US Institute of Peace
Simulation on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Why do Israel and Palestine have a history of conflict? Learners find out by participating in a simulation. They work through a scenario and take on one of 27–30 roles. They put themselves in the shoes of people from Israel, Palestine,...
C-SPAN
Electoral College Pros/Cons and Alternatives
If every vote counts, why do we need the electoral college? Middle and high schoolers study the Constitutional precedent of the electoral college, as well as its place in historical and modern elections, with an engaging social studies...
Teach Engineering
The Building Blocks of Matter
Everything can be reduced to atoms. The first installment of a six-part Mixtures and Solutions unit focuses on the building blocks of matter. Scholars review basic atomic structure, including protons, neutrons, and electrons, in...
University of Wisconsin
Analyzing Presidential Campaign Propaganda
Campaign propaganda has evolved from 1952 through the presidential election of 2008. A social studies activity prompts class members to analyze the devices used in ads and political cartoons, noting strategies they believe would work to...
California Department of Education
Safe at Work
From minimum wage to minimizing injuries, young workers need to know their rights! The sixth and final lesson plan in a series of college and career readiness activities gets eighth graders thinking about safety and labor laws.
Curated OER
Like Father, Like Son: Presidential Families
Learners examine the role of the President. They discuss the President's responsibilities and compare both father/son presidents (Adams and Bush).
Curated OER
Picturing First Families
Students complete a variety of activities as they study Washington, D.C., the Presidency, and George Washington. They take a virtual trip to Washington, D.C., and visit the National Portrait Gallery, the White House, and the Library of...
Curated OER
Using Primary Sources: Letters from the Presidents
Students find out about the minds and thoughts of presidents through reading their actual letters. They explore the personal lives of presidents. They answer questions about a primary source. They write essays.
Curated OER
The Civil War Through a Child's Eyes
Pupils focus upon the Civil War era using research methods of drawing information from primary sources. Literature and photographic images reflect, communicate, and influence human perspectives of historical events. The lesson helps...
Curated OER
Picture This: Election Results Graphs
Students use art supplies or a free online tool to graph election results. Students follow local election and results. Using "Create a Graph, a free online graphing tool, they make a graph of the results.
Curated OER
Texas Kid Writes Book About Presidents
Arranged into small groups, learners read a paragraph of the news story "Texas Kid Writes Book About Presidents." As one reads, others mark the text (underlining important information and writing notes in the margin of the story). After...
Curated OER
Ethics in Congress
Learners, using Online sources, research and discuss modern ethics rules and general behavioral guidelines used in Congress.
Curated OER
No Place Like Home
Learners analyze photographs of high plains sod homes and read accompanying narratives. They then choose one photograph and, using the copy and paste features and simple drawing tools available in Microsoft Word, students identify...
Curated OER
George Washington: The Living Symbol
Students discuss George Washington's life and how he became a symbol of this nation. They categorize various images of Washington into the various roles he plays.
Curated OER
Right of Privacy: 4th Amendment
Students are introduced to the 4th Amendment of the Washington state Constitution. In groups, they examine the Constitution of the state of Washington and compare it to the United States Constitution. They role play the role Supreme...
Curated OER
Coin Connections
Students examine the Illinois state quarter and review Lincoln and the fact that he is also on the penny. They color paper coins, identify their values, and create a money mobile. They play a Cent Sense game to practice which coins are...
Curated OER
Islam in America
Students examine the cultural and religious diversity within the United States. Using the differences, they discover they are a source of growth and change as well as conflict. They identify the changes that occur when new immigrants...
Curated OER
The Debate in the United States over the League of Nations: Disagreement Over the League
Students read the words and listen to the voices of some central participants in the debate over the League of Nations.
Curated OER
What's In The Bag?
Pupils research a historical figure from the United States and introduce their classmates to items associated with this person. They also predict how that historical figure would fit into today's society.
National First Ladies' Library
The Flying Inauguration of the "Sudden President
Students study the inauguration process as well as what the constitution states about who succeeds the President of the US when the office is emergently vacant. They discuss the role of government and the events leading to Lyndon...
Curated OER
Angel Island
Eleventh graders understand that the experience of Chinese immigrants is exemplified as one of many other immigrants' experience coming to the United States.
National First Ladies' Library
Statehood for Puerto Rico? You Decide!
Students discuss the legal status of territories, commonwealths, and other jurisdictions and examine the process of moving to statehood. Groups conduct research about the question of statehood for Puerto Rico and share their research in...
Curated OER
Who Is Sarah Mae Fleming?
Fifth graders learn about two influential women. In this historical figures lesson, 5th graders work in groups to read articles about Rosa Parks and Sarah Fleming and share their findings with the class. Students use a Venn...
Curated OER
Makiko's New World
Students analyze the internal and external causes of the Meiji Restoration. They look at the goals and policies of the state and their impact on Japan's modernization. Students also assess the impact of Western ideas on Japan and realize...