Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Navigating The Legal System

For Teachers 10th - 12th
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 is intended for students acquiring English.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The White Line - A One Act Play

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discuss amendments of the Constitution that cover due process and discuss them in relation to the play "The White Line". They determine how national security measures conflict with the issues of due process during wartime....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Treaties: Students Explore the Lives of Yakama People Before and After Treaties

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students examine the impact of treaties on the Yakama nation. They discover the importance of land and how they felt when their land was taken away. They role-play the positions of both the Yakama and citizens of the United States.
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Rock the Vote! But When?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research and examine about voting turnouts in the United States and around the world. They assess about various aspects of the so-called "youth vote," and have an opportunity to consider the meaning of the vote in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking for Lincoln During the Civil War

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the presidency of Lincoln.  In this American History lesson, 11th graders watch various videos on Lincoln and the Civil War.  Students read and answer questions. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The life of a legislative bill

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate bills under consideration by the United States Congress and create a flow chart that tracks the movement of the bills to gain understanding of the legislative process.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Colonists Protest Song

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the role of protest songs. In this early American history lesson, students research the acts passed by the British that angered colonists. Middle schoolers then listen to protest songs from contemporary American...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Glorious Revolution, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students relate the Glorious Revolution, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution through web based research and scenarios.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Advanced Matching-united States Government Part 1

For Students 5th
In this U.S. government instructional activity, 5th graders study the different branches of government. Students match 13 terms to the correct definition that is provided.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A House Dividing: The Growing Crisis of Sectionalism in Antebellum America

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students trace the development of sectionalism in the United States. They explore slavery, freedom and the Constitution. Students identify influential opponents and defenders of American slavery. They explain different solutions to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Philanthropy in History Lesson 1: We the People Hall of Fame

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners examine the lives of people who contributed to the common good, and democracy. They investigate grievances that lead to the call for American independence and look at the costs that are incurred as a result of personal acts of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

White Southerners' Defense of Slaveholding

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Separate is Not Equal

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use political cartoons and editorials to study Brown v. Board of Education. In this Brown v. Board of Education lesson, students read the background information on eight cartoons and editorials for a study on Brown v....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is Democracy?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the concept of democracy. They define and describe democracy and choose an issue they believe the government should care about for its people. They write a persuasive essay about their issue.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constitution Day

For Teachers 7th - 12th
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?
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Dictionary of Independence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use events and biographies from their state's history and U.S. history, to create a dictionary of terms for citizens of a democracy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Christmas Train to Ft. Lincoln

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students solve the mysteries of why Karl Vogt and Erich Braemer were on the Christmas Train. They review the definitions of the terms constitutional, human rights, due process, discovery, and the writ of habeas corpus. They review the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Fractured Facts for Civics

For Students 9th
In this fractured facts for civics worksheet, 9th graders correct 24 sentences by replacing certain phrases if they are incorrect, but not all need to be corrected, answers are included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking Barriers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the context of a speech delivered by Barack Obama. In this African-American history lesson, students discuss the 15th Amendment and the American Civil Rights Movement prior to analyzing Barack Obama's speech "A...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poverty and Inequality in the World's Richest Nation

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine poverty and inequality in America. In this current events instructional activity, students read the provided articles "Poverty," "Inequality Growing in America," "Inequality: Views on Causes, Effects, Remedies," and...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Who Am I?

For Students 4th - 8th
For this Benjamin Franklin and George Washington worksheet, students examine 10 statements and decide whether the each of the statements identify Benjamin Franklin or George Washington.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inside the Courtroom

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders explain the difference between a class action and civil law suit. In groups, they compare and contrast criminal and civil trials and review various cases. They determine the place of law in the American constitutional...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Leadership and Impact of Booker T. Washington

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders explore the life and leadership of Booker T. Washington. In this Booker T. Washington lesson, 12th graders examine images of Washington, listen to audio of his voice, and his most famous speech. Students wrote responses...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Gotta Know the Territory

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students examine the relationship between Native Americans and those who settled the Iowa territory. In this Iowa history lesson, students investigate the process for settling the territory and how intercultural relationships developed...