Facing History and Ourselves
The Nazi Party Platform
Not all party platforms stay democratic. A resource covers many political issues in Germany during the time of World War II, and teaches pupils about the Nazi party platform and what went wrong. Individuals participate in a warm-up...
Curated OER
To Be or Not to Be Democratic
Seventh graders explore the democratic republic principles of U.S. government. For this U.S. government lesson, 7th graders compare and contrast the governments of ancient Athens,the Roman Republic, and the United States today. Students...
Reading Through History
The Federalist Papers: Federalist Paper No. 10
James Madison, under the pen name “Publius,” justifies the need for an American Republic in Federalist Paper 10, which is perhaps one of the most influential contributions to the Federalist Papers. Readers examine his perspective with...
Museum of Tolerance
Citizenship Then and Now: Comparing Ancient Rome and Contemporary American Society
Class members research citizenship in Ancient Rome and in the United States and use the provided graphic organizers to compare the rights and responsibilities of citizens in these two democracies.
Museum of Tolerance
The Role of Citizens in a Participatory Democracy
Groups research participatory democracies and compare the role and rights of citizens in ancient history with those in recent U.S. history. Guided by a series of questions, individuals compose a persuasive essay in which they discuss the...
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
NATO and Russia: Will the Expansion of NATO Cause a New Cold War?
Eleventh graders role play as participants in a NATO meeting focused on inviting a number of independent republics from the former Soviet Union to become members of NATO. They represent their countries after researching them.
Curated OER
Politics: From Royalty to Democracy
Students explore forms of government in the Middle East. In this government systems lesson, students watch videos, listen to lectures, and explore websites regarding the forms of government in the Middle East
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The Emerging Political Spectrum
In this political perspectives instructional activity, students complete a graphic organizer that requires them to put the listed terms, that describe Republicans, Liberals, and Conservatives from 1815-1848, in the appropriate places.
Deliberating in a Democracy
Parental Liability
How many teenagers have wanted their parents to let them make their own decisions? The answer is ... all of them! Scholars investigate where parental liability begins and ends in the eyes of the law. Using case studies and legal...
Facing History and Ourselves
Taking Ownership of the Law
The work of building and maintaining a democracy is, in the words of Justice William Hastie, "never finished." To better understand what Hastie sees as an ongoing building process, class members listen to a seven-minute podcast about two...
Curated OER
The Great Depression
In this Great Depression study guide worksheet, students respond to 18 short answer questions. The questions correlate to assigned readings in a textbook.
Curated OER
Governance - Grade 7
Students examine the governance of natives in Canada. In this native studies lesson, students read handouts on the Iroquois and Huron Confederacies and then respond to discussion questions about the 2 governance systems.
Curated OER
Federalism and the Prevention of Abuse of Power in the US Federal Government
Fourth graders stud Federalism and identify examples of abuse of power.
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Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Limited Government
High schoolers write a letter to King George III from the point of view of Thomas Jefferson. They defend constitutional democracy and explain the differences between limited and unlimited government.
Curated OER
The Dynamics of the Leadership Process
Students explain the dynamics surrounding the selection of a leader for a country. They explain the involvement of individual citizens in the selection process.