Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Teachers: Using Primary Sources

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
The Library of Congress provides teachers with a framework that will help integrate primary sources into all areas of the curriculum. Sections include "Why to Use Primary Sources," "Citing Primary Sources," and "Finding Primary Sources."
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Primary Sources and Personal Artifacts

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
This lesson plan introduces the practice of using primary sources; where to find primary sources, what they are, how to examine them, and how to construct a context to tell more of the story.
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: The u.s. Constitution: Governing of the u.s.

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
This unit includes four lessons using primary sources to examine continuity and change in the governing of the United States. Lessons one and two are focused on a study of the Constitution and Bill of Rights and provide access to primary...
Unit Plan
Indiana University

The Center on Congress: An Introduction to Primary Sources

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Discover the difference between primary and secondary sources, then take a quiz to test your knowledge.
Interactive
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Learning Adventures: Three Branches of Government

For Students Pre-K - 1st Standards
Learning adventure guide on the three branches of government. Students read about the functions of the Legislative, Judicial and Executive branches and then play the learning game.
Website
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Learning Adventures: How Laws Are Made: The Language of the Law

For Students Pre-K - 1st Standards
Learning Adventures from Bensguide summarizes the process of lawmaking outlined in the U.S. Constitution and provides links to a glossary of legislative terms and Congressional Resolution from 2003.
Unit Plan
Have Fun With History

Have Fun With History: u.s. Government

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Module with numerous videos and links to living history sites on topics in American Government, including the Constitution, the three branches, federalism and an array of other topics.
Handout
Other

Encyber Pedia

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
An encyclopedia online. Just look for your topic to find information that you need. Provides information on a wide range of topics.
Lesson Plan
Other

Secondary Lesson Guide for Writing Journalism

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Excellent lesson plan page geared towards teachers and students interested in learning how to write feature stories and also learn basic writing tenets. Very practical site.
Primary
Other

Us Congress: Congress, the Court, and the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Transcript of a congressional hearing, held in 1994, to discuss whether Congress had given too much power to the Supreme Court, against the express intent of the Founding Fathers. This transcript is lengthy but informative, containing...
Lesson Plan
Other

Minnesota Historical Society: Minnesota Communities: Lesson: Primary Sources

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Lesson plan with necessary documents attached in PDF format where learners read three eye-witness accounts of a car accident and compare them to the secondary source insurance report. Then students read three eye-witness accounts of a...
Unit Plan
Other

University of Idaho: Information Literacy

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This learning module focuses on Information Literacy including internet basics, locating, evaluating, sharing, and documenting information.
Primary
New York Times

New York Times: Times Machine

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Browse PDFs of all issues of the "New York Times" now in the public domain. Includes every edition of the paper published since September 18, 1851, when the paper's first issue was produced, through 1922.
Handout
Grammarly

Grammarly Handbook: Research and Documentation

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
An explanation of the importance of research and documentation and links to specific information for each.
Handout
Grammarly

Grammarly Handbook: Good or Bad Resource?

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This page focuses on how to evaluate resources; it establishes criteria for determining good and bad resources. Primary resources are always good, but secondary and tertiary ones need to be evaluated more closely.
Graphic
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Double Entry Journal

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
A printable double-entry journal page along with directions on how to use this type of graphic organize, as well as lists of teaching ideas and related resources.
Lesson Plan
New Zealand Ministry of Education

Nz Ministry of Education: Extra! Extra!

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
In this instructional activity students will learn about newspapers including the parts of a newspaper, purpose, and structure of articles. They will gather, record and present information from a variety of sources, using different...
Website
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: The Articles of Confederation, 1781

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Gives a nice history of the Articles and also a summary of what they were and the problems that developed with their adoption. Includes links to the actual document.
Website
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Our Government

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Cartoon Ben Franklin guides students through the U.S. government by providing short descriptions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Website
US Government Publishing Office

U.s. Government Publishing Office: History of Bills

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
For any legislative actions enacted upon a specific bill, the specific type of action is recorded in the History of Bills section of the Government Printing Office website. This information comes straight from the Congressional Record,...
Website
US House of Representatives

Office of the Clerk: What Is Congress?

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
This overview will acquaint the reader with the role of the House of Representatives in Congress. Included is a glossary of terms and ideas for the teacher.
Activity
US Government Publishing Office

U.s. Government Publishing Office: Congressional Bills

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The government directory for making current and past bills accessible to the public. Very useful for finding bills pertinent to classes. Will require teacher direction at the elementary levels.
Website
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Learning Adventures: Branches of Government

For Students Pre-K - 1st Standards
Beginning page of a Learning Adventure examines what parts of the Constitution give the branches of the Federal Government their specific powers. Those three parts are Article I, Article II, and Article III.
Lesson Plan
Other

Usa Gov: Three Branches of Government

For Students Pre-K - 1st Standards
Lesson plans for students to learn about the three branches of government. They can find information about the origins of the Constitution, separation of powers, and details about each of the three branches.