Curated OER
Social Darwinism and American Laissez-faire Capitalism
Students investigate Social Darwinism. In this government systems instructional activity, students listen to their instructor present a lecture on the details of Social Darwinism and American laissez-faire capitalism. Students respond to...
Curated OER
Social Studies: The Human and Animal Connection!
Students infer the connection among humans, animals, and disease through the interpretation of concept maps. They are introduced to the idea of a connection human disease and the domestication of animals.
Curated OER
The Powers of Government
Explore the powers of the federal and state government. Learners use a Venn Diagram to classify tasks as belonging to the states, the federal government, or both. This activity provides a quick way to review these concepts.
Curated OER
Socratic Seminar on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter From Birmingham Jail
Key in the struggle to gain the rights of democratic citizenship was the April 1963 arrest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for civil disobedience. To deepen their knowledge and understanding of events during the civil rights movement,...
Global Oneness Project
Repairing the Fabric of Democracy
During elections, headlines constantly lament the issue of low voter turnout. Help class members understand why this is such an important topic with relevant articles, a discussion of both sides of the issue, and a reflective essay.
Smithsonian Institution
Students’ Response to 9/11—A Documentary Report
Young historians research the devastating attacks of 9/11 and use that information to script their own documentaries. The follow-up activity includes recording the documentary and conducting classmate interviews,
Curated OER
Social Studies: Medieval and Contemporary Class Structures
Students discuss and compare contemporary class systems with those of the Middle Ages. They explore Websites on HyperStudio stack and review art and music of the Middle Ages. In groups, students design and draw castles reflecting manor...
Curated OER
Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 13, Lesson 1 The Past Shapes the Future (pp. 292-295)
Fourth graders reflect upon the events of the past in order to make cognitive connections to present or future history. Students use Blooms Taxonomy to attain higher levels of thinking.
Curated OER
Social Studies, Civics Lesson
Students examine the development of government. They identify different theories of political thought around the world. They participate in a play to discover their own political views on key issues.
Curated OER
The Voting Game
Upper graders play the voting game to help them understand voting patterns, political movements, and build a content specific vocabulary. Each student creats a chart to determine if his or her political view veers liberal or...
Consumer Action
Talking to Teens About Money
Your teenagers are probably very good at spending money, but how good are they at managing it? Teach class members about banking, checking accounts, interest rates, car insurance, and many other relevant concepts with a series of...
iCivics
Step 9: Grab People’s Attention
Attention! Attention! Scholars investigate the concept of attention-grabbers in advertising a product or a cause. They use the ninth installment of a 10-part County Solutions - High School series to analyze t-shirts, bumper stickers,...
University of Texas
Scarcity
How can having too little of something impact your life? Scholars investigate the concept of scarcity in their own lives and in the overall picture of the economy. Brainstorming activities as well as student-parent work bring to light...
Curated OER
Chapter 23: Pure Competition
Taking your young economists through the characteristics of four market models (Pure Competition, Pure Monopoly, Oligopoly, and Monopolistic Competition), this presentation uses both charts and graphs to illustrate the necessary...
Curated OER
The Economics of Health Care
Health care is an industry that impacts every American. Study the economics behind the Health care industry in the US with this supplementary presentation. Intended for use with a McGraw-Hill textbook, these slides will help upper...
Curated OER
Legislation: Passing a Bill in the House of Representatives
Students study the concept of legislation as it relates to passing a bill in the House of Representatives. In this legislation: passing a bill in the house of representative lesson plan, students identify why and how bills are introduced...
Curated OER
Blasphemy! Salman Rushdie and Freedom of Expression
Learners explore the concepts of blasphemy, censorship and freedom of expression through the lens of Salman Rushdie. They also consider how these issues have been reflected in US history.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
King of Prussia Inn: Exploring Historic Places
Learners of any age examine the significance of historic sites, how we understand those sites, and what they mean in terms of history and the culture of the past. They look at maps, artifacts, and data taken from archaeological sites to...
Curated OER
African Art: The Personal and Useful Objects in Daily Life of Central and Southeastern Africa
Students identify and recognize three dimensional objects that are utilitarian and used in the everyday life of the people of eastern and southern Africa. They examine the conception, planning, and skillful execution that went into each...
Curated OER
Words Really Matter: Examining Language at School
Help your young scholars gain sensitivity and become aware of the implications of the words they see, hear, and use about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. After making lists of words or phrases they hear or use in school...
Curated OER
Paper Money
Young scholars investigate the concept of money and its images that are found around the world. They conduct research using a variety of resources while collecting different images to create examples of money. Students create copies of...
Curated OER
Silk Road Treasures And Traders
Students investigate the concepts that are related to the Silk Road trading route. They conduct guided research using a variety of resources. The information is used in order to use a shoebox and draw a map of the Silk Road upon it.
Curated OER
Lesson: Nimble Symbols
Comparative thinking is one way to build critical analysts. Budding artists discuss symbols and how they represent concepts, beliefs, or ideas. They compare the symbols found on an ancient Egyptian mummy case to those found in...
Curated OER
America: The Land We Live In: Landmarks
Students explore the concept of landmarks. For this landmark lesson, students brainstorm different landmarks around their community and nationally. Students then identify the patterns in Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings or landmarks.