City University of New York
Presidential Elections and the Electoral College
To understand the controversy surrounding the US 2000 presidential election, class members investigate the rationale behind the Electoral Collage, the intimidation involved in the election of 1876, and the 2004 American League...
Federal Reserve Bank
History of Money and Banking in the U.S.
Why was there a lack of confidence in the money and banking system of the early United States government? What historical events led to the establishment of the Federal Reserve System? Here you'll find reading materials and worksheets to...
James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
Application of the Principles of the Constitution
If you want to challenge your US government class, this assignment requires them to identify a contemporary issue or event that reflects the four main principles of the Constitution (federalism, separation of powers, protection of...
Curated OER
The First Amendment
Eleventh graders examine the First Amendment. In this US Government lesson, 11th graders analyze the scope and meaning of the first amendment. Students conduct a survey on First Amendment freedoms. Student evaluate the First Amendment.
Curated OER
Government Lesson Plan 17
Students analyze evidence of society's socioeconomic goals, prioritize goals, and identify the opportunity costs of limited government funding.
Curated OER
The Need for Government—A Cinematic and Literary Perspective
Young scholars examine the philosophy of government. In this types of government instructional activity, students explore literature and movie clips to determine the value of rules in lawless societies.
Curated OER
Government
Students evaluate how the United States government has maintained a balance between protecting rights and maintaining order. They analyze the impact of Supreme Court decisions on governmental powers and the rights and responsibilities of...
Curated OER
Stitching Truth Lesson One: What is Civil Society?
Ninth graders create a working definition of civil society. In this US History instructional activity, 9th graders create a list of terms that help make up the term civil society. Students examine the case study of life in Pinochet's...
Curated OER
Voting and US Resident Aliens
Twelfth graders examine the process of voting. In this American Government lesson, 12th graders evaluate the arguments for and against alien voting. Students participate in a debate on voting rights.
Curated OER
Civil Rights - What are yours?
Students explore US Civil Rights. In this us government lesson, students watch a video and then complete a worksheet on identifying and understanding their personal civil rights.
Curated OER
The Role of State Government and the State Constitution
Students examine sections of the Nebraska Constitution and the U.S. Constitution, and compare/contrast the two. They research policy issues, and decide whether they should be solved at the state or federal level.
Curated OER
ONE VOTE
In order to understand the political process and the importance of voting, pupils will construct a class time line. They will group up and research a specific era, creating a time line of political events where one vote made a...
Curated OER
It's Your Right: A Civil Rights Brochure
Learners examine the US Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Supreme Court cases in order to broaden their understanding of the US Judicial System. They research a variety of textual and Internet resources to create a tri-fold brochure,...
Annenberg Foundation
Controversial Issues in Practice
Wow! This resource provides three related lessons on the First Amendment that challenge US government students to explore their personal opinion on the separation of church and state. Each lesson can be adjusted in length, but is...
Alabama Department of Archives and History
Military Conscription in World War I: Alabamians Express Their Opinions
If called, would you go? Should the US government have the power to impose a draft during any war? The Selective Service Act of 1917 (aka the Conscription Act of 1917) authorized the drafting of men into the military for only the second...
Curated OER
Rome's Rise To Power: The Republic
Students investigate the government structure of ancient Rome. In this government systems lesson, students compare and contrast the government of ancient Rome with the government of the United States.
Stanford University
Great Society
Students explore the Great Society. In this U.S. history and government instructional activity, students view the video "The Great Society," identify the major points of the speech, and compare and contrast the content with The New Deal.
Curated OER
We the People
Middle schoolers create a map illustrating the three branches of goverment. They identify the branches of government and the shared or exclusive powers of each. Students use mapping as a prewriting stategy. They discuss our national...
Curated OER
Documents and Symbols and American Freedom
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...
Curated OER
Governing National Socialist Germany
Young scholars spend a month discovering the role of the Nazi Dictatorship during the Holocaust. Using the internet, they research the history of the Nazi party and the decline of the Weimar Republic. They examine how Hitler rose to...
Curated OER
US Policy Toward Egypt: A Dialogue
Students examine U.S. foreign policy concerning the 2011 Egyptian uprising. In this current events lesson plan, students discuss the uprising in Egypt and examine news reports related to it. Students then discuss their feelings about the...
Curated OER
It's a Grand Ol' Government!
Students discuss the three branches of government and the different levels. They talk about the purpose of laws and use the Internet to locate information about governments. They watch the video, "United States Constitution" and look up...
Curated OER
Local Government and Leaders
Third graders research their local government and leaders. Throughout the instructional activity, they engage in discussions, a visit by an elected local government official and research. In addition, 3rd graders study some basic facts...
Curated OER
We Are the Government
Students read primary documents to find the motivations of the founding fathers of the United States. In this primary documents lesson, students discuss the meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution, read parts of the Constitution...