Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Checks on Presidential Power

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine presidential powers. In this checks and balances lesson, students identify the constitutional and informal restraints of the president and consider the reasons for the limitations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

America 2000: Federal Round Table Discussion

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the United States Constitution and identify the beliefs and values Americans follow today. In groups, they compare and contrast state's rights and federal rights and the issues affecting them. They debate the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the intent  Bill of Rights. In this American government lesson, students watch segments of the Discovery video "The Bill of Rights."  Students discuss and debate the 4 Supreme Court cases featured in the video.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ira Ritter, Et Al., V. Jerry And Ruth Stanton Lesson 2: What Does a Jury Do Anyway?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students investigate how a jury is chosen, and what the rights and responsibilities of juries are. They examine case studies to determine the role of the jury in both criminal and civil cases.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Political Parties, Platforms, and Planks

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the origins and functions of political parties.  In this American Government lesson, 9th graders create a party platform to address political issues that are likely to arise during a national election. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Election Baseball

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students play trivia baseball where they answer trivia questions about the Constitution and elections. In this social studies lesson plan, students research facts about the Constitution and elections while playing the game.
Organizer
Curated OER

Checks and Balances Chart

For Students 9th
In this checks and balances chart worksheet, students use their textbooks and a copy of the U.S. Constitution to complete 10 items in the chart identifying the branches of government.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Checks and Balances

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students take a closer look at the responsibilities of the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches. In this U.S. government instructional activity, students read articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Constitution and then use Venn diagrams...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supreme Court in Our Lives: Key Cases

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students analyze Supreme Court decisions and their effect on students. They discuss current events realted to the U.S. Constitution and review cases that impact students. They identify each case with its facts, issues, and arguments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nonlegislative Powers

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the powers of Congress.  For this American Government lesson, 11th graders read about Congress.  Students complete a worksheet on their findings.  
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dancing and Singing Through the Bill of Rights

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study the Bill of Rights. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students read and analyze the Bill of Rights before performing The Amendment Song, and a dance associated with the concepts. They work in small groups using a Frayer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The First Amendment

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the First Amendment.  In this US Government lesson, 11th graders analyze the scope and meaning of the first amendment.  Students conduct a survey on First Amendment freedoms.  Student evaluate the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voting Rights: Convicted Felons

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the state right to revoke the voting privileges of convicted felons. In this voting rights instructional activity, students read an article and respond to discussion questions about the voting rights of felons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Loyalists

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explain why some colonists remained loyal to England during the American revolution. In this social studies lesson, students write a letter to an editor about their reasons for remaining loyal to England.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clear and Present Danger

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students assume identities of lawmakers, judges, writers, and protestors during times in American history when freedoms of speech and press were limited because country was on the brink of war or fighting one. Students use primary source...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Utopian Visions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine Sir Thomas More's Utopian vision. In this philosophy lesson, students read Utopia and determine the pros and cons of Utopian societies. Students then create and present monologues of residents of the Utopia.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Religion in Public Schools

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the presence of religion in public institutions. In this ethics lesson, students focus on one aspect of the presence of religion in public institutions, and the controversy surrounding religion in the public schools....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Racism: Law and Attitude

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine discrimination laws. In this racism lesson, students compare and contrast de facto and de jure discrimination. Students also explore the Bill of Rights and determine what makes some acts and speech illegal.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitution and The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Studnets learn about The Constitution and The Bill of Rights through a series on Internet pages that include such things as the framers, court cases and games.
eBook
Core Knowledge Foundation

Volume 1 - A History of the United States: Precolonial to the 1800s

For Students 7th - 8th Standards
Volume One of the 299-page Core Knowledge History of the United States covers events from the Precolonial Period to the 1800s.
Lesson Plan
Literacy Design Collaborative

American Dream: Reality, Promise or Illusion?

For Students 10th - 11th Standards
Dream or nightmare? Class members craft a synthesis essay with textual to determine to what extent the United States has fulfilled the ideas embodied in the America Dream.
Lesson Plan
3
3
Project Tahoe

Individual Rights vs. The Greater Good Within the Scope of War

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
When, if ever, is the government justified in restricting individual rights? When, if ever, should the "greater good" trump individual rights? To prepare to discuss this hot-button topic, class members examine primary source documents,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Tinker to Fraser: Freedom of Speech in Public Schools

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The Tinker and Fraser cases were taken the Supreme Court on the basis of the 1st Amendment right to Freedom of Speech. Learners discuss each case, the First AMendment, complete handouts, and conduct a role play activity. Handouts are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does My Hair Disrupt Your Learning

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Pupils research the laws and policies for school dress codes in their school and others in their state or area and explore what others say about these policies. After research is complete, students divide into two teams to develop...