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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Right to Bear Arms - One Patriot's View

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research Samuel Adams' role in the crafting of the Second Amendment. They consider how Adams' views evolved with time and write a one-page response linking their research to current events.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reflections on Judicial Power - Part I

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners research the Constitutional provision for the Judicial branch of government. They examine different U.S. founder's positions on the relative strength of the judicial branch and act as a review court for Marbury vs. Madison.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fairy Tails Can Show Due:It can happen for you, If you play your part.,

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students view a Reader's Theater focusing on the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The story is used as a springboard into a videotaped mock trial of Gold E. Locks developed by the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We the People

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine both the Preamble of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They work in small groups to connect the two documents and analyze how the documents are important to their lives today. They create a poster that visually...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Active Citizens 101

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students explore and investigate multiple aspects of citizenship and democracy in a sequence of lessons that involve thoughtful discussin and participation to assist in gaining a better perspective of what citizenship and domocracy is,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Tree of Peace": Critical Thinking About Revolution to Global Conflict

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore the importance of peace in society.  In this Global History lesson, 10th graders create a common vocabulary for the different elements that exist in a peaceful society.  Students discover the connections between...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abolish the Office of Governor

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the history of the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776. In this historical analysis lesson, students analyze the constitution of the state and determine how citizens benefited (or didn't benefit) from the document....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A More Perfect Union: Women's Suffrage and the Constitution

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students reflect on the pros and cons of Women's Suffrage and it was viewed during the late 1800's.  In this history lesson, students will analyze documents on women's suffrage so that they can compare and contrast the rights of women...
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Lesson Plan
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Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

Benjamin Franklin, Working for the Common Good

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars examine Benjamin Franklin's community service in Philadelphia. In this American history famous heroes instructional activity, students make text-to-self-and-world connections between the Philadelphia community service...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War as Photographed by Mathew Brady

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students gain historical background on the Civil War era from textbooks, encyclopedias, or supplemental material. Assign at least two photographs for each student to analyze using the Photograph Analysis Worksheet which is imbedded in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Education: Passing Enough Knowledge to Survive to the Next Generation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare and contrast the knowledge requirements for human and animal children. They identify the consequences of an animal if it is unprepared for the given environment. They discover the importance of education as well.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rome: Republic to Empire

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders discuss the rise of Rome from a republic to a dictatorship. In small groups, they role-play as congress people debating whether or not to give the president more powers. In another activity, 6th graders produce television...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping India

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students participate in an activity in which they place placards listing geographic features, landmarks, etc. in the correct place on a large fabric map of a given country. They also examine artifacts, photos, sounds/music, etc. from...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

President's Day

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students access prior knowledge about the branches of government to explore foreign policy.  In this conflict resolution lesson, students reflect on foreign policy decisions and participate in scenarios based on foreign policy events.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Resisting British Rule in America

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine the Sons of Liberty. In this activity on British rule, students analyze terrorism vs. patriotism through a variety of different perspectives. This activity includes instruction, assessment, Internet resources, and...
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Lesson Plan
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Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

Classroom Constitutional Convention

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the eight phrases that comprise the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution to determine its principles and purpose. Their own Constitutional Convention is convened to craft a preamble for their school's governance.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Documents and Symbols and American Freedom

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students complete a unit of lessons on the documents, symbols, and famous people involved in the founding of the U.S. government. They create a personal bill of rights, write a found poem, design a flag, conduct research, and role-play...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bob Dylan: No Direction Home

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students hold panel discussions on selected topics about the 1960s and their impact on modern-day events. As visual reinforcement, they watch the film about Bob Dylan and research the music of the period as well as his musical...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mock Trial

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students rewrite a traditional fairy tale to represent the viewpoint of the villain. They participate in a mock trial of that villain in which all regular court participants (judge, jury, defendant, witnesses, plaintiff, etc) play roles.
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Lesson Plan
Internal Revenue Service

Fairness in Taxes: How Taxes Affect Us

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are able to compare the effects of the following, using income as a measure of ability to pay: a progressive tax, a regressive tas, and a proportional tax. They explain how a mixture of regressive and progressive taxes could...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 2: The Tired King

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are introduced to the three functions of government (legislative, judicial, and executive). They read and discuss a story about an overworked king who must handle all the tasks of government. Students give a description of the...
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Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Missionaries, Expansionism, and The Philippines

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students examine the quality of sources in research in the process of gaining an understanding of the Spanish American War, American expansionism, and the role of missionaries in history. They meet in groups to provide an audio/visual...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students empathize with the colonists. In this lesson on the Declaration of Independence, students collaborate to problem solve a school dilemma that enables them to understand the issues and difficulties that occurred in the creation of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sudan -- Efforts to Avert Genocide in the Making

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine current events in Sudan and their efforts to prevent another genocide. They identify the roles of different humanitarian organizations in the area. They research the efforts to bring those accused of genocide to justice.