Curated OER
Making and Carrying Out Laws
Second graders explain the institutions and practices of governments in the United States and other countries. They explain the difference between making laws, carrying out laws, determining if laws have been violated and punishing...
Curated OER
Government and Politics
After a class lesson the U.S. Constitution and its amendments, students can apply their knowledge to this activity. Several questions prompt students to add missing key terms, such as the year the Constitution was written and the number...
Curated OER
Ireland Divided
In this worksheet on the division of Ireland, students read about southern and northern Ireland, then read about the religious divide.
Curated OER
Sectionalism in Early U.S.
Students, divided into three groups, representing the Northeastern, Southern, Western United States. They research these areas in early American history and as a group prepare charts, graphs and reports. They explain their needs and...
Curated OER
Climate Chaos Week
Pupils research the pros and cons of wind farm technology as an alternative source of energy. The class is divided into two groups that should formulate a debate on each side of the argument. Groups use a debate guide to help develop...
Curated OER
Ancient Chinese Philosophies of Government
Sixth graders use the four philosophies of Ancient China to investigate persceptive and resolution of a problem.
Curated OER
Divided We Fall
Middle schoolers examine the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students write essays for perform plays that feature the importance of the first ten amendments. Middle schoolers imagine the United States without 1 of the...
Judicial Learning Center
State Courts vs. Federal Courts
Popular culture often portrays the Feds as the most fearsome of law enforcement agencies. Yet, someone charged with a crime is considerably more likely to end up in a state court. The lesson, one of six covering the Organization of the...
North Carolina Consortium for Middle East Studies
Federalists v. Anti‐Federalists
Here is a solid lesson plan to support your instruction on the Continental Congress and the Articles of Confederation. It includes close analysis of primary source images, a guided notes template and answer key, and many key points to...
C-SPAN
14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause
Two Supreme Court cases, Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education take center stage in a lesson about the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Class members research both cases to compare and contrast the rulings.
C-SPAN
Judicial Review and Marbury v Madison
The Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison may not be widely recognized but the landmark case is particularly significant because it established the precedent for judicial review and that the Supreme Court had power as an interpreter of...
C-SPAN
Primary and Secondary Sources: Trailblazers in Congress
Trailblazers forge the path into uncharted territory, they establish a precedent for others to follow. Young historians research trailblazers in Congress using primary and secondary sources to profile outliers that changed the face of...
C-SPAN
How A Bill Becomes A Law
Seven steps are required for a bill to become a United States law. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) is used as a model for the process of how a bill becomes a law. Class members work independently through a Google...
C-SPAN
Choice Board: Expressed and Implied Powers
Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution expressly lists powers given to Congress. Over the years, lawmakers have expanded the enumerated powers to include powers implied by the list. To better understand the significance...
Curated OER
How Can Citizens Participate?
Students discuss the role of citizens in society and in government. Working in groups, students list ways in which individuals can participate in government as well as the advantages and disadvantage of that participation. Each group...
Curated OER
The Powers of Mom: Understanding the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Power
Tenth graders examine the powers of each branch of the government. They analyze the causes and effects of relationships within the government. They participate in activities to help them comprehend the material.
Curated OER
Berlin Wall Lesson Plans
Berlin Wall lesson plans can teach students how this barrier divided a country and why it gained so much international attention.
Curated OER
Grappling with Trade-Offs
Students are divided into groups representing different departments of the United States government. They identify the goals and needs of their department. They present their information to the class and answers comprehension questions.
Curated OER
Care of Prisoners During the Civil War
Young scholars identify the needs of prisoners through the study of the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson, students are divided into two groups to represent the two armies. Young scholars simulate a situation where students are...
Curated OER
Spending Plans
Students explore the concept of dividing their money into categories, namely "save," "spend," and "share." They engage in activities that help them explain that money is limited in quantity and must be divided for different purposes.
Curated OER
New: Fun with Fractions
Third graders determine that the larger the denominator the more parts the whole is being divided into. They use fractions to communicate and compare parts of the whole. They discover what the numerator and denominator of a fraction...
Curated OER
The Cost of War
Students view a video clip about the cost of war. They discover what goes into paying for a war. They examine the need for a budget in the government. They read a news story about this topic as well.
Curated OER
Checks and Balances in Supreme Court Nominations
Learners discover the system of Checks and Balances related to recent events prompting action by one or more of the three branches of government. They study the process for selecting and confirming a Supreme Court justice. They examine...
Curated OER
Iraq: How Did We Get Here?
Students examine the role of the Department of Defense. They explain the process in which the government decides it is going to go to war with another country. They identify key decision makers and explore the role of the United Nations.