Center for History Education
African Americans and the Democratic Party
Why did African American voters switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic party during the Depression Era? That is the question young historians attempt to answer as they study primary source documents from the period. The focus...
Curated OER
Bullying and Core Democratic Values
Middle schoolers explore the concept of core democratic values. After completing a survey of student populations regarding bullying, small groups analyze their findings and present their findings to the Student Council, principal, or the...
Curated OER
The First American Party System: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans: The Platforms They Never Had
Students investigate the beginnings of the political party system in the US. They determine the key positions of both the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. They compare the views of the early political parties with those of today.
Curated OER
Democracy in Action: Everyday Farmers
Young scholars experiment with a situation as if they were farmers in a co-op. In this democratic decision making lesson, students role-play as farmers that are members of a co-op and a have a serious decision to make about spreading...
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...
Curated OER
Democracy in Action?
Students compare and contrast democratic election processes. In this 200 presidential election lesson, students visit websites that allow them to compare federal American elections to British elections. Students hold their own classroom...
Curated OER
The Future of Affirmative Action
Students act as a representative of a particular interested group before a Senate subcommittee which is charged to determine the future of federal affirmative action programs in this country.
Curated OER
The future of Affirmative Action
Eleventh graders explore the term Affirmative Action. For this US History lesson, 11th graders create a presentation that will determine the future of federal affirmative action programs. Students write a speech that will be given in...
C3 Teachers
Black Genius: How Did Black Genius Help Build American Democracy?
"How did the slavery system undermine the United States' democratic principles?" This question launches a study of how the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, and Article IV,...
University of Arkansas
Our Responsibilities
The fourth in a five-instructional activity unit examining human rights and personal responsibility asks class groups to investigate a current rights issue, and using the provided graphic organizer, summarize the issue, consider which...
BBC
Community Action
How does community involvement make good citizens? Use all or a few of the included ideas to foster a better understanding of what it means to be a good citizen. Learners will brainstorm community issues, discuss how to get involved, and...
Curated OER
Democracy in Action
Students consider words that reflect their knowledge and opinions about democracy. They work in groups to research countries that have recently transitioned to democratic forms of government.
Curated OER
Emerging Democracies in Eastern Europe and Russia: How Are They Doing?
Students consider the success of democracies in Eastern Europe. In this government systems lesson, students research the implementation of democratic practices and rule in the countries of Eastern Europe following the Cold War. Students...
Curated OER
Core Democratic Values in Action
Students compare and contrast rules they have in their homes and in the classroom. In this values instructional activity, students identify rules at home and relate to rules of other families. They list family rules, connect classroom...
Curated OER
Conflict Between Democratic and Authoritarian Rule in Haiti
Twelfth graders examine the background of democratic and authoritative rule in Haiti. In pairs they conduct a simulated interview, reporting for a news station about the political, personal, and economical life in Haiti. They conduct...
Curated OER
Democratic Citizens
Students experience democracy in action in the kindergarten classroom. In this kindergarten democracy lesson, students discuss classroom rules and whether they are necessary or not.
Curated OER
Planting Seeds of Philanthropy
Middle schoolers explore the importance of maintaining a democracy through philanthropic actions. In this character education lesson, students discover what the Japanese internment camps were, and why they were an infringement on...
Curated OER
Kid-Friendly CDVs
Learners discover core democratic values. In this service learning lesson, students create posters in order to promote core democratic values.
Curated OER
The Declaration of Independence
Students identify and examine the Declaration of Independence and ascertain its true intent and its eventual realization. Then they analyze the Declaration of Independence and summarize the intentions of the Declaration. Students also...
Curated OER
Tunisia to Egypt & Beyond: Freedom & Democracy?
Students examine democratic values. In this current events lesson, students watch video clips about rebellions on Tunisia and Egypt. Students respond to the provided discussion questions and participate in a critical thinking activity on...
Smithsonian Institution
Young People Shake Up Elections (History Proves It) Educator Guide
Vote, it's your civic duty! The resource provides several videos about voting in the United States. Scholars watch a series of topics ranging from youth participation to civic action. The educator's guide provides teachers with...
Savvas Learning
Political Parties
What is a political party, and what major parties exist in American politics today? How did the party system develop in American history, and how are parties organized? These questions and many other details regarding the political party...
DocsTeach
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
1964: A victory for the civil rights movement! Scholars read a section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and discuss what affirmative actions means to them. The resource is a jigsaw activity, with each group focusing on one section of the...
US Institute of Peace
Effectiveness of Nonviolent Civic Action Simulation on Colombia
With new leadership comes new hope! After years of violence, the people of Colombia elect a new president ... could this mean an end to conflict? Civics scholars take part in a large group role-playing exercise designed to illustrate the...