Curated OER
Breaking News English: Iraq
In this Iraq instructional activity, students read the article, answer true and false questions, complete synonym matching, complete phrase matching, complete a gap fill, answer short answer questions, answer discussion questions, write,...
Judicial Learning Center
Your 1st Amendment Rights
Why should classes care about the First Amendment? An engaging lesson serves as a powerful tool for answering just that. As all four cases in the lesson relate directly to freedom of expression in schools, young scholars explore the...
Southern Poverty Law Center
Evaluating Online Sources
All sources are pretty much the same, right? If this is how your class views the sources they use for writing or research projects, present them with a media literacy lesson on smart source evaluation. Groups examine several articles,...
K20 LEARN
The K20 Chronicle, Lesson 1: What Makes a Good Article?
Good news articles are engaging, informative, and often compelling. In the first lesson of the four-part series, young journalists analyze and evaluate news stories about former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom. They learn about the...
Curated OER
Construction Starts on Freedom Tower
Students are introduced to an image of Freedom Tower, then read a news article about the construction of this building that will be completed in 2011. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with an...
Curated OER
The Four Freedoms
Students discuss the four freedoms. For this freedom lesson, students discuss freedom of speech, freedom to worship any God, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. They create a picture to match each freedom and make a book shaped...
Curated OER
First Things First: Using the Newspaper to Teach the Freedoms of the First Amendment
Students use the newspaper as a tool to make connections about what the five freedoms guarantee in the First Amendment. In this first amendment lesson plan, students analyze events in the newspaper to form conclusions about the freedoms...
Curated OER
American History Operation Iraqi Freedom
Students consider the responsibilities of American troops. In this Operation Iraqi Freedom lesson plan, students watch video segments regarding the work of the Arkansas National Guard. Students research media sources to determine the...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Freedom is not Universal
In this current events learning exercise, students analyze political cartoons that feature caricatures of political leaders that have been challenged. Students respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
Writing Newspaper Articles
Pupils write newspaper articles regarding their service learning experiences. In this writing skills lesson, students review the writing process skills to develop high-quality articles. Pupils write articles regarding the their acts of...
Curated OER
Freedom Is
Learners explore various ideas of freedom by comparing the profiles of seven Mainers from the early 19th century. They discuss freedom and what they think it means to be free. Students complete a Freedom Matrix to explore how seven...
Curated OER
Examine Government, Statistics and the Media
In this government, statistics, and media worksheet, students click on the links to learn more about government, statistics, and the media, and answer short answer questions about it. Students complete 5 questions.
Newseum
Introduction to the First Amendment: What’s a Violation?
Young historians take an in-depth look at the five freedoms granted by the First Amendment. Groups apply their knowledge of the freedoms to a series of scenarios to decide if the depicted actions represent a violation of the amendment.
Annenberg Foundation
Student Voices
Whether it's an election year or not, a unit on voting patterns and political campaigns will awaken the civic pride in your high school citizens. Divided into six parts, the curriculum covers various facets of an election, including...
Curated OER
Creating an Ethnic Student Newspaper
Students examine the role of the Black Press. In this African American history lesson, students watch segments of a video titled, " Too Long to Have Others Spoken for Us." Students respond to discussion questions regarding each of the...
Federal Judicial Center
Amistad and Dred Scott—a Comparative Activity
What do slaves fighting for their freedom on board a ship and a slave fighting for his freedom in a courtroom have in common? Budding historians investigate the two different cases of the Amistad slave revolt and the Dred Scott argument....
Curated OER
The First Amendment, What it Means and When Libel Comes in to Play
Students research three topics: The First Amendment, John Peter Zenger and his trial, and libel. In this journalism and libel lesson, students discuss things authority figures have done they disagree with and the anit-sedition law....
Curated OER
Creating a New Media in the Arab World
Young scholars explore the pros and cons of government-sponsored media into a war-torn country and determine whether the news will be considered information or propaganda.
Curated OER
Breaking News English - ESL/EFL Lesson Plan - Disability
Students complete ESL/EFL reading comprehension and vocabulary building activities. In this ESL/EFL current events lesson plan, students read or listen to the article "Paralysed Man Takes Hopeful First Steps," (22nd May, 2011). They work...
Curated OER
The Bill of Rights and the News
Students examine current news stories and from them develop "BIG" questions related to individual and group rights. They then relate their questions to the U.S. Constitution and supreme court decisions.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Drawing Attention to Government Secrecy
How much do we know about our government? This engaging topic for teens is made especially interesting through analysis of 2 political cartoons. Background information on Sunshine Week makes the cartoons more accessible, and 3 talking...
Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning
MedMyst: Disease Defenders
The news often refers to a team of experts handling situations and outbreaks of illnesses. Young scientists learn about such a team as they train to prevent infectious disease outbreaks Scholars meet three experts, learn about their...
Curated OER
Freedom from Oppression
Students investigate instances of genocide and role play as reporters writing news stories and editorials.
Curated OER
Freedom by the Fireside: The Legacy of FDR's "Four Freedoms" Speech
Students read and analyze Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union Address. They listen to recordings of speeches by F.D.R., answer discussion questions, and participate in a debate.