Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Imus: How much free speech is too much?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars read background about Don Imus and his comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team. They explore current interpretation of the First Amendment, including that of commercial speech. Students present the findings to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION: A SIMULATION

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students discuss two computerized options to change the current U.S. government. In this Constitutional Convention lesson, students write a statement advocating for one of the choices and participate in a mock modern Constitutional...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Satyagraha: The Soul Force of Nonvilence

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss what satyagraha is understanding that it is the driving force which enables social reform. In this social science lesson, students try to internalize the principles of nonviolence on an individual level and then a global...
Worksheet
Curated OER

EU Overview III

For Students 9th - 12th
In this European Union (EU) worksheet, high schoolers respond to 17 fill in the blank questions about the history and functions of the EU.
Primary
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Resources: Robert Kennedy on Civil Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] After reading the background information about Attorney General Robert Kennedy's report on civil rights enforcement activities of the Department of Justice in 1962, read the full transcript of the...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Civil Rights Special Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
Multimedia collection of video, primary text documents and audio on Civil Rights, especially Brown vs. Board of Education.
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: The Civil Rights Era: A Civil Rights Act of 1964 Pamphlet

For Students 9th - 10th
From the archives of the Library of Congress read the pamphlet that explained the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in plain language. Find out all the different issues the law addressed and what one could do if the law wasn't being followed. A...
Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Civil Rights Act (1964)

For Students 9th - 10th
Find an image of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed by President Lyndon Johnson on July 2, 1964. Read a brief description of how this life-changing legislation came to be.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: Civil Liberties in War

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides extensive information for students and teachers examining the issue of civil liberty during wartime and in the fight against terrorism in the U.S. following September 11. Resources include news articles, legal...
Website
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Civil Rights Act of 1964

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the persisitence of President Lyndon B. Johnson in finally enacting the momentous civil rights legislation, the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Find out about his adversaries and allies in getting this legislation passed.
Website
Northern Illinois University

Illinois Periodicals Online: Everett Dirksen and the 1964 Civil Rights Act

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the use of the filibuster in the U.S. Senate as a way to control legislation.In the discussion of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the longest filibuster in history was launched as a way to keep the legislation from coming to a...
Website
Other

Colorado College: A Brief History of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

For Students 9th - 10th
A very good explanation of the problems and political machinations that happened behind the scenes in both the House of Representatives and Senate as the wording of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was developed. See how the legislation was...
Primary
Other

Us Eeoc: Title Vii of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

For Students 9th - 10th
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provided important protection for fairness in employment by establishing the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Read the text of that legislation here, and see how it protects workers on...
Lesson Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Democracy in America: Civil Rights: Demanding Equality

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This unit embraces those individuals who have brought change to the United States in both social and political equality through a Video on Demand, activities, and other enlightening resources.
Website
US House of Representatives

History, Art, and Archives: The Civil Rights Act of 1957

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the role of President Eisenhower in the impetus for the support of civil rights in 1957.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980:civil Rights Act 1964/voting Rights Act 1965

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the civil rights legislation that outlawed discrimination in jobs, education, housing, public accommodations, and voting.
Website
Stanford University

Mlk and the Global Freedom Struggle: Civil Rights Act of 1964

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about President John F. Kennedy's role in attempting to outlaw segregation, and, after Kennedy's assassination, President Johnson's role in making that happen with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Website
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: Freedom's Story: The Civil Rights Movement: 1968 2008

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent essay from the National Humanities Center that explores the civil rights movement after the groundbreaking legislation in the 1960s. It looks at how the civil rights movement has transitioned in the last part of the 20th and...
Website
Other

Freshman Academy: New Approaches to Civil Rights [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This section from an American History book covers the extension of the application of civil rights that were legislated in the 1960s. Read about busing, affirmative action, disability rights movement, and the Native American protest...
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: American Women: Civil Rights Act of 1964

For Students 9th - 10th
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was not focused just on racial civil rights, but also gender equity. This site from the Library of Congress deals with how women could use the legislation in lawsuits charging discrimination.
Website
Other

Ahc: Civil Rights Movement: The Surge Forward: 1954 1960

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed discussion of the civil rights movement between 1954-1960 including summaries of events such as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Rosa Parks & the Montgomery Bus Boycott, 1955-1956, school desegregation, Sarah Keys v....
Website
Other

Aclu: American Civil Liberties Union

For Students 9th - 10th
Official home of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Learn about American news, what's going on with the Supreme Court and new legislation, and more at this online interest group.
Article
Cornell University

Cornell University: Law School: Civil Rights and Discrimination

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Cornell University School of Law provides an overview of civil rights legislation, including an explanation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. There are links to other sites on the subject of civil rights in general.
Handout
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress Link: Voting Rights Act of 1965

For Students 9th - 10th
Explores the Voting Rights Act of 1965 from the perspective of a Congressional leader. Presents an abundant amount of historical information about the origins of the Act as well as the steps needed to get it passed.