Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constitution

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders simulate a U.S. Supreme Court hearing concerning a First Amendment case about school prayer by participating in a hearing.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building a Nation

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the main ideas of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. They read and discuss text, read and summarize a section of the Declaration of Independence in small groups, and write a paper on why the colonists felt it...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

End of the Line: What Happened to the Blue Ridge Railroad?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study the westward expansion and the role of railroad construction to the expansion. For this railroad history lesson, 6th graders complete KWL activity for the topic. Students view a PowerPoint about the growth of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alexander Hamilton and the Roots of Federalism

For Teachers 5th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Lessons in Leadership, Roosevelt Style

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
It's easy to criticize those in power until you're sitting at their desk, faced with the same decisions. A history lesson prompts secondary learners to research the Roosevelt presidencies through the lens of leadership and...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Department of Archives and History

Alabama's 1901 Constitution: What Was at Stake?

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Who should be able to vote? As part of a study of the 1901 Alabama Constitution, class members examine primary source document that reveal the reasons the authors gave to support their positions on this question and their assumptions in...
Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Lesson 1: The United States Confronts Great Britain, 1793–1796

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
After the Revolutionary War, the success of the United States was far from guaranteed. Foreign powers coveted the new land, and Great Britain challenged American sovereignty. Learners consider the challenges facing the new nation using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Dream and an Idea: Searching for a Roadmap to Create a Country

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students compare and contrast opposing visions of government held by the founding fathers. They evaluate the roles of historical leaders in shaping the U.S. as an emerging nation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Powerful Signatures

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students experience famous historical documents that were initiated and propelled by signatures such as Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution. They create a school amendment using the information gathered.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The United States Flag

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students study the United States flag. In this American history and government lesson, students define and give examples of familiar symbols.  Students design a classroom flag.  Students identify and describe the American flag.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Expansion and Reform: Applying the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct inquiries and research-acquiring, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, evaluating, and communicating facts, themes, and general principles operating in American history. They use the Declaration of Independence to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In Remembrance of George Washington

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explore the contributions of George Washington. In this early American history lesson, students analyze the provided eulogy for George Washington written by Henry Lee and then write their eulogies for the first president.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art of Cynicism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze selected pieces of art and infer how they reflect a sense of disillusionment, and/or cynicism in American society in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal. Then they identify and place cultural attitudes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitution

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders watch as their teacher presents information on the Constitution, government and laws through a PowerPoint presentation. In groups, they discuss the importance of government and laws and identify the main ideas in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Monroe Doctrine: Whose Doctrine Was It?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Was James Monroe the sole contributor of the Monroe Doctrine? Young scholars study the doctrine and cite evidence to show contributions of John Quincy Adams and Thomas Jefferson in its formulation.
Lesson Plan
NPR

Same-Sex Marriage

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The battle over same-sex marriage is a prevalent issue in the United States, and a valuable topic to be discussed in your social studies classroom. Here is a basic outline of introductory questions, focus questions, vocabulary, and media...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This Land Is Our Land

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore land use.  In this land activity, students examine the use of land and land records.  They create a diagram of a specified piece of land and determine the area of the land.  Students discuss their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Due Process of Law and the Jim Crow Era

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze eight case studies of Supreme Court decisions regarding due process of law and their impact on American society in the early 20th century. They digest that although the 14th amendment was intended to give federal rights...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Greek Gods

For Teachers 5th - 6th
What were the early Greek myths? Have elementary students examine the Persian Wars and read various Greek myth in order to identify the cause and the results of the Persian Wars. Myths, activities, simulations, and a unit plan are links...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Compromise, Our Constitution

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore, analyze and study our constitutional government and become aware of the purpose of our government. They assess the basic rights that are protected by the United States Constitution through graphic organizers and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitution: The Country's Rules

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students become aware of the Constitution and why it is important. In this early government lesson, students compare the Constitution to the class rules. They are both set in place so that we all stay safe and have fun. Students draw...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Articles of Confederation

For Teachers 8th
The purpose of this lesson is to assist students in discovering the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the foundation for creation of the United States Constitution. Students will investigate the events leading up to the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Songwriter Not Silenced - Lesson 2

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss how a musician's message can influence society and government. They debate if political viewpoints should be publicized in music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supreme Court

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore the redistricting process.  In this American Government instructional activity, 11th graders examine the electoral map.  Students write an essay posing an argument for the redistricting process.