Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Launching Your Ship with Citizenship Lesson 4: Hoisting the Flag

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the U.S. electoral process and brainstorm solutions to increase voter turnout in their community. For this democratic citizenship lesson, students identify keywords in speech and video related to freedom of speech and...
Lesson Plan
Ohio Center For Law-Related Education

Four Activities: Thurgood Marshall and the Nomination and Confirmation of Federal Judges

For Students 7th - 12th Standards
The process of nominating and confirming federal judges can sound like a lot of bureaucratic hoops, but a resource breaks down the steps of the Supreme Court nominations in a simpler manner. Learners participate in four activities that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American History Through the Len of the Supreme Court Decisions

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students examine the historical background of Supreme Court decisions and the basic principles behind legislation. As part of the lesson plan, students discover legal concepts and terms and write sentences using the vocabulary they have...
Lesson Plan
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Theodore Roosevelt Association

Interpreting the Past; Assessing Its Impact on the Present

For Teachers 5th - 12th Standards
Even though the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt ended over 100 years ago, we can still learn something from his stances and policies that is applicable today. Class members first look over a list of prevalent political issues from the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights in Current Events

For Teachers K - 12th
Divided the class into pairs, each group is assigned one of the amendments. They use the internet to research current cases and issues involving their amendment. They are then lead into the introduction to some of the basic concepts of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine various Supreme Court Cases.  In this American Government lesson, 9th graders research a specific Supreme Court Case.  Students create a multiple choice assignment based on their assigned case. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History of the Bill of Rights

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the history of the Bill of Rights. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students read and use two handouts to learn about the history of the Bill of Rights. Students then work in groups to study the Bill of Rights. Students then...
Lesson Plan
Foreign Policy Research Institute

Understanding China: The Prospects for Democracy in China

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This document provides useful information for a unit on democracy in China. While it does not include detailed activities, it does have a list of democratic principles, and important facts about China that facilitate understanding of its...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Search and Seizure: What Does It Mean?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students, in a juvenile correctional facility, study the meaning of the Fourth Constitutional Amendment. They study definitions and complete worksheets to investigate the implications of the amendment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Time for Justice

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in a lesson that focuses on the development of The Bill Of Rights in the United States. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students two focus questions in order to guide the information search. They state...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tally of the 1824 Electoral College Vote

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders study the parts of the Constitution that address presidential election. They complete a variety of activities designed to spark debate about the flaws in the Electoral College system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gun Control and Terrorism: Laws or Loopholes?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the Second Amendment of the Constitution. They research and organize key arguments and other fundementals of gun control. They participate in a debate defending the wording of the Second Amendment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

George Washington's Foreign Policy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare George Washington's foreign policy to the policies of presidents who followed him. In this primary source analysis lesson plan, students compare Washington's Farewell Address to the Roosevelt Corollary, the Monroe...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Checks and Balances in Supreme Court Nominations

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students 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...
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
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National Endowment for the Humanities

George Washington: The Precedent President

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Everyone knows that George Washington was the first president, but do your scholars know why that was so important? The lesson plan, the third in a sequence of three, allows learners to understand how George Washington set a precedent...
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Educating About Immigration The DREAM Act

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Group members role play state legislators, supporters of and opponents to the The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors). After listening to the arguments put forth for and against the immigration...
Lesson Plan
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C-SPAN

14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause

For Teachers 6th - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitution on Trial: The Internment of the Japanese During World War II

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders analyze primary source documents during the Second World War. Students recall statements of Japanese-Americans who were placed into internment camps during the war.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Dynamic Duo

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers engage in the research of history that surrounded the actions of the federal government during the years from 1907-1937. The focus of the lesson is upon the regulations imposed on business during the time and how it...
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

All Men Are Created Equal

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the statement "All Men Are Created Equal". Using the internet, they research events in history in which this statement has been ignored and supported by the government. They use this information to write an essay about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Invasion of Iraq

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the war in Iraq. They use videos, newspapers, and other media to examine the circumstances leading up to the invasion, the war's major battles, and the post-war situation on the ground. Students read letters from Iraq...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

State Symbols

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the symbolism of the United States by observing different flags.  In this U.S. History lesson, 3rd graders utilize the Internet to research state seals, flags, and other symbols that represent specific areas of...