Curated OER
A Young Mayor
Students explore the responsibilities of a town mayor. Students create an election poster supporting election of a mayor They design a manifesto, explaining intentions, within a budget, to improve the locality. Students share ideas...
Curated OER
Government
Eighth graders analyze the purposes of government. They examine or assess the importance of citizenship to the individual or to society at large (e.g., the importance of voting). Students explain the structure and functions of the three...
Curated OER
Taking Them On Faith?
Learners explore, examine and study about the role of religion in presidential campaigns and elections by reading and discussing the article, "God" 08: Whose, and How Much, Will Voters Accept?" They research a variety of presidents...
Curated OER
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION: A SIMULATION
Pupils discuss two computerized options to change the current U.S. government. In this Constitutional Convention lesson plan, students write a statement advocating for one of the choices and participate in a mock modern Constitutional...
Curated OER
Political Parties Then & Now
Students research information about candidates both past and present. They role play a party member, the public or the press to present information.
Curated OER
Writing a Political Leader
Students investigate politics by writing a formal letter. In this U.S. Government lesson, students discuss political issues they would like to address and research their topic using the Internet. Students locate an appropriate political...
Curated OER
Counting On Freedom
Students examine the poem and artistic masterpiece The Quadroon Girl and use this knowledge to practice mathematical concepts such as: more than, less than, counting, and majority.
Curated OER
The Voter
High schoolers identify the constitutional amendments and major federal laws that have shaped suffrage in the United States.
Curated OER
Creating Hate: The Power of Words
Students explore why authors choose to use hate words in literature. In this power of words lesson, students complete group participation, journal entries, and written assignments to investigate the use of inflammatory language. Students...
Curated OER
Assessing Public Opinion Polls and Building Them
Students explore the role of public opinion polls in America. In this public opinion polls lesson, students discover the steps of analyzing poles before they create and conduct their own polls.
Curated OER
Polling and Statistics
Young scholars investigate polling. In this statistics lesson, students collect data-on polling and graph their data on a coordinate plane. They identify biased and non-biased polling.
Curated OER
United States Flag: Stars and Stripes
Learners study the symbols and history of the United States flag. In this United States flag lesson, students complete a KWL about the U.S. flag. Learners then visit a website to learn about the American flag and discuss the topic....
Curated OER
Free India: Resisting British Rule in India
Students explore the impact of nonviolence during Gandhi's Free India movement. In this World History lesson, students complete several activities including research, class discussions and a multimedia project, all centered around Gandhi.
Curated OER
Resisting British Rule in America
Students examine the Sons of Liberty. In this lesson plan on British rule, students analyze terrorism vs. patriotism through a variety of different perspectives. This lesson plan includes instruction, assessment, Internet resources, and...
Curated OER
The Campaign of 1840: William Henry Harrison and Tyler, Too
Students list some issues important during the campaign of 1840. They compare and contrast the careers of Martin Van Buren and William Henry Harrison before they became president and explain why the Whigs wanted to find a candidate in...
Heritage Foundation
The House of Representatives
The House of Representatives has a lot of responsibility in the United States government. But how did it all begin, and why is it the way it is now? A comprehensive lesson answers all of these questions about the US Constitution and...
Stanford University
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Was JFK a fallen Civil Rights hero—or a fraud? Learners examine Kennedy's own words and those of his critics to decide for themselves. After examining Kennedy's actions before his assassination, they determine what sort of legacy he left...
Stanford University
Iraq Resolution
The 9/11 attacks propelled the United States into a period of low-grade war that has existed from that day all the way to current times. By looking at documents from the decision to send troops to Iraq in 2006, scholars connect the...
Stanford University
Fort Sumter
The headlines screamed what everyone knew was coming: War! While Fort Sumter was considered the first battle of the Civil War, the engagement played differently in newspapers at the time. Using coverage from Northern and Southern...
Curated OER
Writing Exercises: Science and Technology II
All revolutions in science and technology have both pros and cons. Kids examine the advent of the green revolution, nuclear growth, use, and the countries that are considered nuclear powers. They'll construct three responses to each of...
Curated OER
Statehouse Time Capsule
Fourth graders create a time capsule that is representative of their community. They explain why the chosen objects are representative of themselves or their community.
NPR
Same-Sex Marriage
The battle over same-sex marriage is a prevalent issue in the United States, and a valuable topic to be discussed in your social studies classroom. Here is a basic outline of introductory questions, focus questions, vocabulary, and media...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Youth Curfews
Don't stay out too late! Scholars analyze the need for youth curfews in a democratic society. They examine primary documents, case studies, and short video clips to form their opinions and take a position on the issue. Holding a class...
Curated OER
What's the most important issue?
High schoolers identify and compare/contrast a variety of key issues in the UK to issues in their own lives right now. They list the major issues in front of the UK people then and now. In addition, they argue the pros and cons to...