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National Endowment for the Humanities

Lesson 4 James Madison: Internal Improvements Balancing Act—Federal/State and Executive/Legislative

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Who has the power? The founding fathers asked the same question when the United States was formed. Learners explore issues that arose during Madison’s presidency that raised constitutional questions. Through discovery, discussion, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing Letters to Legislators

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss the importance of writing to their representatives. Using the internet, they identify who their representative is and ways they can communicate with them. They review the guidelines in which they need to follow in order...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How A Bill Becomes Law

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students gain an understanding of how a bill becomes law. They access websites imbedded in this plan. They create a bill of their own, and share it with the class. They compare their simulated bills with real legislation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Senator and Me: A Dog's-Eye View of Washington, D.C.

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Although this legislative process lesson is designed to accompany a specific text, it is valuable independently. Young learners participate in a picture walk (worksheet included) through My Senator and Me: A Dog's-Eye View...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Having the Last Word

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars discuss the influence of foreign languages in their everyday speech after reading an article from The New York Times on language legislation in Brazil. Students are divided into 4 groups in order to research languages...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Branches of Government

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the three branches of government. In this government and U.S. history lesson, students listen to a story about a boy who attempts to sponsor a bill to ban cartoons. Students interview three teachers who each represent...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Citizen Involvement In the Legislative Process

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in a lesson plan which can be adapted to a simulation, emphasizing citizens' contributing to the legislative process. They gain a better understanding of how the legislative process works.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Concealed Weapons Law Editorials: A Study of Persuasive Writing

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research Ohio's concealed gun legislation using provided resource links, read editorials and commentaries from Ohio's daily and weekly newspapers, and analyze these opinion pieces.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Special Interests: How Would A Legislator Vote?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students act as elected officials who must make decisions that will make someone unhappy. They consider five bills that are up for vote in light of the contributions that many special-interest groups made to their campaigns. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Legislative Debate: The Importance and Role of Debate within the Legislative Process

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students learn the legislative process as they debate real-life issues that affect students within their age group. To prepare for the debate, students consult newspapers, selected articles, case studies, and other media resources....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Three Branches of Government

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students write about working in one branch of government.  In this branches of government lesson, students read about the three levels of government using various websites and then work in groups to discuss, illustrate and write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tuning Out Telemarketers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research laws for telemarketers in their state, examine whether there are effective laws in other states, explore concept of national telemarketing legislation, and write news features about telemarketers and impact they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Driving Safety and Distractions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research process necessary to add local or state law limiting such driving distractions as cell phones or other technological devices, interview city leaders or legislators, research areas that already have such...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Showdown on the Frontier

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Especially critical following a series of shootings in schools, theaters, and religious buildings, it's safe to say that we need to evaluate the current laws on gun control. Eighth graders read a New York Times article in order to better...
Handout
ProCon

Obamacare

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Former President Barack Obama reformed the United States' health care system with Obamacare, but is the new legislation good for America? Scholars read a historical timeline about the passage of health care reform laws and compare United...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan: The Net Neutrality Debate

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Should Internet users who send data-heavy content pay higher fees than those who are involved in activities, like sending an email, that have less content? This question is at the heart of the Net Neutrality debate. After watching a PBS...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tobacco: Promotion Tactics and the Law

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Youths aged 13 & 14 are most likely to notice and remember in-store tobacco promotions. Class members dissect tobacco advertising tactics and learn about relevant legislation by participating in guided discussion. Assessing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The New England Fishing Industry:Sea Changes in a Community

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Explore New England's economic and cultural past and possible issues New Englanders will face in the future. Middle and high schoolers research the fishing industry and the need for regulation. They analyze the topography of New England...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Don't Just Dream-Act

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create campaign materials to encourage the passage of legislation supporting higher education for immigrant minors. They produce flyers, brochures, pins and a voter presentation for a school fair. To prepare the materials they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"LEG"eopardy: Legislative Jeopardy

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Learners practice debating skills by playing "LEG"eopardy, a legislative version of Jeopardy. They research topics about British Columbia's parliamentary democracy,generating lists of questions and answers for the debating game.
Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Marijuana: Breaking Down the Buzz

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Teenagers get the real information about marijuana use based on the history of tobacco legislation and research. As they read an educational passage about marijuana laws, science, and changing attitudes, they address their preconceptions...
PPT
Curated OER

Wild Horses

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What a terrific resource! This presentation focuses on wild horses and what should be done about them. While the questions found in the presentation focus on grammar and comprehension, this set of slides could do so much more. Learners...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teen Drivers with Passengers

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students research the current driving laws, particularly as they apply to teens. Students interview state legislators perhaps to see if they think this is a good idea. Students write an in-depth article about teen driving and the effect...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Student Opinion: How Should Schools Address Bullying?

For Students 7th - 12th
Spark a disscussion about a current issue, bullying, in your classroom. This resource, published by The New York Times, provides a short article discussing a Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights passed into law in the state New Jersey followed...

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