NPR
Same-Sex Marriage
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...
Curated OER
Ratifying the Constitution
After a lecture on ratifying the Constitution, this worksheet would be perfect to reinforce your government (or U.S. History) students' new knowledge. The activity contains ten knowledge-level and comprehension-level questions. This...
Curated OER
United States Flag: Stars and Stripes
Young scholars study the symbols and history of the United States flag. In this United States flag instructional activity, students complete a KWL about the U.S. flag. Young scholars then visit a website to learn about the American flag...
Curated OER
Active Citizens 101
Young scholars explore and investigate multiple aspects of citizenship and democracy in a sequence of lessons that involve thoughtful discussin and participation to assist in gaining a better perspective of what citizenship and domocracy...
Curated OER
Signature History
Students review the meaning and application of primary and secondary sources in research. They determine how researchers locate primary source documents before looking at signatures as a validating factor on many primary sources....
National Institute for Literacy
Making Sense of Decoding and Spelling
Go over digraphs, vowel sounds, and affixes with a series of decoding and spelling lessons. Each lesson guides learners through a different reading and phonics skill, building on the lesson before, and challenging them with each step.
Curated OER
The National Legislature: ch 10
Answering comprehension questions during or after reading an informational text can help focus the reader's attention. Here are 5 True/False and 5 multiple choice questions related to the Congress, bicameralism, and basic governmental...
Curated OER
Meet the Press: American Presidents
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. For this presidential history lesson, students research the accomplishments of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Frankiln D. Roosevelt, and Barack...
Curated OER
Congressional Travel
Students determine the distances traveled by the members of the legislative branch of the US Government. In this travel distance lesson, students locate Washington, DC on a globe using the longitude and latitude of the city. They...
Curated OER
Early Presidents and Politics
Students investigate early presidents of the United States. Students complete a series of lessons in which they research the contributions and political climate during the terms of U.S. presidents from George Washington to Andrew Jackson.
Curated OER
Law, Values and Lobbying
Young scholars begin to examine the lawmaking process. Using their text, they describe the role of the three branches of government. In groups, they identify the four basic values protected by law and define the concept of lobbying and...
Curated OER
Saved by the Law
Young scholars explain the legislative efforts of local or state governments on their city's air quality issues to their classmates as responses to peer-created scenarios. They determine that change is possible with the cooperation and...
Curated OER
Technology and Globalization
Ninth graders examine the global effects of information technology in the areas of health, education, and government. They role play as officials trying to improve information technology.
Curated OER
President Wilson and the League of Nations
Young scholars examine Wilson's ideals of world peace and world order and the conflict between these ideals and the U.S. Senate's policy of isolationism. Wilson's visionary stance and its significance in forming the policies of our...
Curated OER
If These Walls Could Talk
Students investigate the influence of the Enlightenment on American society and government. For this Enlightenment lesson, students work cooperatively in groups to define the principles of the Enlightenment, American democracy, and...
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
Worksheet #46 Questions - United States Congress
In this United States Congress worksheet, students increase their knowledge about the United States Congress with ten fill in the blank questions.
Curated OER
A Place Called Fairfax
Students are introduced to the various types of maps of Fairfax County, Virginia. Using the maps, they explain the relative and absolute locations of the county and discuss the importance of both. They also discover how the county is...
Curated OER
The American Home Front During WWII
Students analyze World War Two era government propaganda, biographies, and historical data in order to better understand the effects on Americans at home. In this American Home Front During World War Two lesson, students compare...
Curated OER
Arthur Meets the President
Students discuss the role of the President. In this government instructional activity, students read Arthur Meets the President and complete a story map. Students develop new vocabulary related to the story.
Curated OER
Turning the Tide on Trash: Marine Debris Curriculum
Seven pages of fascinating reading on marine debris preface the activities in this lesson plan. Four different activities are employed to simulate how the debris is distributed in the ocean and along beaches. Early ecology learners...
Smithsonian Institution
Students’ Response to 9/11—A Documentary Report
Young historians research the devastating attacks of 9/11 and use that information to script their own documentaries. The follow-up activity includes recording the documentary and conducting classmate interviews,
National Endowment for the Humanities
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nonviolent Resistance
Was nonviolent resistance the best means of securing civil rights for black Americans in the 1960s? In this highly engaging and informative lesson, your young historians will closely analyze several key documents from the civil rights...
Curated OER
Early Presidents
Students are introduced to the lives and contributions of the first seven presidents of the United States. They, in groups, conduct further research on one of these president and his political platform and design a presentation for the...