Curated OER
Expansion and Reform: Applying the Declaration of Independence
Students conduct inquiries and research-acquiring, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, evaluating, and communicating facts, themes, and general principles operating in American history. They use the Declaration of Independence to...
Curated OER
Deserts: How Do You Define One?
Second graders identify what constitutes as a desert by reading a habitat checklist. In this environment lesson, 2nd graders read a nature website to discover facts about the desert and where they are located. Students...
Curated OER
President Who? Forgotten Founders and Their Capitols
Students explore the beginning of the United Colonies that were formed in 1774. In this history instructional activity, students discuss the Articles of Confederation and then answer questions about the events surrounding the...
Curated OER
Researching American Democracy
Students compare Watergate and the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students define vocabulary terms and read articles regarding the impeachment process. Students respond to questions that require them to...
Curated OER
Weather Lesson 1
Students describe and compare the layers of the atmosphere. They explain how to measure the temperature of the atmosphere. They also explain what causes the atmosphere to heat up in some places more than in others.
Curated OER
What is Due Process Anyway?
High schoolers examine the term due process and its historical origins. They compare and constrast the requirements of due process in the United States Constitution and the Indiana Constitution. They also discuss the difference between...
Curated OER
Bill of Rights
Young scholars work in collaborative groups to research an amendment of the Bill of Rights. They then design and present a skit that demonstrates and communicates the core values and concepts of the amendment to the class.
Curated OER
The Changing Meaning of "Due Process"
Learners examine the United States Constitution and how the application for due process differs in two amendments. They research the changing definition of the term since the Civil War. They use the internet to research press coverage of...
Facing History and Ourselves
The Importance of a Free Press
"Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;. . ." Why is this guarantee of free speech and a free press the First Amendment to the US Constitution? Why are these rights so essential to a...
Curated OER
Dr. Fix-It Subjects: Health, Government
Help your high schoolers undertand the critical problems around healthcare. By focusing on the political and private process of healthcare, students will watch a video, analyze issues, and write an essay on their findings. Additionally,...
Curated OER
The Federalist Papers
Students identify the Articles of Confederation and explain why it failed. They explain the argument over the need for a bill of rights in the Constitution and James Madison's role in securing its adoption by first Congress. Finally,...
Curated OER
Citizens Together
Students examine the bill of rights as it relates to founding documents and their significance today. In this bill of rights lesson plan, students use newspapers as sources to answer critical questions regarding democratic citizenship....
Curated OER
Legislation: Passing a Bill in the Senate
Students debate a bill. In this Senate lesson plan, students investigate the steps of the House of Representatives when amending a bill that has passed. Students role-play law-making.
Curated OER
Launching Your Ship with Citizenship Lesson 4: Hoisting the Flag
Students discuss the U.S. electoral process and brainstorm solutions to increase voter turnout in their community. In this democratic citizenship lesson, students identify keywords in speech and video related to freedom of speech and...
Curated OER
Teaching With Documents Lesson Plan: Sioux Treaty of 1868
Students study the Sioux and their lives in the Black Hills before 1868. They engage in a wide variety of cross-curricular activities which give them a good understanding of the Sioux culture.
Curated OER
Respecting Freedom of Speech
Young scholars analyze the First Amendment. For this Bill of Rights lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the facets of the First Amendment. Young scholars examine cases which pertain to the...
Curated OER
Burning Hatred
Students examine the constitutionality of various forms of expression; they then take part in a mock trial on the issue of cross burning. Divide the class into three groups; Supreme Court Justices, and two groups that don't agree on this...
Curated OER
The Bill of Rights
Students explore the Bill of Rights. For this philanthropy and citizenship lesson, students identify and explain how each of the first ten amendments protects the rights of citizens. Students select one amendment to illustrate, and write...
Curated OER
Rights and Responsibilities: Making the Connection
Students examine the Bill of Rights. In this philanthropy lesson, students identify the responsibilities that accompany the 5 basic guaranteed rights in the Bill of Rights. Students interview a community member regarding basic rights.
Curated OER
Congress and the Creation of the Bill of Rights
Learners participate in inquiry activities to explore powers outlined in the Bill of Rights. For this Bill of Rights lesson, students creation of a class Bill of Rights, evaluate and propose amendments, and analyze primary source...
Curated OER
American Studies
Entitled American Studies, this small unit covers various topics related to the study of the United States. Learners warm up by creating a dictionary of democracy, then dive into three different lessons focused on government, famous...
iCivics
Step Five: All about Public Policy
Public policy is important to understand because it affects everyone. The resource tells middle schoolers how the government uses policy to accomplish goals in the administration. It includes a reading, true or false worksheet, a...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Cultural Change
High schoolers research the passage of the 19th Amendment as an illustration of the mutual influence between political ideas and cultural attitudes. They also read the Seneca Falls Declaration and explore the cultural shifts it both...
Oregon Department of Education
Building and Expanding Patterns
The generation of a number, or shape pattern, is the focus of this math lesson. Pupils are presented with a variety of patterns shapes, and number patterns, then use worksheets embedded in the plan to gain further practice. The...