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Lesson Plan
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What So Proudly We Hail

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: A Lesson on the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
What does it mean to say that a right is unalienable? How did the founding fathers convey this revolutionary concept in the Declaration of Independence? Engage in a close reading and analysis of the Declaration of Independence, and...
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Lesson Plan
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West Virginia Department of Education

Declarations and the Quest for Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Understanding how John Brown got his inspiration from the Declaration of Independence helps learners further understand both West Virginia and United States history. The resource, a standalone, uses worksheets, discussion, and essay...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Revolution Simulation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the grievances of the American colonists. They relate to that which is held most dearly i.e. life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Revolutionary Perspectives

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Learners go to the heart of the causes of the American Revolution. Examining political cartoons, Enlightenment documents, and firsthand accounts, they present their ideas and reflective...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights and You

For Teachers 4th - 6th
The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The lesson explains what the Bill of Rights is and how it applies to everyday life, like freedom of speech or the right to a jury trial. Young historians complete hands-on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Revolution Simulation: Colonial History, Drama

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explain why the American colonies declared the independence, students should relate to that which is held most dearly i.e. life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They participate in a drama that illustrates this.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Government?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners explore values that unite Americans. For this government lesson, students recall the symbols of America and discuss how to create a "Classroom Constitution." Learners form rules and write their own Constitution.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All Men Are Created Equal

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in a lesson to investigate the concept of all men being equal. The concept has a historical context during the time of the American Revolution. They use primary and secondary sources in order to discover the concept of...
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Handout
San Antonio Independent School District

Breaking Down the Declaration of Independence

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Are learners heavy sighing at the idea of reading a primary source, written in a language that is difficult to understand and in cursive? Look no further, because the resource breaks down the Declaration of Independence in an...
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Lesson Plan
Global Oneness Project

Repairing the Fabric of Democracy

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
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. 
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Organizer
Judicial Learning Center

American Equality Milestones

For Students 7th - 12th Standards
Has equality always existed as an unalienable right in the United States? Use this worksheet to chronicle the history and progression of equality in major documents and speeches throughout American history. The graphic organizer asks...
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Handout
ProCon

Right to Health Care

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Is health care a right or a privilege? Scholars review pro and con arguments to decide if all Americans should have the right to health care. They also watch informative videos and review information on the United States and...
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Activity
Thomas Jefferson Foundation

Personal Morals vs. Political Moves Document Based Essay

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Was Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite? Tackle this question with primary source analysis and an essay. The packet includes historical background, a writing prompt, a combined outline and checklist, and ten primary documents paired with...
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Unit Plan
Thomas Jefferson Foundation

Personal Morals vs. Political Moves

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Was Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite? That is the question facing class members as they examine excerpts from documents that relate to Jefferson's beliefs about slaves and slavery.
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Activity
National Association of Teacher Educators for Family and Consumer Science

Consumerism in the Classroom: Effective Strategies for Today's Teenage Consumers

For Students 9th - 12th
Help class members become savvy consumers with a series of activities that has them analyzing marketing strategies, comparing the value of brand name versus off-brand clothing, and considering the advantages and disadvantages of shopping...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Bringing Animal Issues into the Classroom: César Chávez

For Students 5th
Fifth graders get critical and political while they begin thinking about human and animal rights in relation to the US Constitution. This hand out includes answers to several questions regarding Cesar Chavez and his work to secure rights...
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Activity
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

Investigating the Declaration of Independence

For Students 8th - 10th Standards
Teach your class about the Declaration of Independence while giving them practice working as a team. The resource breaks participants into groups and has them answer questions about specific grievances from the Declaration of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Commas Exercise

For Teachers 7th - 8th
In this commas worksheet, students identify where to correctly add a comma in fifteen given sentences. He was a bashful dopey sleeping dwarf, is one example.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Racism: Law and Attitude

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine discrimination laws. In this racism lesson plan, students compare and contrast de facto and de jure discrimination. Students also explore the Bill of Rights and determine what makes some acts and speech illegal.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mosaic America: Patterns of Racism

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders use print and electronic resources to gather and analyze information on the political system in the United States. Using the Constitution, they identify and discuss instances of racism included in amendments and laws. ...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Citizenship Worksheet 2 - A Government of Laws

For Students 8th - 9th
In this citizenship and government laws worksheet, students identify what the United States government provides for its citizens, the foundations of that government, the principles of the Constitution, any amendments to the Constitution,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students examine the Declaration of Independence. In this colonial America lesson, students read literature regarding the document as well as excerpts of the document itself. Students also perform a Reader's Theatre script based on the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery and Empire 1440 - 1770

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students reflect on the events that led up to slavery in the early years of North America.  For this United States History lesson, students read excerpts from the book "Out of Many," then gather in small groups to answer specific...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examining the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Pupils examine the Declaration of Independence and its significance to American history. They read the document, identify America's grievances with Great Britain, and restate a part of the document in their own words.