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Fighting Political Apathy Among Youth
Learners research and describe youth participation in political elections. They survey random adults about their voting behavior and chart the results in a graph. They compile their results to predict future voter participation.
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Map It!
Fourth graders collect and explore different maps and their uses before using the program Pixie to create maps of geographic features, political features, and economic information for the state in which they live.
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Campaign Songs as Propaganda
Student analyze campaign messages about tariffs in a nineteenth-century campaign song. They identify the intended audience of the message. They discuss strategies for courting the other political party's bloc.
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1960 Election
Students examine the election of 1960. In this US politics lesson students listen to a teacher driven lecture, take notes, engage in a class discussion and write a response to what they have learned regarding the 1960's presidential...
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The Life of the Party
Students research and deliver oral presentations discussing how state governors' attitudes reflect those commonly associated with their national party leadership. They synthesize their knowledge by writing essays on centrist politics.
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Index Card Jigsaw
Students explore accomplishments of historical figures. Through participation in a hands-on activity, teams of students match names, quotes, views and political party affiliation to the correct picture. They create a chart from the...
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Them Damned Pictures
Students examine and gather information from primary sources about events during the Revolutionary War. They identify and place the political cartoons. They respond to a cartoon from the point of view of someone who lived at the time.
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Promoting the Candidate
Middle schoolers identify the role of political parties in presidential elections, then interpret objects from presidential campaigns.
National First Ladies' Library
Presidential Campaigning--Front Porch Style
High schoolers compare and contrast "front porch" political campaigns and modern day traveling campaigns of past presidents. Using the internet and other sources, they explore President Harding's campaign and platform. Using the internet...
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Cities of the World
Students identify the symbol for cities on a political map. In this world map activity, students identify specific cities on the World Political Map. Students should identify the country in which the city is located. Students discuss the...
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Student Voice
Students investigate local and national politics. They research youth issues through online forums and e-mail while working with a partner. They participate in their own conference to prepare a Youth Manifesto to be submitted.
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911 As History
Students recognize persuasive techniques, think criticaly about the messages contained in various media, and discuss controversial issues in constructive ways. They analyze the deeper messages contained in children's literature, and...
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Historical Witness: Social Messaging
Students examine the persuasive techniques of leaders. In this propaganda lesson, students discover the practices that Louis XIV and Caligula used to persuade others. Students watch "The Merchants of Cool" and discuss propaganda used...
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Select-a-Lawmaker
Young scholars are assigned a party faction, examine bills voted on by their party faction last year, and find a candidate with a similiar view of government.
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Turning Historical Descriptions into Causal Claims
Eleventh graders study different political processes. In this American Government lesson, 11th graders read narratives about different political processes. Students write a sentence in their own words describing the concepts.
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Honoring An Imperial Legacy
Students research, compare, and identify imperial Rome's impact on modern governments. They compare the political system of ancient Rome to modern political systems throughout the world.
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Lessons from the Holocaust - Hitler Youth
Students examine the political socialization that contributed to the Holocaust. In this Holocaust lesson, students read about supporters of the Nazi party and how political socialization led to the Hitler Youth.
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How We Got to Kansas-Nebraska
Students explore the causes of the Civil War. In this lesson on slavery students use primary sources to examine the evolution of the issue of slavery and in the American political system. Students will then write a follow-up essay...
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Party Like It's 1992 or '84 or '76 or '68!
Learners explore, analyze and study how political party platforms have changed over time. They create a party platform time line by researching Republican and Democratic Party stances on various issues during the last few decades.
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Hillary Clinton's Voting Record Distorted
Students examine how political advertisements can be used to deliver messages and stir emotions. Using a political ad from the 2006 Senate election, students generate questions based on the claims in the ads. They research information to...
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Editorial Cartoon: Censorship
Young scholars explore the concept of juxtaposition. In this editorial cartoon instructional activity, students analyze an editorial cartoon techniques to develop an understanding of juxtaposition and symbolism used in the cartoons.
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African Americans Seen Through the Eyes of the Newsreel Cameraman
Fifth graders examine the portrayal of African Americans in the media. In this socio-political instructional activity, 5th graders view various news clips of African Americans and discuss the way they are presented. Students...
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John McCain's Tax Stand Misrepresented
Students examine how political advertisements can be misleading. Using a political ad against tax reform, students generate questions based on the claims in the ads. They research information to support or refute the claims in the ad and...
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Ida Tarbell: Hysterical Woman vs. Historical Facts
Students examine journalism and its different styles. For this effective communication instructional activity students create an editorial message and articulate an article.