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Powers of Government
Students explore and identify the power of national and state governments. They discuss the concept of federalism and the distribution of governmental powers. As a class, they examine the balance of power between the federal and state...
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Poverty and Inequality in the World's Richest Nation
Learners examine poverty and inequality in America. In this current events lesson, students read the provided articles "Poverty," "Inequality Growing in America," "Inequality: Views on Causes, Effects, Remedies," and "Theories on the...
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Constitution Day
Students examine and discuss recent court cases involving young people and the Bill of Rights.They use a focus question to create the context for class discussion: How does the Bill of Rights apply to young people and students?
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Why is Delaware Called "The First State"?
Students learn why Delaware is called the First State and the background leading to Delaware's ratification of the US Constitution. Students, in groups, choose an individual in today's world that has the greatest influence on their...
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Maps of Indian Territory, the Dawes Act, and Will Rogers' Enrollment Case File
Students, in groups, analyze one map at a time, first the 1885 map, then the 1891 map. After they have completed the analysis sheets, they compare the two maps and answer questions imbedded in the plan.
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Sow the Seeds of Victory! Posters from the Food Administration During World War I
High schoolers engage in a class analysis of posters, responding to each of the worksheet questions. They identify the similarities and differences between the posters.
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Navigating The Legal System
Students identify personal rights allowed under the law in the United States. An exploration of the legal process leads students to describe how the American legal system works. This lesson plan is intended for students acquiring English.
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The Saturday Night Massacre
Students look at the actions taken by Nixon from several perspectives. They explain the Constitutional issues involved with the firings and the concept of Presidential privilege as it evolved during this period. Students draw conclusions...
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The Cost of Saving
Tenth graders compare accounts provided by the two newspaper articles with the visual account provided by Sue Coe. They articulate how those accounts are alike and different. Students consider the economic choices that made the Hamlet...
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Comparison of Political Ideologies in the Context of Constitutional Preambles
Students examine the various philosophies that form the foundations of political systems of major world countries.
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Government: The Power Grab
High schoolers 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.
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White Southerners' Defense of Slaveholding
Students read transcriptions of articles from two historical Virginian newspapers and examine how white southerners defended the institution of slavery. They write a one-act play or a dialogue between an abolitionist and a slaveholder.
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The Seminole Wars
Young scholars investigate the Seminole Wars, their events, and treaties. They create a timeline, label a map of Florida showing the Seminole population and do research about life on an Indian reservation.
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The Embodied Presidency
Eighth graders discover details about Thomas Jefferson's life. In this early American history lesson, 8th graders view a PowerPoint presentation that outlines some aspects of Jefferson's life. Students research the life of slaves at...
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Petition of Amelia Bloomer Regarding Suffrage in the West
Students investigate the role of Amelia Jenks Bloomer in the struggles for suffrage and political reform. They consider the factors involved in political socialization and compile webliographies of their research materials.
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Among the Hidden - Population Math Activity
In this population instructional activity, students collect data on population by researching the Census Bureau and then make online graphs and answer short answer questions about the data. Students complete 5 problems total.
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Issues in Public Education During the Kentucky Civil Rights Era
Pupils conduct oral history interviews and research historical and contemporary media articles about multiculturalism and diversity.
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National and Regional Identity
Students examine state quarters to identify symbols that represent national and regional identity. They discuss the process used to determine what is put on the quarter. They review colonial money, and euros to look for cultural images.
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Civil War
Students explore rules of conduct in a political body, first drafting rules that apply to their classroom, then adapting them to political actions in Congress.
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Diversity and Equality
Students explore how our political system addresses issues of diversity. After reading an included article, they discuss the constitutionality of student-led prayer in schools. Working in groups, they role play a Supreme Court case...
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Shays’ Rebellion: A Massachusetts Farmer’s Account
Students analyze the effects of Shays' Rebellion. In this Shays' Rebellion lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of the rebellion and the events that led to it. Students respond to discussion...
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The People's Right to Know
Students review Supreme Court ruling on the right to know, prior restrain and access to government. They read The Progressive case and hold a moot court to argue the outcome.
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Creating a New Media in the Arab World
Students explore the pros and cons of government-sponsored media into a war-torn country and determine whether the news will be considered information or propaganda.
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The Panama Canal Treaties: How Treaties Are Ratified
Students gain an understanding of how the executive and legislative branches, influenced by popular opinion, work toward the ratification of a treaty. They examine the influences and impact of lobbying and special interests in the...