State Bar of Texas
McCullough v. Maryland
Can a state government tax the federal government? The Supreme Court case McCullough v. Maryland explores different governments in the United States. Scholars research the court's decision with a video and discussion. They formulate...
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Debt: Who Does it Affect?
Debt is a topic that affects everybody: the community, the nation, and the entire globe. Kids take charge of debt by designing a project that informs those in their community about good financial choices, keeps personal debt low, and...
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Analyzing the Inaugural Address
Get high school historians to step outside their own shoes by responding to JFK's inaugural address from the perspective of a civil rights activist, a soviet diplomat, or a Cuban exile. After a class discussion about the address,...
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What is Taxed and Why
Students are exposed to the need for federal, state and local governments to tax constituents to provide goods and services for their residents. They identify the different kinds of taxes and give examples of the goods and services taxed.
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Using Google Squared to Compare and Contrast Canada and the US
Sixth graders compare and contrast Canada and the United States. In this geography skills lesson, 6th graders use Google Squared to research information so that they may compare the geography of Canada and the United States.
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A Century of Challenge and Change: The Filipino American Story
Learners recognize the events that led to the Philippine Revolution. In this Philippine Revolution lesson plan, students relate the causes of the Philippine Revolution to situation in the world today. Learners examine the Philippine...
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Makes Cents to Me: Penny Drive
St that people have wants and must find ways to get them. For this philanthropy lesson, students understand the ways people get things and arrange a penny drive to help others. Students arrange an artistic project to reflect on their...
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Decolonization and Self-Determination
Students define and discuss colonialism and self-determination. After reading the European's view on the topic, they analyze a map of imperialism in 1914. They watch excerpts of a video and take notes on various United Nations...
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The Underground Railroad and The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
Students discover racism and slavery by completing a role playing activity. In this U.S. history lesson plan, students analyze documents from the Civil War era and describe the Fugitive Slave Law. Students view a video on YouTube about...
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Philosophical Conflict and the Founding of New Societies: Gandhi and Nehru in India, and Jefferson and Hamilton in the United States
Students explore the foundations of "new societies" such as those created by figures like Jefferson & Ghandi, The evaluate the differences between what was intended and the actual reality of these societies including where the...
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When Property Rights and the Public Good Clash
Middle schoolers analyze a case involving a government's use of eminent
domain powers to construct a comprehension of property rights and how they might be viewed as essential protections for citizens in a constitutional democracy. They...
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Woody Guthrie: Ain't Got No Home
Students examine the music of Woody Guthrie and how the political and economic climate influenced his work. They read and discuss online articles, define key vocabulary words, take a Political Orientation Survey, and write a position...
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Focused Learning Lesson
Tenth graders analyze an issue discussing the rights of citizens. They debate after they have formed an opinion and argue the points and evaluate who had the stronger argument.
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My Promise
Students define their own civic responsibility and create a PowerPoint presentation about their volunteer efforts. In this civic responsibility activity, students define the word volunteer and read an article about a volunteer in their...
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Hut One, Hut Two ... Teams of the National Government: The Three Branches of Government
Eighth graders examine the three branches of government and the system of checks and balances.
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Town Budget Meeting Simulation: Meeting Needs of Young and Old Lesson Plan
Students participate in a simulation in which they determine the town budget to help programs in their community for the young and old. In groups, they brainstorm a list of the needs of the young and old and share their thoughts on why...
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What are the Economic Functions of Government?
Twelfth graders identify the six economic functions of government and the classify examples of government actions and policies within various economic functions. They identify and evaluate two different positions on the role of...
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Alexander Graham Bell's Patent for the Telephone and Thomas Edison's Patent for the Electric Lamp
Students read a short biographical account about Bell and student B about Edison. Ask each pair to exchange information and determine what qualities these inventors shared. Ask students if they think all inventors share these qualities.
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Teaching With Documents Lesson Plan: Photographs of Lewis Hine: Documentation of Child Labor
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this child labor lesson, students examine photograhs by Lewis Hines and discuss the implications of child labor in America.
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Great Online Art Sites
Pupils complete an online study of art websites. For this art and technology lesson, students explore the links and try the activities to learn about art online.
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Little House in the Census: Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder
Students view copies of the 1880 and 1900 censuses and then create and conduct their own census of their homes, comparing all three.
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Salem
Students spend two classroom days contemplating and discussing the qualities of a leader and the definition of a hero. They read the story of Nathaniel Bowditch from the New Trade Winds Website and use it as a catalyst for discussions on...
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Tax Jeopardy
Create a glossary of tax-related vocabulary and clip New York Times articles that present tax procedure in action, in preparation for participating in a tax quiz bowl. Young economists explore allegations that "Survivor" Richard Hatch...
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Civil Rights through Photographs
Students examine why racial tensions continued after laws were put into place to try and create equal treatment. For this two part Civil Rights lesson, students explored the causes of the movement through photography and a...