Constitutional Rights Foundation
Options for Affecting Public Policy
Letter-writing, e-mail and telephone campaigns, petitions, marches, meetings, with lawmakers. Options for influencing elected representatives are the focus of resource that details how to craft each of these approaches to influencing...
Curated OER
Investigation of a Key Public Policy Issue
Twelfth graders select and analyze a public policy issue. In groups, they create a hot list of web sites that have been explored and investigated as a result of a web search. Using their research, 12th graders individually produce a...
Curated OER
Are We the People?
Students investigate their elected officials and their roles. In this governmental leadership lesson plan, students discuss the Constitution and research their elected officials. They also organize the information they find regarding the...
Curated OER
Assessing Public Opinion Polls and Building Them
Students explore the role of public opinion polls in America. In this public opinion polls lesson, students discover the steps of analyzing poles before they create and conduct their own polls.
Curated OER
Who Are Your Local Officials?
High schoolers identify the names and positions held by local public officials. In pairs, students research the requirements and duties needed to hold office. A brief presentation of their research will include the names and positions...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Stand By for Regime Change
When Barak Obama was elected president, he was unable to affect change untill the official start date of January 20th. Learners examine this policy, America's need for change, and the duties of the president-elect in a political cartoon...
Curated OER
Running for Public Office
Students engage in the election process. In this public office lesson, students review the election and campaign process then design a campaign for their own selected office election using provided guidelines and links.
Curated OER
Private Property Vs. the Public Good: the Problem of Eminent Domain
Students view video The Electric Valley, discuss film clips and review news articles and other documents pertaining to eminent domain, prepare declarative statement on issue that has pro or con side, and present case to opposing side in...
Curated OER
Assessing Public Opinion Polls
Learners are introduced to the purpose of public opinion polls. Using recent polls, they determine the demographics of who was interviewed and when and where the interview was conducted. In groups, they develop their own public poll...
Curated OER
The Opinions Of The Public
Tenth graders discuss the importance of America's constitutional right to free speech, the difficulty of dealing with public opinion as an elected official and identify the importance of public discussion and the election process.
Annenberg Foundation
Making an Issue-Based Video
Encourage class members to become engaged citizens by researching an issue they are passionate about and then producing a video to present to policymakers, the public, and their peers. Everything needed for the unit is contained in...
Annenberg Foundation
Student Voices
Whether it's an election year or not, a unit on voting patterns and political campaigns will awaken the civic pride in your high school citizens. Divided into six parts, the curriculum covers various facets of an election, including...
Curated OER
Choosing the Best Candidate
Who would win an election between Napoleon and Julius Caesar? Group your class up to analyze and discuss which of their given choices would make the best presidential candidate, given specific criteria. The potential candidate list...
Dream of a Nation
Creating Awareness through Action Oriented Writing and Research
Middle schoolers aren't too young to feel strongly about politics, social issues, consumer rights, or environmental problems. Demonstrate the first steps toward social change with a project about action-oriented writing. Eighth graders...
Curated OER
The Election
Learners participate in an election. They are asked to vote for one of four candidates without knowing who they are or what they stand for. Students gain an important lesson when voting to make sure that security of freedom and...
Curated OER
Local Government and Leaders
Third graders research their local government and leaders. Throughout the lesson, they engage in discussions, a visit by an elected local government official and research. In addition, 3rd graders study some basic facts about the local...
Curated OER
Policy Process, Tools, and Makers
In this public policy worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer by responding to 5 questions about the policy process, policy tools, and policy makers.
Curated OER
"The Election"
High schoolers participate in an election for the purpose of comprehending the political process and the responsibilities that come with citizenship in a free society. They elect officials with no identity and are surprised with the...
Curated OER
Growing Voters and Election 2004: Classroom Debate
Students research the issues and platforms of candidates and separate propaganda from process in order to choose a candidate to support. Students examine political parties and their contributions to shaping the foundation of the...
Curated OER
How Did That Get There?
Students evaluate the role of government in addressing land use and other environmental issues. They analyze the powers, responsibilities, and limitations of elected and appointed officials in the national legislative, executive, and...
Curated OER
Economics: Actions of Government
Young scholars examine the susceptibility of legislators to agricultural lobbyists to support subsidy programs. In small groups, they role-play as members of interest groups that might be affected by inflation.
Curated OER
Defined: The Different Types of Government
The world is a big place, so it only stands to reason that different forms of government exist. Democracy, autocracy, oligarch, monarch, and dictatorship are all defined. An extensive explanation of US government system is also included....
Curated OER
Legislators and Representation - Executive, Federal and Interest Group Relations
High schoolers explore the interaction between the legislature and other governmental institutions. They watch videos exploring the relationship between the state legislature and two government institutions, and the role of lobbyists on...
Curated OER
U.S. Government" Part 2
In this United States government worksheet, students match vocabulary words to their definitions. Students match twelve words.