Reading Through History
Anti-Federalist Paper No. 3
Who were the Anti-Federalists and what do primary sources tell young historians about their beliefs? Learners read Paper No. 3 to understand their values in relation to government, such as their discussion on foreign policy and the pros...
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Latin America and United States Policy Today
Students compare the situation of Latin American immigrants with the situation of immigrants from other areas of the world. They use media to obtain information on topics of academic interest, personal interest, and intellectual interest.
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Perks and Perils
Young scholars research the life of the first family. In this U.S. Government lesson, students take a White House quiz, read an article about the first family and write in their journals about a typical day in their lives versus what a...
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Maps with a "Spin"
Students, in groups, research and map the effects of a proposed airport three miles outside of town. They prepare a presentation based on a set of maps they make and explains its different points of view from the viewpoints of the town...
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Second Graders Create Their Own Social Studies Book (Part I, The 5Ws of the Constitution)
Students study the United States Constitution and create a year-long cumulative activity for social studies. In this social studies lesson, students complete activities throughout the year to learn the 5Ws for the United States...
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Create Your Own Country!
Pupils create their own countries. In this geography skills lesson, students establish governments, cultural backgrounds, atlas/geography components, national anthems, and national symbols for a country they create.
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Laws - Who needs them?
Students examine the need for laws. In this government lesson plan, students participate in 2 classroom activities that require them to consider the impact of laws on their personal lives. Students discuss how laws solve societal...
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Taxes
Students use the internet to examine the various types of taxes. Using this information, they develop a chart comparing and contrasting the types and determinations of how much tax needs to be paid. They share their charts with the...
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The Fed is Protecting Your Money
Students are introduced to the role of the Federal Reserve. In groups, they discover the three functions of money and discuss the most common forms of payment used in society today. They develop a survery to give to the local community...
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Eastern European Studies
One worksheet, three projects. Learners explore Eastern Europe and mark Eastern European countries on a map. They then collect and record census data on thirteen different countries, and write a 3-5 page expository essay on one of the...
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Fighting Corruption
Twelfth graders research the different types of business ethics. In this Economics activity, 12th graders read various handouts on corruption. Students participate in a discussion on trying to end corruption.
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Eastern Woodland Indians
Fifth graders research the Eastern Woodland Indians in this lesson. They list the tribes and write a description of the physical environment. They list examples of the types of food, clothing, transportation, home/shelter,...
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Violence on TV and Our Response
Students examine violence on television. In this media awareness lesson plan, students discuss the types of fictional and realistic violence shown on American television. Students participate in a Congressional simulation activity on the...
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Creating an Anti-Slur Policy
Students work in groups to develop an anti-slur policy for their classroom considering the categories of name-calling and types of behavior that should be addressed by the policy. They think about ways to prevent and respond...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Defining Democracy and Freedom
This is a simple but effective introduction to democracy. It requires the class to generate working definitions of key terms (provided) and to determine the degree of democracy in various geographic locations today. After they conduct...
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Let Me Tell You About My State
State reports can be a lot of fun, especially when the learners get to choose the state they study. This research and writing-focused social studies lesson engages learners in collecting information, essay structure, research, and...
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20th Century American Art
See the changes, controversy, and innovations that define postwar American art. The onset of the modern art era in American history is well-defined in this slide-show. You'll see how Abstract Expressionism shifted into conceptual, pop,...
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Cold War Conflict in Vietnam: The Vietnam-Era Presidency
Comparing and evaluating various media types is a great way to build critical analysis skills. Learners read about the Vietnam era presidency, specifically the foreign policy established by Johnson and Nixon. Then they compare several...
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Federal Court Systems and Court Cases
Ninth graders investigate the basis for the Common Law Tradition. They examine the organization of the Federal Court System and students identify the various sources of the American Law.
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Letters, Telegrams, and Photographs Illustrating
Young scholars research the factors that are important in winning a battle in the Civil War. In a second activity they are assigned the role of a specific type of person during the Civil War and asked to describe what it's like being...
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Colonial America
Students discover the history of Colonial America by creating a class presentation. In this U.S. History lesson plan, students utilize the Internet to research one of 20 topics in which they will create a PowerPoint or other type...
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President's Day
First graders imagine that they are the President of the United States. In this history lesson the students think of three rules or laws that they would create if they were President. The students listen to a book about George Washington...
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Nation Building
Students explore the concept of nation building. In this diplomacy lesson, students research America's nation building efforts in Somalia, Haiti, the Balkans, Guatemala, Cuba, Vietnam, and Grenada. Students share their findings and...
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Geography of the Silk Road And the Tokaido Road
Students examine the geographical features of the Silk Road and the Tokaido Road in this introductory activity on Chinese geography. Small group learning is emphasized and encouraged.