama, identify topics they feel are important, and finally discuss if...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: The Veepstakes!
Take a step back in time with this political cartoon analysis worksheet, which features editorial cartoons from the 2008 presidential campaign. Background information allows pupils to "read between the lines" in their analysis, and three...
EngageNY
Building Background Knowledge: Jigsaw to Build and Share Expertise about the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, Part 1
Using the Jigsaw protocol, scholars study chunks of text from a speech given by former US presidents following a devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. As they read the speech in small groups, they build background knowledge and share...
C-SPAN
Presidential Birth Requirement
Every president of the United States must be a natural-born citizen, but the definition of natural-born is not as straightforward as it seems. Secondary scholars examine two points of view surrounding the constitutional requirement...
Curated OER
Perks and Perils
Students research the life of the first family. In this U.S. Government instructional activity, students take a White House quiz, read an article about the first family and write in their journals about a typical day in their lives...
Curated OER
Why a President? Why not a King?
Young scholars research how and why a country elects to have an executive branch of the government. They study the office of the Presidency of the US.
Curated OER
Pass This Jobs Bill
It seems that print media is slowly being replaced by electronic versions. Get your kids reading the New York Times e-style. They'll read the provided article entitled, "Pass This Jobs Bill" then answer six comprehension questions. Two...
Curated OER
Drawing the Line on Financial Reform
Use this political cartoon handout to give a humorous edge to learning about financial reform legislation. Background information helps analysts "read between the lines," and questions prompt analysis of symbolism and message. Because...
C-SPAN
Presidential Candidate Firsts
Hilary Clinton may have been the first woman to run for president on a major party ticket, but she was only one example of an historic candidacy. Class members use video clips curated from C-SPAN to examine historical firsts in...
Curated OER
Does Rick Warren Represent Diversity?
The topic of this lesson focuses on whether or not Obama was able to convincingly defend his choice of choosing Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration. This is considered a controversial or hot topic because it...
Curated OER
If I Were President?
Students are ushered into the Oval Office with our patriotic Presidents Day activities. In this civics lesson plan, students explore the presidency as they research an American president and participate in up to 11 activities.
Curated OER
Presidential Election One Year Away
Students identify political parties, then read a news article about the 2008 election. In this current events lesson (written prior to the 2008 election), the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then...
PBS
Analyzing the Candidates in the 2008 Presidential Election
High schoolers research the 2008 presidential candidates and the required process for becoming an American presidential candidate. The class discusses both the process and the candidates, and some of the reasons someone might want to run...
Curated OER
Obama as a Writer
Twelfth graders examine the writings of President Obama. For this Current Events lesson, 12th graders read and analyze two articles by President Obama. Students discuss their reactions to these articles.
Curated OER
Breaking English News - Obama Says BP Must Pay for Oil Spill Clean-up
In this ESL/ELL reading comprehension learning exercise, students read or listen to an article entitled, "Obama Says BP Must Pay for Oil Spill Clean-up." They participate in discussion activities, and complete a variety of question types...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
The Iran Nuclear Deal and Its Critics
What was the purpose of the Iranian Nuclear Deal? An insightful resource explains nuclear tensions in the Middle East and Iranian weapon development that contributed to the Nuclear Deal in 2013. Academics learn the agreement limited...
C-SPAN
Presidential Veto and Congressional Override
One of the key powers of the executive branch is the president's ability to pass or veto legislation proposed by Congress. Congress, the legislative branch, on the other hand, can override a president's veto. Five film clips show how the...
Curated OER
United States Presidents
In this word search worksheet, students locate and circle the forth-three United states Presidents from Washington to Obama.
Curated OER
Defenders of Justice
Students research abolitionists, civil rights advocates, and their allies to learn about racism and justice. In this racism and justice lesson, students define justice and sing a song about activism. Students review the biographies...