Curated OER
Lesson 1: The Importance of Rules in Our Country and in Our Classroom
Explore the importance of rules in a community with the engaging first lesson of this series on the US government. To begin, children play a paper clip game that requires them to make up their own rules as they go, after which the...
Judicial Learning Center
Law and the Rule of Law
We hear a lot about the importance of the rule of law, but most people do not really know what those words mean. The lesson is a webpage that defines the rule of law, explains why it is important in a democratic society and provides...
Curated OER
Creating a Classroom Constitution
Youngsters identify and interpret the importance of having rules in order to maintain order at home, at school, in their community, and in the United States. They create a working Classroom Constitution that governs the classroom and...
Center for Civic Education
Orb and Effy Learn About Authority
Simplify the teaching of the US Constitution with this primary grade social studies lesson. While reading a fun story about an imaginary place called Bubble Land, children learn about the concept of authority and the importance of...
Curated OER
Classroom Rules
Students participate in selection of language needed to form rules for the classroom. They explore the categories of: things you have to do, things you can't do and things you can do if you like. Then they break into groups and create...
PBS
Constitution Day
Travel back to 1787 as young scholars investigate the creation of the US Constitution. After first working in small groups to create sets of classroom rules, students go on to read a summary of the Constitution and watch a short video...
Curated OER
Teaching Tolerance and Acceptance
If you teach students about tolerance and acceptance at the beginning of the year, you can create a positive classroom environment.
Curated OER
Reviewing the Rules
Young scholars participate in a group discussion to evaluate rules that the class created together. In this early childhood social studies lesson plan, students condense rules into categories and reword rules to be stated in the positive.
Center for Civic Education
The Power of Nonviolence: Rosa Parks: A Quest for Equal Protection Under the Law
Teach young historians about the historical legacy of Rosa Parks with a multi-faceted lesson plan. Pupils follow stations and use journals to explore prominent events, analyze primary resource documents, and engage in interesting...
Facing History and Ourselves
Decision-Making: Introduction to the Unit
Make your classroom a supportive and communicative place to be before beginning a unit on the Holocaust. Working together as a class, learners reflect on their previous experiences of classroom discussions before establishing a...
Curated OER
Themes vs. Timelines
Teaching history through a thematic curriculum fosters a higher level of engagement and critical thinking in young historians.
Ashbrook Center at Ashland University
Ratification of the Constitution
How difficult was it to get everyone to agree on the contents of the Constitution? Historians analyze the task of the Founding Fathers in creating the United States Constitution. They research a directory of video clips, primary sources,...
Curated OER
Rules and Laws
Students investigate the difference between rules and laws. In this justice system lesson plan, students discuss the presence of rules of their lives and compare them the "Code of the West."
YMCA
Turning Courtrooms into Classrooms
Turn the class into the next episode of Law & Order! Scholars work together to create a mock trial over the course of several weeks before going before a judge for the case performance. They take on different roles, go through...
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.
Curated OER
Polite Listeners and Traffic Rules
Students consider the necessity of rules. In this citizenship instructional activity, students consider the reasons for rules and they complete traffic light activities.
Curated OER
Governance
First graders make connections between the purposes of rules. In this governing lesson plan students listen to a story about rules being broken. Students identify rules that they have at school or home.
Curated OER
Anger Management Strategies for the Classroom
Here are some strategies to help students deal with anger management
Facing History and Ourselves
Do You Take the Oath?
Why did so many go along with Nazi policies during World War II? An investigatory unit includes four handouts, reading analyses, classroom discussion topics, and intriguing philosophical questions, helping learners understand the...
Illinois State Bar Association
Mock Trial Teacher Training
Whether you are new to the mock trial format or have extensive experience with the program, you'll find much to learn from this teacher training manual that includes strategies for teaching the various aspects of court room trials.
State Bar of Texas
Worcester v. Georgia
Can the president of the United States defy the rulings of the Supreme Court? Students investigate the case of Worcester v. Georgia and the impact it had on society and, most importantly, Native Americans. Using a short video clip as...
Curated OER
Love Your Neighbors Like Yourself
Students discover the concept of the golden rule. In this service learning lesson, students identify skills that they possess which may be used to help those in need.
Curated OER
Why were Americans upset with the British Government?
Fourth graders examine the Revolutionary War in New York State. In this experiential hook lesson plan, 4th graders adhere to new rules imposed by the teacher. Students document their feelings and frustrations with being taxed on...
Curated OER
Teaching a Current Event
Students discuss current events. In this decision making instructional activity, students work to solve how an issue in their classroom should be solved by using a six-step discussion procedure. They work as a class to come up with a...