ProCon
Voting Age
Should age matter when it comes to voting? Scholars read an article discussing the pros and cons of lowering the voting age to 16. They then consider both the advantages and disadvantages of having younger voters. After thinking about...
Judicial Branch of California
Fayette v. Take Two: The First Amendment
An informative lesson provides scholars the opportunity to study a Supreme Court case regarding the First Amendment and make a ruling with the members of their group. Class members also participate in group discussion and prepare a...
Facing History and Ourselves
Responding to Difference in Democracy
Disagreements happen in a diverse democracy. It's what people do about these differences in a diverse society that the resource models. After listening to an eight-minute podcast about a woman who collaborated with people who have very...
DocsTeach
The SS Quanza and European War Refugees
World War II not only resulted in major loss of life, but it also displaced thousands of people. An eye-opening activity uses primary documents to explore the refugee crisis during World War II. Scholars compare the event to modern-day...
DocsTeach
Ports of Immigration: Angel Island and Ellis Island
Young historians travel back to the past to explore immigration in the United States. Scholars match images of immigrants to Angel and Ellis Island. The activity also includes a worksheet and a short group discussion to understand...
DocsTeach
The Impact of the Immigration Act of 1924
Welcome to America ... only if you're on an approved list. The activity uses a map to explain how the Immigration Act of 1924 placed quotas on immigration from certain countries, such as India. Scholars analyze the map, complete a...
National Endowment for the Humanities
“Every Day We Get More Illegal” by Juan Felipe Herrera
A study of Jan Felipe Herrera's poem "Every Day We Get More Illegal" opens the door for a discussion on immigration. To begin, class members examine the photograph "Desert Survival," record their observations of the image, and then...
Curated OER
The Constitution on Trial: The Internment of the Japanese During World War II
Eleventh graders analyze primary source documents during the Second World War. Students recall statements of Japanese-Americans who were placed into internment camps during the war.
Curated OER
The Right to Vote
In this voting worksheet, students identify and discuss changes in voting rights throughout American history.
Then, they identify why voting is an important right for Americans. Finally, students create voting bookmarks instead of or in...
Curated OER
Health Care Crisis Timeline
Students work together to develop a timeline showing the history of the health cary system. They examine why so many Americans do not have health insurance. They create their own solutions to this problem.
Curated OER
Korematsu v. United States (1944)
High schoolers examine equal protection. In this Supreme Court lesson, students examine primary documents from Korematsu v. United States and discuss the implications of the decision with regards to Japanese internment.
Curated OER
Participating in Democracy
Students analyze film clips in class. In this democracy lesson, students identify the differences between civil liberties, democracy and freedom. Students view a video regarding Japanese internment and answer study questions as well as...
Curated OER
The Great Depression
Students are be able to analyze primary sources (photographs and letters) for evidence of difficulties children faced during the Great Depression. They are asked how the government tries to help people with problems that people face to...
Curated OER
11 September: Teaching Resources
Pupils examine events of September 11. They examine Muslims, dealing with loss, and the attacks on the World Trade Center. Students observe a slide presentation. They read guides concerning September 11 and related current events.
Curated OER
Kids Voting USA
Ninth graders use technology to learn about the right to vote and research information on candidates. They write questions for presidential candidates. Students read online chats with different candidates for senate and presidency.
Curated OER
Making More Places at the Table: The American Civil Rights Movement of the 50's and 60's
Eleventh graders examine the biography of Henry B. Gonzalez. They examine primary source documents from Congressman Gonzalez's personal papers related to his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.
Curated OER
Virginian Contributors
Students examine the contributions of native Virginians to the United States. For each person, they read excerpts of a book about their contributions and organize the information in a chart. In groups, they become an expert on one of...
Curated OER
Crucible Test
In this literature analysis learning exercise, students write a paragraph using quotes and specific examples as an essay test of The Crucible.
Curated OER
An Introduction to the Little Shell Tribe
Students engage in a lesson to find information about the history of the Little Shell Tribe. The concepts of sovereignty and treaty are defined in relation to the information gathered using research methods. They answer the inquiry of...
Curated OER
Escape - Civil War
Fourth graders role play the Underground Railroad in this lesson plan. They review the Underground Railroad and how people used it during the Civil War. They then are divided into groups, and role play with each group taking a...
Curated OER
Tribal Sovereignty Mock Trial
Students discuss the issue of tribal/native nation sovereignty. They review the Constitution of the U.S. and discuss how it legally provides for sovereign nations. Then they participate in a mock trial of the 1823 Supreme Court Case...
Curated OER
Courageous Voices that Shook the Nation to Action
Young scholars study Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. In this Martin Luther King, Jr. day lesson, students learn about the holiday for Dr. King through literature and music. Young scholars learn the lyrics to Stevie Wonder's 'Happy...
Curated OER
Chisholm '72: Shirley Chisholm for President
Students view the film "Chisholm '72 - Unbought and Unbossed" about Shirley Chisholm's 1972 bid for the Presidency. They complete a writing assignment in response to the film and participate in class discussion.
Curated OER
Rosa Parks
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a biographical story about Rosa Parks. Students answer 4 questions and then summarize the story.