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The Cuban Revolution
In this Cuban history learning exercise, students respond to 8 short answer questions about the Cuban Revolution and the American response to the conflict.
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A Day in the Life of Parliament
Tenth graders watch excerpts from a parliamentary session, assume membership in a political party from a fictitious country and conduct a parliamentary session of their own covering a range of topics of current relevance.
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Vector Manipulation Unit
Students are introduced to the concept/idea of a vector, what it represents and why they are used.  They develop an understanding of what vectors are, how and why they are used.
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A Songwriter Not Silenced - Lesson 2
Learners discuss how a musician's message can influence society and government. They debate if political viewpoints should be publicized in music.
National First Ladies' Library
Science: The Purloined Letter
Young scholars examine Edgar Allan Poe's "the Purloined Letter" from the perspective of a profiler. To sharpen search procedures, they examine the text and make lists of items and places in the house that were searched. Then students...
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Who or What is Un-American?
Students explore concepts about civil liberties, research the history of sedition-related legislation in the U.S. and create a position paper on the topic.
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Petition Signed by Thomas A. Edison for Sunday Openings at the World's Columbian Exposition
Students research and discuss the features and controversies of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893.
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The Real Work is Done in Committee: A Simulation
Students research the Canadian federal legislative process, and identify the main features of local, provincial, and federal governments in Canada. They simulate the process of a bill going through the legislative process.
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Texas, Our Texas
Students watch a PowerPoint slide show of the symbols of Texas and discuss what they see. They color in coloring book pages that corrolate to the slide show. They listen to and sing along to a state song as they color.
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The Role of the Media
Students analyze the role of media in the Gulf War after watching a video series.  They participate in a small group simulating a specific group from the film.  They discuss issues with their group and then participate in a whole class...
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Social Studies: Ramadan Observance
Young scholars discuss Ramadan and the practice of fasting.  Working in groups, they visit Websites and complete worksheets about the Muslim holiday.  Students write letters role-playing as someone unfamiliar with a celebration and then...
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Exploring the Bill of Rights
Students examine, discuss, and research the Bill of Rights. They, in groups, develop a presentation about their amendment for the class.
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We Accuse Colored Peoples of California V. State of California
Pupils participate in a WebQuest to investigate discrimination of African Americans, Chinese and Californio/Latino during the Gold Rush era. They act as law clerks to write a letter to their clients about a potential trial.
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The Great Debate Lesson Plan: Slavery in the U.S. Constitution
Middle schoolers examine the U.S. Constitution to see what has been writte about slavery. Then, students, in groups, research the Constitutional Convention of 1787 to explore slavery compromises.
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State of Oregon v. Dominguez-Martinez
High schoolers are introduced to the concept of racial profiling. In groups, they analzye the case between Oregon and Dominguez-Martinez and evaluate the use of racial profiling as a tool of policemen. They also discuss the laws in place...
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VS.6b
Sixth graders explore, analyze and identify the ideas of George Mason and Thomas Jefferson as expressed in the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom. They list and declare the responses stated in...
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Women in Baseball:Talk Show
Students explore the development of women's baseball during the 20th century. They "role play" women who participated in some form of baseball (amateur, semi-professional, or professional) as well as other advocates of women's sports as...
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Which Freedom?
Fourth graders choose on the freedoms in the Bill of Rights and research it on the internet. They answer specific questions using their research and produce a written document using a computer.
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Exploring United States V. Hirabayashi
Students discuss and examine the case of Gordon Hirabayashi.
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Human Rights : Historical Process towards Individual Application
Students compare governments as they relate to human rights of its citizens.
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Powerful Signatures
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.
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The White Line - A One Act Play
Students discuss amendments of the Constitution that cover due process and discuss them in relation to the play "The White Line". They determine how national security measures conflict with the issues of due process during wartime. They...
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Judges in the Classroom
Students study the history of the Bill of Rights and discuss the first ten amendments. The class is put into groups and each group is responsible for knowing 5 statements from the history of the Bill of Rights. Then the class plays a...
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Creating Historians: Giving Scholars the Answers
How allowing index cards on tests can empower critical thinking; part one of a series on approaching social studies as a group of historians.