Curated OER
Our National Documents
Learners consider the significance of selected American documents. In this civics instructional activity, students analyze excerpts of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
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The Preamble to the U. S. Constitution
Fifth graders explain the purpose of the government by examining the Preamble to the Constitution. They identify ways in which the government is preserving those rights today. They discover one of the fundamental principles of...
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Money Talks
Students move from fact finding to interpretation as they examine paper money from the time of the American Revolution. In the final exercise, they use the issue dates of the bills to construct a chronology of political changes during...
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A Woman's Crusade: Dorothea Dix
Students examine the life and reform efforts of Dorothea Dix on behalf of people with disabilities. They also examine the role of women in the 1840s and 1850s. They discover different sources of examples of citizen's rights.
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A World At Peace
Young scholars view a film segment and identify examples of world conflict. They examine why groups fight for control of land or natural resources. They discover ways in which conflict can be avoided.
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Freethought Day Lessons
Freethought Day provides a way for students to discuss the current justice system.
Heritage Foundation
Substantive Amendments: Amendments I and II
The First and Second Amendments remain some of the most famous, even to this day. Learners read about several clauses from the US Constitution through a variety of captivating activities including before and after reading, group work,...
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Grapes of Wrath: Setting up Historical Context
Discuss life in the 1930s in relation to the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, then do a cross-media analysis. Here you'll find background information on film maker John Ford, writer John Steinbeck, and 1930s America. You can compare the...
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Fairness: Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II
Students examine fairness in relation to the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII. In this equality lesson, students watch a video "Rabbit in the Moon" and discuss what happened to the Japanese Americans during WWII. Students...
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Checks on Presidential Power
Students examine presidential powers. In this checks and balances lesson, students identify the constitutional and informal restraints of the president and consider the reasons for the limitations.
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Vietnam Trade Pact
Young scholars explore world trade issues. In this economics lesson, students read "Opening Doors to Vietnam," and discuss the trade negotiations between Vietnam and the Untied States. Young scholars conduct further research on the topic...
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Jazz in America
Students explore different instruments and what role they play in Jazz. They also each person's role in a democratic society.
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War of 1812
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...
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American Colonists Protest Song
Students explore the role of protest songs. For this early American history lesson, students research the acts passed by the British that angered colonists. Students then listen to protest songs from contemporary American history prior...
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Breaking News English: Pregnant Briton Faces Death Penalty
In this English worksheet, students read "Pregnant Briton Faces Death Penalty," and then respond to 1 essay, 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 8 true or false questions about the selection.
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Flip Flop Diplomacy
Ninth graders examine the dress of diplomats. In this American Government instructional activity, 9th graders read an article and answer guided questions. Students participate in a quiz on the reading.
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U.S. Constitution
Students examine the U.S. Constitution. In this American government lesson, students explore the purpose and significance of the Constitution as they read the provided handouts and complete the provided worksheet.
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The Road to Democracy
Eleventh graders examine the road to the American Revolution. In this American Revolution lesson, 11th graders read Thomas Paine's works and identify the issues that the colonists had with the British government.
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Citizen Me
Fifth graders examine what it means to be a citizen. Using the Constitution, they discover the functions and purpose of government. They compare and contrast the difference between a democracy and a monarchy. As a class, they discuss...
National First Ladies' Library
Executive Order 9066: Japanese-American Internment
Students analyze conditions under which sections of United States Constitution are superceded, research history of Native Americans, African Americans, and Japanese Americans, and debate policy of reparations for various minority groups...
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Unit 12: Enlightenment and French Revolution
In this Enlightenment lesson, students respond to 34 short answer questions about John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Baron de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, Denis Diderot, and Mary Wollstonecraft.
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Push/Pull factors in Immigration
Students explore the push/pull factors experienced by immigrant families. They interview a parent and an American about their family's immigration history. Students write a summary of the interview and compare the push/pull factors of...
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Lucy Liu
In this famous person worksheet, students read a passage about Lucy Liu and then complete a variety of in-class and homework activities to support comprehension, including partner interviews, spelling, cloze, synonym matches, and...
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Pictures Telling Stories
Students see the importance of primary sources in the study of history, but also the limitations of relying only on primary sources of taking the money, as it were, at face value.