Curated OER
Multicultural Issues and the Law: Gender and Race Based Schooling
Students examine the problems associated with gender based and race based education. In groups, they research the history of education and the laws that have changed education and impacted lives. They brainstorm a list of the positives...
Curated OER
Political Parties Then & Now
Young scholars research information about candidates both past and present. They role play a party member, the public or the press to present information.
Curated OER
Voting
Students participate in a role play where they run for office and address the issues they want to fix. In this voting lesson plan, students then vote on which candidate they want to run their classroom.
Curated OER
Lincoln, Douglass, and Black Emergence (Literature and Politics, 1840-1865)
Students examine the ideas of Lincoln and Douglass. In groups, they compare and contrast writings from each man and how they formed the nation with their ideas. After watching "Glory", they discuss how people like Lincoln and Douglass...
PBS
Standing Up Against Injustice
“Sometimes things are lawful yet are actually wrong.” Researchers examine primary and secondary source materials as they study five legal cases involving civil rights attorney William Kunstler in which he attempted to use the legal...
Curated OER
Understanding by Design
Fourth graders examine the origins, structures, and functions of the Colorado government. In this understanding by design lesson, 4th graders explore the three branches of government. Students identify the roles of state leaders and the...
EduGAINs
Governmental Apology for the Aboriginal Experience—Canadian and World Studies
What constitutes an effective apology? After considering a series of scenarios, class members develop criteria for an effective apology and then use these indicators to evaluate Canada's Prime Minister Harper's apology to former...
Curated OER
Campaign 2004: Classroom Electorate
Learners role play as political analysts first forecasting the electoral college vote in a presidential election and then, following the results of the actual count. They study the role of swing states, and why political participation is...
Curated OER
No Friends but the Mountains: A Simulation on Kurdistan
Young scholars read background information on the people of Kurdistan and explore the geographical, political and ethnic history of the region. They participate in a debate where they role-play various points of view in the conflict.
Curated OER
Discovering Aristotle's Three Forms
Students, working in small groups, role play different kinds of governments--oligarchy, monarchy, dictatorship, and democratic republic. They portray their form of government in a skit, while other groups guess which kind of government...
Curated OER
Understanding the Election of 1800 and the Twelfth Amendment
Eleventh graders examine the election of 1800. In this American Government lesson, 11th graders summarize the events that made the election controversial. Students advocate for a candidate during a short role playing session.
Curated OER
Anti-Railroad Propaganda Poster -- The Growth of Regionalism, 1800 - 1860
Pupils research the anti-railroad movement of the mid-19th century. They review propaganda from the period and consider various points of view. They develop role-plays and write essays using their research.
Curated OER
Vote for Me!
Students conduct a mock presidential interview. In this US presidents lesson plan, students research the lives of former U.S. presidents and then role play interviews of the "presidents."
Curated OER
How Do We Balance Environmental Conservation with Human Needs?
Students role play a meeting between conservation biologists and local representatives who want to advance the livelihood of local population. In this history lesson, students research the necessities and conservation issues of given...
Curated OER
Patriots v. Loyalists
Students consider how colonial citizens chose sides in the American Revolution. In this Revolutionary War lesson, students role play Loyalists, Patriots, and undecideds in a classroom simulation. Students research their positions so that...
University of Chicago
Exercise in Conflict Resolution
How do major religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, differ in how they view the role of individual freedoms within society, the definition of morality, and the importance of politically satisfying the greater good? Here...
Curated OER
Storytelling and Culture
Learners examine the cultural tradition of storytelling. For this storytelling lesson, students explore stories from 3 different cultures and evaluate the roles that storytelling plays in each of the cultures to pass on values and beliefs.
C-SPAN
The Electoral College and the Constitution
What is the purpose of the Electoral College? Is it antiquated, or does it have a place in today's political climate? High schoolers view a series of video clips as they analyze the parts of the United States Constitution that address...
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Music of African American History
High schoolers examine role spirituals have played in African American history and religion, examine Harriet Tubman's use of spirituals in her work, explore power of spirituals in Civil Rights Movement, and work with oral tradition,...
Curated OER
Changing Planet: Infectious Diseases Classroom Activity
Here is a different approach: emerging epidemiologists first go home to interview family on the topic of infectious disease. Then they come to class and view a video and PowerPoint that explore how climate change may increase the...
Curated OER
Lincoln's Political Theology
Middle schoolers continue to examine the events of the Civil War. Using primary source documents, they identify how Lincoln's religious beliefs affected the decisions he made during this time period. They discuss the meaning of his...
Curated OER
Frontline Muslims: Overview of Muslim History and the Spread of Islam from the 7th to the 21st century
Students gain insight into how and when Islam was spread to various regions from the 7th century to today. They are able to identify and asses the importance of cultural and political factors in the spread of Islam and the effect it has...
Curated OER
The "Big Four"
Pupils identify the four individuals who are identified as the "Big Four", examine the years they were on the bench together, and look and the impact they made in key cases.
Curated OER
Representation: Majority rule
Students explore various forms of decision making including majority rule, executive, consensus and autocracy (as well as exploring the power of veto), when they debate a bill in a class parliament.