Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An "Unconstitutional" Act? The Suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the implications of habeas corpus. In this Civil War lesson, students analyze the writ of habeas corpus by Lincoln during the war. Students examine primary sources from Lincoln and Chief Justice Taney. Students design...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Opportunity and Discrimination, A Dream of Gold

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students focus on what it means to be a citizen of the United States and why the Chinese Exclusion Act is important when considering the concept of racism.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dr. Fix-It Subjects: Health, Government

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Help your students undertand the critical problems around healthcare. By focusing on the political and private process of healthcare, students will watch a video, analyze issues, and write an essay on their findings. Additionally, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Montana Tribal Governments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in a research instructional activity to find out more information about tribal governments. The instructional activity includes guiding questions to help in the research process. They complete a chart of comparisons and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders summarize sections of the Declaration of Independence and share their interpretations with classmates. They write essays on the Declaration or an essay tracing the rights of minorities from the Revolution to the present.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

War of 1812

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders locate the major land forms and bodies of water on a map of Louisiana. In groups, they discuss the role of the Mississippi River in the Battle of New Orleans and how land and water affect the outcome of battles. To end...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

declaration of Independence

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders research the Declaration of Independence and its impact. They assemble puzzle pieces of the declaration and create their own declaration of independence including grievances and resolution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mock Trial

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students rewrite a traditional fairy tale to represent the viewpoint of the villain. They participate in a mock trial of that villain in which all regular court participants (judge, jury, defendant, witnesses, plaintiff, etc) play roles.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Embodied Presidency

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders compare and contrast the immigration reform policies of Presidents Reagan and Bush. For this immigration lesson, 10th graders examine primary documents related to each president's policy for immigration reform. Students...
Lesson Plan
National Constitution Center

Fourth of July (Grades 9-12)

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Class members work to translate the Declaration of Independence into their own words, as well as design a Facebook page within the context of 1776 to raise public awareness about the document and its meaning for citizens.
Handout
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Abortion

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Abortion has remained a highly controversial issue ever since the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Using the website, learners sift through all the information they need to participate in a debate about the topic. They learn about the...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Early Presidents

For Teachers 4th
Students are introduced to the lives and contributions of the first seven presidents of the United States. They, in groups, conduct further research on one of these president and his political platform and design a presentation for the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Internet Fact Hunt at the "Fact Monster" Web Site- Hunt #33

For Students 4th - 6th
In this Internet fact hunt learning exercise, students access the "Fact Monster" web site to locate the answers to 5 multiple choice questions. They answer questions about US history, geography, literature, and science.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hypothetical Heights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in an interdisciplinary lesson to discuss improvements that would make them want to return to a previously poor neighborhood.  In this civics lesson, students work in a budget to make a plan to better their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Government: The Power Grab

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners are able to identify the departments and agencies within the executive branch that enforce energy policy. They are able to describe potential concerns that the executive branch must address when developing energy policy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Separation of Powers

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research the three branches of government and examine the effect that the separation of powers has on the presidency. They explain the importance of the rule of law in establishing limits on both those who govern and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Expressive Linear Sculpture

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop skill in utilizing line in a 3 dimensional context. They explore a variety of techniques for mounting sculptures to a base.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moot Court Preparation

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders prepare themselves for a mock moot court. In groups, they are presented with an overview of each activity and research appellate cases related to the topic given to them. They identify regions of the country that have...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moot Court

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners research and discuss court cases in preparation for Moot Court. Student attorneys research precedents involving their cases, while student justices research political ideology of Supreme Court Justices. Student attorneys then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing a Citizen

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze messages and values associated with civic engagement present in the media. They analyze the local community's promotion of values associated with civic engagement by conducting investigative research. They hypothesize...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil Action

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students will observe the legal procedures involved in class action lawsuits and gain knowledge of how they are sometimes used as a tool to deter polluters of the environment. Students will also read about the background the Love Canal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Embodied Presidency

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders analyze Roosevelt's Fireside Chats. In this Franklin D. Roosevelt presidency, 10th graders determine how well FDR's government programs aided victims of the Great Depression. Students examine selected Fireside Chats and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do I Have a Right To Privacy?

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Young scholars, in groups, explore the Fourth Amendment and their right to privacy. They explore reasonable search/seizure, sanctity of a man's house, right to privacy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The President's Roles and Responsibilities: Understanding the President's Job

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students examine the roles and responsibilites of the president of the U.S. They identify and discuss the three branches of U.S. government, view and discuss a White House Photo essay online, and create a class book entitled, 'If I Were...