What does it take to win the White House? A video game allows young political operatives to try their hand at winning 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue by deciding on key issues, where and how to spend campaign dollars, and the role of polling...

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates saw two primary political candidates debating seven different times about one of the most important social movements in United States history. Middle and high schoolers read an article that describes the...

Students explore the April, 2006, overhaul of the White House staff. They research the positions in transition and stage a press conference to introduce these changes to the public.

Ninth graders brainstorm different situations in which formal English is used. Individually, they describe how people would act if they were invited to the White House for dinner and what they would do. To end the activity, they role...

Young scholars approach a familiar story (Goldilocks and the Three Bears) from the perspective of a newspaper reporter. They apply the 5 W's + 1 H (Who, What, When, Where, Why and How).

Students examine defining issues in the race for the White House and evaluate important issues in several of the swing states. They create and administer a poll in their community and make predictions by analyzing the data.

Learners explore the concept a higher education yields higher earnings. Throughout the class, students visit six workstations and examine occupations, education, salaries, spending, banking, and taxes. As learners rotate through the...

Second graders brainstorm and create a list of important features/characteristics that they would want to include in a community setting. They include physical features, economic activities, kinds of housing, etc. This lesson is a...

Young sociologists explore how local, state, and federal governments work. This very impressive and ambitious instructional activity requires pupils to contact government officials who represent them and their families. They research...

Teams of Texas tourists gather into groups to analyze what they can do with $50 worth of an alternative fuel. They write checks, keep a balance sheet, and map out their sight-seeing route taking into consideration the location of...

Will the United States take a stand in the Kashmir conflict? A mock meeting of the minds examines a peace proposal between China, Pakistan, and India to determine if the United States should deploy troops to the area. Individuals take on...

High schoolers engage in the democratic process and to learn how a bill become a law. Then they write a bill they would like as law in their classroom. Students also form committees that will review the list of bills to determine if they...

Students study Presidential history by researching Abraham Lincoln.  In this U.S. history lesson, students discuss the changes in the 5 dollar bill and create a timeline of Abraham Lincoln's life.  Students complete a puzzle...

Students explore current events by completing worksheet activities in class. In this Osama Bin Laden lesson, students read the news article of Bin Laden's death and subsequent photo while discussing the event with classmates. Students...

Students study the manhunt for, John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln. In this lesson about a president, students write and role-play they are announcers who are informing the world of the...

High schoolers participate in a news conference simulation. In this Cold War lesson, students research events of the conflict during Eisenhower's presidency and use the information to script and participate in a news conference with...

Fifth graders explore architecture of the world, uses of buildings and discuss architecture as a career. They work in cooperative groups and present their findings to the class. This lesson can be expanded to include a printmaking lesson.

Students role-play as invitees to the World's Fair to develop a virtual electronic pavilion or poster presentation about the United States, its history and challenges. They act as tour guides giving their presentations and answering...

Students simulate a meeting of the President's energy task force in order to observe how energy policy may be developed with the input of various groups. Students will form groups with the following roles: lobbyists, members of the...

Learners conduct a mock presidential interview. In this US presidents lesson, students research the lives of former U.S. presidents and then role play interviews of the "presidents."

Young scholars examine visual arts by creating a piece of jewelery. In this art analysis lesson, students identify the work of Keith Haring by researching the Internet. Young scholars utilize tools and clay to create their own wearable...

Students discover how plants spread their seeds using other plants and animals. In this plant lesson, students role play different plants and how their seeds travel. Students then have a class discussion to ensure their understanding.

Students explore folktales. In this folktale instructional activity, students listen to a story from another country and discuss the characters. Students retell the story using puppets and do coloring sheets. Students do a sequencing cut...

Students practice reading comprehension of an Australian folktale. In this Australian folktale lesson, students read the story, Why Koala Has a Stumpy Tail, before completing retells with character puppets, discussing friendship, and...