US Environmental Protection Agency
A Mock Town Meeting on a Proposed Tank Farm
Intended as a follow up to the Protecting Your Drinking Water activity, young environmentalists use their assessment of the a hypothetical town's water supply to debate the installation of underground chemical storage tanks. With...
US Institute of Peace
Simulation on Conflict Prevention in the Greater Horn of Africa
Is containing a conflict possible in the Horn of Africa? Young peacekeepers engage in a simulation that examines the multi-faceted conflict that exists between the countries of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Representatives from ten countries in...
Curated OER
Candidate Obama Support and President Obama's Agenda
Students research categories within President Obama's agenda and create a PowerPoint presentation. In this President Obama agenda lesson, students research a category within President Obama's agenda and present their topic in a...
EngageNY
Contrasting Perspectives: Should the Farmworkers in Esperanza Rising Go On Strike? (Chapter 12: "Los Esparragos/Asparagus")
Explore multiple perspectives through a jigsaw activity that will improve your pupils' understanding of the characters in Esperanza Rising as well as their understanding of strikes and human rights. Tapping into prior knowledge, and...
National Endowment for the Humanities
“From Time to Time”: Presidents and Communicating with the Public
While the Constitution requires a "State of the Union" address, it doesn't give many details. In fact, it wasn't until Woodrow Wilson that the periodic update to Congress was given in-person. Using primary sources, recordings and...
Curated OER
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors' Meeting
Middle schoolers examine the role of the Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County, Virginia. In groups, they research their responsibilities to the community and role play in their own Board meeting. To end the lesson plan, they discuss...
Curated OER
Influencing the Agenda: The Impact of Interest Groups on Policy Making
Students examine the role of interest groups and how they affect voters. In groups, they research how the groups have affected policy making in the county. They examine a specific issue and discover whether or not a vote was changed...
Curated OER
A Second Visit to Deerfield
Students take a virtual tour of the Deerfield Meeting House, circa 1700's, and other turn of the century homes and locations and compare them to modern homes and locations of today.
Curated OER
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors' Meeting
Middle schoolers research the roles of the Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County, Virginia. In a role-play activity, they practice making decisions for the county as if they were members of the Board. To end the lesson, they discuss...
Curated OER
Influencing the Agenda: The Impact of Interest Groups on Public Policy
Young scholars define the terms "interest groups" and "public policy". In groups, they discuss the ways in which interest groups can have an effect on how a Board member votes. Using examples, they discover the effectiveness of...
Curated OER
C¿¿sar Ch¿¿vez, Organizes the Farm Workers Association - Act I, Scene I "The House Meeting"
Eleventh graders analyze the development of federal civil and voting rights for minority groups. In groups, they discuss how Cesar Chavez organized the farm workers and the techniques he used when protesting. They define and practice...
Curated OER
OPEC Research and Simulation
Students research the organizational structure of OPEC and its political and economic role. They simulate an OPEC meeting. They determine the circumstances that led to the formation of the OPEC cartel.
Curated OER
Local Governments Don't Do Much ... Or Do They?
Students study and explore their local government. They role play members of their City Council and various constituents as they discuss a variety of subjects typical of a city council meeting.
Curated OER
Using Current Events to Understand Elections
Eleventh graders explore the the major phases of the electoral process for president. For this US Government lesson, 11th graders compare and contrast the delegate system of nomination and the electoral college.
Curated OER
Europe in Upheaval (1850 - 1914)
Europe was in a state of transition and upheaval that spanned a time of 60 years, beginning in 1850 and running through the first World War. Uncover the wars, key players, politics, and social movements that marked this time period in...
EngageNY
Listening Closely and Taking Notes in Expert Groups: Colonial Trade Podcast
The twelfth instructional activity of this unit builds on the skills developed in the previous instructional activity, as fourth graders continue their quest to become experts on colonial trade by listening to interviews with historical...
EngageNY
Listening Closely and Taking Notes: Colonial Trade Podcast About the Wheelwright
Voices from the past. Young scholars listen to a podcast interview with a historical re-enactor as they continue their research in the eleventh instructional activity of this unit on colonial trade. Applying their close reading skills,...
Annenberg Foundation
Becoming Visible
The television and interstate highways both came of age in 1950s America. Scholars use film, text, and discussion to explore how these and other cultural icons shaped the literature of the time. Pupils also create a family history...
Annenberg Foundation
Making an Issue-Based Video
Encourage class members to become engaged citizens by researching an issue they are passionate about and then producing a video to present to policymakers, the public, and their peers. Everything needed for the unit is contained in...
Curated OER
Turning Assets into Action in the Fight Against Hunger
How can one person change the world? Scholars research and analyze the topic of world hunger. Using video clips, parodies, and primary source evidence, they uncover a current campaign to end world hunger. Collaborative groups openly...
Curated OER
Children's Organization for Civil Rights
Pupils analyze a speech from Constance Baker Motley, examine student Organization for Civil Rights' documents, and then create their own plan of action for what the C.O.C.R. might be like if it existed today.
Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association
A Research Project: A Discussion of the Recreating and Populating of a Colonial Village
Primary source research, secondary source readings, and discussion provide the understanding necessary for students to create a colonial persona, and simulate a situation appropriate for this person, time, and place. While the lesson...
Curated OER
Breaking News English: Europe
In this Europe worksheet, students read the article, answer true and false questions, complete synonym matching, complete phrase matching, complete a gap fill, answer short answer questions, answer discussion questions, write, and more...
Curated OER
Get Ready, Get Set, Get Organized! Lesson 2 of 2
Seventh graders examine the importance of being organized when making transitions. In this organization lesson, 7th graders watch a teacher demonstration of entering a room in a disorganized manner before discussing how the transition...