Curated OER
Respect for Authority
Students develop cross-cultural understanding. In this democracy instructional activity, students discuss core democratic values as they examine the governance in their school and their local community. Students also discuss the...
Curated OER
Studying Florida's Constitution: State's Rights
Students examine the basic rights in their state's constitution. They vote on a class issue, analyze how an amendment is passed, develop a flow chart to demonstrate the steps, and write and illustrate a booklet about their basic rights.
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Good Citizens
Students consider what qualities and values make a good citizen. Students compare the requirements to become a U.S. citizen in 1896 to current requirements. Students create a country and write out the qualities a good citizen would possess.
Curated OER
Constitutional Acts (Chapter 3)
Help your students review constitutional acts in this review worksheet, which could also be used as a class quiz. Five matching questions and five multiple choice questions address checks and balances, the powers of the Senate and House,...
James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
A Deliberate, Palpable and Dangerous Exercise of Other Powers: James Madison & Homeland Security
This resource uses primary source documents to explore the First Amendment. After reviewing key events of the 1790s, government or US history classes explore Madison's letter to Jefferson regarding the Alien and Sedition Acts. They then...
Curated OER
The Power of the Image: Understanding Symbols in Buddhist Art
Students discuss symbolism in art, examine various images of compassion in Buddhist tradition, analyzing components of the concept, and then produce their own images of compassion through art.
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Putin: 'No way back' from democracy
Imagine a meeting between President Bush and Putin. Get your class thinking about global awareness, democracy, and totalitarian modes of government. They examine how two leaders approach major governmental issues and run their countries...
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Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement
Students analyze English by completing a handout regarding grammar rules. In this verb lesson, students identify what a verb does, where to use it in a sentence and what a verb fragment is. Students complete a worksheet based on subject...
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Inflation and Money
Learners define money in terms of its functions and refer back to discussion of markets and the role of money in reducing transaction costs. They give examples of types of money.
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Mock Trial
Students rewrite a traditional fairy tale to represent the viewpoint of the villain. They participate in a mock trial of that villain in which all regular court participants (judge, jury, defendant, witnesses, plaintiff, etc) play roles.
Curated OER
Documents and Symbols and American Freedom
Students complete a unit of lessons on the documents, symbols, and famous people involved in the founding of the U.S. government. They create a personal bill of rights, write a found poem, design a flag, conduct research, and role-play...
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Benjamin Franklin and the U.S. Constitution
Students explore U.S. history by completing a quiz about civics. For this Benjamin Franklin lesson, students read assigned text about Franklin's role in the development of the Constitution and the creation of a new society. Students...
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Civilizations: Rise To Power
High schoolers discover details about the rise of civilizations. For this Roman history lesson, students watch "Civilizations: Rise to Power," and read primary sources from different periods of the empire's history. High schoolers write...
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Being a Good Citizen
First graders discuss citizenship. In this being a good citizen lesson, 1st graders complete a worksheet identifying characteristics of a good citizen. Students draw a picture then use a flip camera to capture good classroom citizens.
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Applying Principles of Civic Liberty
Third graders relate the everyday duties in the classroom and in the community. In this character education lesson plan, 3rd graders compare duties in the classroom to duties in the community and chart them on a Venn diagram. Students...
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Bill of Rights: Rights and Responsibilities
Students explore the meaning of freedom. In this U.S. History instructional activity, students research the Declaration of Independence and how it relates to American freedom by completing activities and a mock trial.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution
High schoolers use the Internet to read a brief description of Magna Carta (link provided). They "walk through" the document with the teacher, identifying four major themes. Students read and discuss "The Rhetoric of Rights: Americans...
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"Pressing" Issues In Zimbabwe
Students explore the nature of freedom of the press through examining a story about the capture and torture of journalists in Zimbabwe. They participate in a round-table discussion of the issues. They research an African country of their...
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Is there a stone in my soup?
Students observe teacher's inappropriate classroom procedures such as tattling, pushing, or interrupting. In this showing respectful behaviors lesson, students respond to scenarios created by the teacher and address what the appropriate...
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Education Reform
Students identify problems and potential improvements for U.S. public school education. They research and debate the pros and cons of the "No Child Left Behind Act".
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War of 1812
Eighth graders locate the major land forms and bodies of water on a map of Louisiana. In groups, they discuss the role of the Mississippi River in the Battle of New Orleans and how land and water affect the outcome of battles. To end...
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Political and Cultural Road to the American Revolution
Learners examine the Declaration of Independence. For this Revolutionary War lesson, learners use primary sources to analyze how the creation of the Declaration of Independence lead to the development of the United States as an...
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The Beginnings of Constitutional Government
Students examine excerpts of Thomas Paine's Common Sense. In this early American history lesson, students read Paine's pamphlet and analyze the information according the rubric provided.
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Once Upon a Castle
Students complete a variety of activities surrounding castle communities and fairy tales. They write a letter to a fairy tale character, write a fairy tale, create a model of a castle, and draw a map of a castle community.