Curated OER
The Role of the Judiciary in a System of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances
Students determine the difference between the different branches of government and assess the role of each within the American governmental system.
USA.gov
Three Branches of Government
Here is a very simple handout that illustrates how the Constitution provides for a separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Curated OER
The Role of the Judiciary in a System of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances
Students review concepts shown to them in a telecast on the role of the judiciary in a system of separation of powers. After reading an article, they work together in groups to complete a chart on checks and balances. They also discuss...
Curated OER
The Role of the Independent Counsel
Students analyze the role of independent counsel. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding Watergate, Impeachment, and the role of independent counsel. Students respond to discussion...
Curated OER
Military tribunals
Ninth graders explore the role of government on terrorism. In this current events lesson, 9th graders create a trial for an individual who has been suspected for terrorism. Students present the case to the jury.
ProCon
Electoral College
The Electoral College's role in elections is sometimes confusing and controversial. Pupils use a debate topics website to research the pros and cons of the practice to debate whether the United States should still use the Electoral...
Curated OER
Diversity and Equality
Young scholars explore how our political system addresses issues of diversity. After reading an included article, they discuss the constitutionality of student-led prayer in schools. Working in groups, they role play a Supreme Court case...
Curated OER
The Selection of Judges
Students analyze documents to determine the steps taken in the selection of judges.
Curated OER
Government: Missouri Bar Civics Library
Students visit the Missouri bar Website to examine information about the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments. They complete a variety of activities from the provided lessons including the judiciary, Fourth Amendment issues, civil law,...
Curated OER
Executive Decisions
Students explore the role of judges in Britain. In this current events lesson, students visit selected websites to discover the responsibilities of judges and the justice reform in Britain.
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The People's Right to Know
Students review Supreme Court ruling on the right to know, prior restrain and access to government. They read The Progressive case and hold a moot court to argue the outcome.
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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
Reparations for Slavery
Students analyze slavery reparations. In this American history lesson plan, students examine the pros and cons of paying reparations for slavery and participate in a discussion.
Advocates for Human Rights
The Rights of the Child
Don't be fooled by the size of the resource: these few pages provide the blueprint for a substantial, thoughtful unit on children's rights and the different philosophies and approaches that the United States and other countries have...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
If Men Were Angels: Teaching the Constitution With the Federalist Papers
Much like the methods of group work, the writers of the Federalist Papers worked together to advocate for their viewpoints against the anti-federalists. The resource enables learners to break into small groups and conduct research before...
Advocates for Human Rights
The Right of Indigneous Peoples in the United States
The sovereignty of U.S. Native American nations is the focus of a resource that asks class members to compare the Right to Self-Determination in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples with a fact sheet that details the...
Advocates for Human Rights
Migrants in the Media
Class members examine two documents—The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and The Rights of Migrants in the United States—and then use reports in the media to assess how well the US is doing in ensuring these rights.
Curated OER
The Monroe Doctrine: Whose Doctrine Was It?
Was James Monroe the sole contributor of the Monroe Doctrine? Young scholars study the doctrine and cite evidence to show contributions of John Quincy Adams and Thomas Jefferson in its formulation.
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Mesopotamia
Middle schoolers map Mesopotamia. In this Geography lesson, students are introduced to Ancient Mesopotamia. Middle schoolers use an atlas to label the defining features and areas of Mesopotamia on a map.
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Making History Relevant
Learners maintain a weekly news journal in which they summarize current news articles and then relate them to topics previously studied in history class.
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School Bill of Rights
Students study the Bill of Rights. As a class, they create a "School Bill of Rights," with amendments. Students discuss the difference between rights and responsibilities and examine Supreme Court decisions dealing with the first ten...
Curated OER
Ancient Greece: Athens as a City State
Sixth graders find Greece on the map and recognize how the geography of Greece was important in its development. In this ancient Greece lesson, 6th graders research Greece and compare to the civilization of ancient Egypt. Students answer...
Curated OER
The Rise of the City States in Greece
Sixth graders examine Ancient Greece and its development of democracy. In this Greek History lesson plan, 6th graders explore the rise of city-states in Greece and its overall effect on the development of democracy. The class continues...
Curated OER
The Way Editorial Cartoons Work
Twelfth graders interpret visual language found in political cartoons.