Students explore a local seat of government to examine ways to make changes in their communities. In this local government lesson, students read about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his nonviolent protests. Students read important dates and...

Students explain the importance of citizens in protecting everyone's rights by fulfilling their responsibilities. They describe specific responsibilities associated with the five essential rights of citizens.

Third graders explore the three branches of government, their origins and the purposes of government. Each team develop a PowerPoint presentation of their findings. Stjudents also explore how to be a good citizen.

Ninth graders examine the term multiculturalism.  In this Cross Curricular History and Social Studies instructional activity, 9th graders analyze a video clip.  Students investigate the requirements for becoming a citizen in...

Students examine the different cultures and disabilities people face in their community. They discuss how they can become better citizens. They answer discussion questions to finish the lesson.

Students examine the philanthropic actions of Jane Addams and discuss why she is seemed as a role model of being a responsible citizen. They organize different types of volunteer opportunities and create ways to serve the common good in...

Twelfth graders identify indicators for the U.S. and China in order to compare and contrast these two large economies. They explain ways in which economic differences between the U.S. and China impact the lives of American and Chinese...

Students explain the importance of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery Voting Rights March and the long term impact in the US of non violent civic participation.

Students explore the concept of federalism and the purpose of government. How government powers are acquired, used, justified, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens are investigated in this lesson.

Students discover that Dorothea Dix was the first to make the pubic aware of the terrible living conditions of people with mental illness in the 1800's. They evaluate the influence of citizen action on public policy.

Students begin their examination of the Declaration of Independence. Using the text, they answer questions for their citizenship interview. They also examine the role of Jefferson in creating the document and how he participated in slavery.

Fifth graders discuss civic responsibility. In this social studies instructional activity, student read about World War II. Students compose "I Am an American" poems and share with the class.

Students, in groups, design a government. They create a web page that describes the group's fictitious nation, details the citizen's culture, identifies the type of government and explores how the chosen government would respond to...

Students explore the textual meaning of the Declaration of Independence. In this Declaration of Independence lesson, students read and paraphrase the text of the document into modern-day language. Students also consider the meaning of...

Students examine primary document to examine the concept of free assembly, and analyze Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's letter to the clergy to explain the rationale for this tactic to advance civil rights.

Young scholars examine Benjamin Franklin's community service in Philadelphia. In this American history famous heroes instructional activity, students make text-to-self-and-world connections between the Philadelphia community service...

Students experience profiling first-hand through creation of a Class ID, and daily persecution of a selected group of students. They examine the tension between the concern for national security and for the preservation of civil liberties

Students explore the prevalence of racism and statistical segregation in America's schools. They design a project to investigate how the racial makeup of their school compares to other schools. In addition, they evaluate their design...

Students discuss how one person's life can affect a community . In this Martin Luther King Jr. lesson, students read about Dr. King's life and contributions. They formulate ideas about how they can meet the needs of their own community.

Students explore African American history by researching the Jim Crow laws. In this Civil Rights activity, students define the Jim Crow laws, the reasons they were put into place, and how they were ultimately defeated. Students write a...

Fourth graders take an unannounced test (failure is expected) and the top scores are rewarded with candy bars. They compare this test to the literacy tests given before 1960 and votes to candybars. They journal their responses.

Students define rights, analyze and apply the U.S. Bill of Rights to hypothetical situations, and create an Intergalactic Bill of Rights.

Students examine the contributions made by Martin Luther King Jr. They discuss civil rights, conduct research in small groups, participate in a discrimination simulation, and create a collage.

Young scholars identify the civil rights abuses suffered by African Americans, Japanesse Americans during WWII, and Hispanic Americans. They explain what the common element is among the discrimination against these three groups. ...