Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voting Rights: Convicted Felons

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the state right to revoke the voting privileges of convicted felons. In this voting rights instructional activity, students read an article and respond to discussion questions about the voting rights of felons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How to Write a Bill

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view video excerpts from, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and discuss them to brainstorm how to write a bill. They divide into two groups representing senate committees to participate in a mark-up session where they read and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Right to Vote

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
In this voting worksheet, students identify and discuss changes in voting rights throughout American history. Then, they identify why voting is an important right for Americans. Finally, students create voting bookmarks instead of or in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Due Process

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the concept of due process. In this American law lesson, students view a 9-slide PowerPoint presentation on the topic and then respond to 3 discussion questions about the 5th and 14th amendments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Has Power?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss abuse of power in government and examine the Constitution for specific powers in each branch. They create a crossword puzzle utilizing terms and information regarding division of government powers and federalism
Interactive
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PBS

Who, Me? Biased?: Understanding Implicit Bias

For Students 6th - Higher Ed Standards
A 10-page interactive explains different facets of implicit bias, demonstrates how implicit bias works, and how people can counteract its effects. The interactive tools permit users to save their information in "My Work" folders, to take...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arrest- A Legal System Simulation

For Teachers 11th - 12th
What would your class do if a police officer arrested a student in class? This is exactly the anticipatory set that gets students engaged in a unit on the legal system. The plan is to get the officer to simulate an arrest, and then guest...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landmark Supreme Court Cases and the Constitution: Reynolds v. United States (1878)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the impact of court decisions. In this Supreme Court instructional activity, students read the Reynolds v. United States (1878) case study regarding first election decided by the House of Representatives. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presidents and the Constitution: George W. Bush and the Case of Bush v. Gore (2000)

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the impact of court decisions. In this Supreme Court lesson, students read the Bush v. Gore case study regarding the presidential election of 2000. Students take notes on the case and respond to discussion questions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

George Washington and the Rule of Law

For Teachers 8th - 12th
students compare The rule of law with the rule of men and consider life under each of these types of governments.In this government lesson, students read a primary source to examine the importance of the rule of law.They will also answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

War and International Law America’s Foreign Policy: Military Intervention

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners analyze America's foreign policy. In this military intervention lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture on U.S. military interventions since 1989. Learners respond to discussion questions about the lecture.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landmark Supreme Court Cases and the Constitution: National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie (1977)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the impact of court decisions. In this Supreme Court lesson, students read the National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie (1977) case study regarding First Amendment Rights. Students take notes on the case...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Labor and Law: Sit-Down Strikes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners analyze the work of auto industry labor unions. For this labor unions lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture on the details of various sit-down strikes. Learners respond to discussion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

War and International Law:America’s Foreign Policy: A Brief History

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover the history of American foreign policy. In this foreign policy activity, students listen to their instructor present a lecture that presents a brief history of American foreign policy. Students respond to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The False Parliamentarism of 1791 (3rd Canadian constitution)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students gain an understanding of the concept of false parliamentarism after the Constitutional Act. They, in groups, represent different members of government as they draft, debate and try to pass a bill into law.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Department of Archives and History

What Were They Thinking? Why Some Some Alabamians Opposed the 19th Amendment

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
To better understand the debate over the 19th Amendment, class members examine two primary source documents that reveal some of the social, economic, racial, and political realities of the time period.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Guild v. Google

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students share opinions about what constitutes fair use of copyright materials and participate in a mock trial arguing the case of The Authors Guild v. Google.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

President Who? Forgotten Founders and Their Capitols

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students explore the beginning of the United Colonies that were formed in 1774.  In this history instructional activity, students discuss the Articles of Confederation and then answer questions about the events surrounding the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create Your Own Constitution

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the processes, purpose and components of a good and just constitution. They focus on the Constitution of the United States of America. Students discuss the purpose of a constitution and reasons why the Constitution...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voting and the U.S. Constitution (Past, Present, and Future), Part 2

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze and discuss the 19th Amendment, and read the document, Why Women Want to Vote. Students illustrate statements from the handbill, then conduct a play about women's suffrage.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civics: The Rule of Law

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine key concepts pertaining to the rule of law. They explore how Civil Rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. used it to oppose discrimination practices. They examine Supreme Court decisions demonstrating the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Due Process Anyway?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the term due process and its historical origins. They compare and constrast the requirements of due process in the United States Constitution and the Indiana Constitution. They also discuss the difference between...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Meaning of "Due Process"

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine the United States Constitution and how the application for due process differs in two amendments. They research the changing definition of the term since the Civil War. They use the internet to research press coverage of...
Lesson Plan
Judicial Branch of California

Separate But Equal - Is It Black or White?

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
The story of Ruby Bridges and the case of Brown vs. The Board of Education are fantastic tools for discussing the concept of separate but equal. Kids tackle some big questions about what is fair, what is civil, and what rights or laws...