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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reconstruction and the 1868 South Carolina Constitution

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students, through lecture and group discussion, explore the American Civil War Reconstruction and how it affected the development of the 1868 Constitution of South Carolina. They discuss its impact on South Carolina even today.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Michigan Constitution and the Legislative Branch

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore online resources to compare and contrast the different constitutions the state of Michigan has had. They continue their exploration of various websites, focusing on the legistlative branch and the homepage of their local...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The U.S. Constitution: Practical Application of the Amendments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create their own HyperStudio cards which include scanned images of at least one member (designated reader) of each group. They add the text of a predetermined amendment. The designated reader then reads the selected amendment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bill of Rights

For Teachers 8th - 10th
US history classes explore constitutional rights as they relate to court cases involving teens. Your class must already be familiar with the Bill of Rights before beginning this series of exercises. In preparation for a debate-style...
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Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Global Climate Change

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine an environmental issue. In this global studies lesson plan, students read an article entitled, "Global Climate Change," and respond to the discussion questions that accompany it.
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Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Freedom of Expression

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Should democracies include hate speech as a protected right? Scholars analyze the rights found under the First Amendment to the Constitution through researching evidence. Freedom of expression becomes the focal point of the...
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Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Domestic Violence

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine domestic violence issues. In this global studies lesson, students read a case study on domestic violence. Students take notes on the case and respond to discussion questions.
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Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Educating Non-Citizens

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers distinguish between the privileges of being a U.S. Citizen and privileges that are forfeited if not a U.S. Citizen.  For this history lesson, students analyze the rights of people in a democratic society through research,...
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Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Euthanasia

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners analyze euthanasia as a possible way to die.  In this controversial lesson plan, students reflect and discuss euthanasia as a possible way to enter death.  Classroom discussion allows learners to voice their opinion and personal...
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Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Free and Independent Press

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students determine how free press principles can be compromised. For this global studies lesson plan, students read an article titled "Free and Independent Press." Students respond to discussion questions regarding the article.
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Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Freedom of Movement

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Class members examine human migration. For this population lesson, they read an article entitled, "Freedom of Movement" and respond to discussion questions about the article related to guest worker programs.
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Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Minorities in a Democracy

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students consider diversity in democracies. For this democratic values lesson, students read an article titled, "Minorities in a Democracy." Students respond to discussion questions about the article.
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Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Voting

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars read about voting rights and compulsory voting in democracies. For this voting rights lesson plan, young scholars analyze the reasons for supporting and opposing compulsory voting and discuss whether compulsory voting is...
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Lesson Plan
James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

For Teachers 7th - 12th
This exercise on the Constitution requires small groups to design a visual metaphor that expresses the concept behind one of seven principles: popular sovereignty, federalism, republicanism, separation of powers, checks and balances,...
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Worksheet
K12 Reader

What is a Tribal Government?

For Students 2nd - 3rd Standards
What is life like on a Native American reservation? Learn about the ways a tribal government works with a reading comprehension activity. After reading a short passage, kids use context clues to answer five comprehension questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Active, Healthy Lifestyle Choices

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
What does the term "lifestyle" mean? What constitutes an active lifestyle? What constitutes a healthy lifestyle? The main ideas in this lesson focus on what an active healthy lifestyle looks like. There are questions for discussion, and...
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Lesson Plan
Syracuse University

Women's Suffrage Movement

For Teachers 7th - 10th Standards
Women gained the right to vote in the twentieth century, but the fight for equality dates back centuries. Using an invitation to an 1874 suffrage convention, eager historians consider the motivations behind supporters of the suffrage...
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Activity
National Constitution Center

Town Hall Wall: College Exam

For Students 8th - 12th Standards
The college that directly affects young citizens' lives is not the university they're applying to. Learn about the Electoral College in a town hall activity in which class members debate the merits of the current system versus electing a...
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Interactive
2
2
Judicial Learning Center

Types of Court Cases

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
How can one court acquit someone of a crime, while another convicts the person of the same one? It's all because of the differences between civil and criminal trials. An informative resource provides scholars in the field of criminology...
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Lesson Plan
Incredible Art Department

Notan Collages - "Expanding the Square"

For Teachers 6th
Notan is a Japanese word that expresses the interaction between light and dark. Learners explore Notan while creating dimensional art pieces that examine positive and negative spaces. They'll discuss the art of Notan, create their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Defending the Homeland--The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1789

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore that there have been times during the history of the US when ,in response to real and perceived threats, both domestic and foreign, our country has responded by passing legislation. Students trace the fundamental rights...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Government

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Challenge your students with this lesson plan on American government! Learners discuss the three branches of government and its responsilbities, and then go on to more complex critical-thinking activities. Students interview members of...
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Lesson Plan
1
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School Improvement in Maryland

Court Proceedings Civil Cases

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What's the difference between civil and criminal law? How do the court proceedings differ in these two types of trials? How do the standards of proof differ? Why do these differences exist? As part of their examination of the US court...
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Lesson Plan
Albert Shanker Institute

Dream Under Development

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
As part of their study of the 1963 March on Washington, class members do a side-by-side comparison of the original text of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech" with a transcript of the speech he delivered. The take away from the...