Curated OER
Cartoons in the Classroom: Party Animals
In this current events learning exercise, students analyze political cartoons that feature donkeys and elephants as political party symbols and respond to 2 short answer questions.
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Speech! Speech!
Critical thinkers consider how word choice in speeches impacts the meaning and effectiveness of the message being presented. They examine and respond to some of the speeches made at the 2004 Republican and Democratic National Conventions.
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The Election Process
In this election process worksheet, students learn about the election process in the United States in which the president is selected. They then answer the 16 questions on the worksheet. The answers are on the last page.
Curated OER
The Free Trade Conundrum: Balancing Worker Wages and Consumer Prices Comparing the 19th and 21st Centuries
By examining free trade, protectionism, and analyzing 19th and 21st century arguments for and against the tariff, learners will be able to compare and contrast the 19th and 21st century. They will analyze text, answer discussion...
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Donkeys and Elephants and Voters, Oh My!
Students celebrate party politics. In this American politics lesson, students discover what the 2 main political parties in the country are and discuss their functions. Students then participate in a classroom simulation that requires...
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Alexander Hamilton and the Roots of Federalism
Explore the origin of political parties in the United States. Learners work in groups to read and analyze copies of the "Report on Manufactures" written by Alexander Hamilton. Then, they complete a worksheet comparing the Federalists to...
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Campaign Fundraising
Although this political cartoon analysis assignment has your scholars glancing back at the 2008 presidential campaign, its message is relatable anytime. Background information provides context, giving learners access to the cartoon,...
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Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate Curriculum
How do you affirm and negate a statement of value? What is refutation? Interested in debate? Introduce your class to the format of the Lincoln Douglas debate with 14 lessons, designed to be used in order, so that debaters learn the logic...
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Lesson Plan: Early Political Parties
Pupils examine the platforms of early political parties in the United States. For this political parties lesson, students discover details regarding the attributes and ideals of the federalists and the democratic-republicans. Pupils...
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Election Day Make-A-Word
In this election day make-a-word worksheet, students color the pictures of the donkey and the elephant, then make words from the letters of Democrat and Republican.
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All Aboard The Campaign Train!
Young scholars explore campaign politics. In this political campaign lesson, students investigate multimedia sources in order to examine the structure of political parties and platforms from previous presidential elections. Young...
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Political Parties Questions
In this political parties worksheet, students respond to 14 short answer questions about the history of party politics in the United States.
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Joseph Wilson Accuses the President
Get a fun discussion going with this current events instructional activity, which has scholars analyzing 2 political cartoons about an incident in 2009, when Congressman Joseph Wilson accused President Barack Obama of lying during a...
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Graphic Organizing: Early American History
In collaborative groups, young US historians sort cards (each labeled with a single early American event or issue) according to which of the first four presidents was leading the country at the time. Learners copy the events onto a...
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The Solid South Switcharoo
High schoolers examine primary sources. In this instructional activity on political parties, students view historic documents, speeches, and photos to trace the rise and fall of particular political parties. High schoolers will be...
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President Ronald Reagan
In this President Ronald Reagan activity, students read a 2 page article on the President and then answer 6 questions with multiple choice answers.
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Development of Democracy
Eighth graders examine the road to the American Revolution. In this Boston Massacre instructional activity, 8th graders investigate the testimony of Captain Thomas Preston. Students write their own verdicts based on his testimony.
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Structure of Congress
Students examine the structure of Congress. They identify the roles of the Democratic and Republician parties and their leaders. They role play the role of congressmen and pretend to pass new legislation.
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Do Factions Control Political Parties Today?
Students establish how the first political parties were formed. In this U.S. History lesson, students work in groups to share their personal viewpoint on various topics provided by the teacher, then they are assigned to bring a...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
The Election of 1912
The Election of 1912: an election with four competitive opponents. Pupils get to know the candidates with informative reading passages that provide context to the election. Then, the class engages in a debate and answers questions as one...
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The Two-Party System in American History: Ch 5
Five matching and 5 multiple choice questions to challenge your class. Their answers will test their knowledge of early American government. Party systems, Electorate, and major constituents of the time are the topics included.
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The First American Party System: Events, Issues, and Positions
Students identify factors which lead to the development of the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. They examine the writings of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton as well. They discuss what elements are needed for an orgainized...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates — Springboard to the White House
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates saw two primary political candidates debating seven different times about one of the most important social movements in United States history. Middle and high schoolers read an article that describes the...
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Political Parties
Twelfth graders give their current events presentations to the class today. After completing the "T" exercise on classifying certain individuals as Democrats or Republicans, they pair up to figure out where the political parties fit into...