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Eating Right with a Little Help From the VT

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore the food pyramid. In this nutrition lesson, students identify the 5 food groups and sort foods according to the group in which they belong. Students use the Visual Thesaurus to complete a food groups worksheet and...
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The Many Faces of Paul Robeson

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars discuss and construct timelines based on the life of author/performer/Civil Right's activist, Paul Robeson. They view photographs of him at various times in his life and discuss the roles he may have been playing at those...
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The Plight of Four Million Newly Emancipated Slaves: Reconstruction - 1865-1877

For Teachers 5th
Students study the Reconstruction Era after the US Civil War. In this Reconstruction lesson set, students examine the problems that were encountered by the South after the Civil War, look at different plans for Reconstruction, and...
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TE Lesson: GPS on the Move

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students participate in a scavenger hunt and a drawing activity to examine the use of Global Positioning Systems including a handheld GPS receiver for personal navigation. They practice using the GPS receivers while collecting data from...
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American Studies

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
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...
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Searching for Answers

For Teachers 6th - 12th
How does a judge in the federal judicial court decide on a verdict? Give your middle and high schoolers a better idea of how final decisions are made in the judicial system. Then split your class into four groups, assigning each group a...
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What Makes a Good Law?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Why were laws created? Spark a group discussion on why we need laws to co-exist. Should the sale of some things be outlawed on Sundays? Read a case summary between Target and the state of Minnesota that debated this issue. Ask your...
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Hopi Tribal Council

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Focusing on the differences between traditional Hopi government and the Hopi Tribal Council, this resource is a good addition to your unit on Native American culture. Learners conduct Internet research, analyze primary source photos, and...
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The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students practice their reading comprehension skills by reading about the Bill of Rights. They answer questions after reading to test their comprehension.
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Constitution Repatriation Simulation

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Learners work cooperatively in groups to present the specific needs of an assigned territory to a mock meeting of government officials in an attempt to amend an existing law.
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The President's Role and Succession

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the role the President of the United States plays in American government and the order of succession of cabinet members. They explain about presidential qualifications and the path to becoming President.
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Divided We Fall

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution instructional activity, students write essays for perform plays that feature the importance of the first ten amendments. Students imagine the United States without 1 of the...
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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 lesson, students read articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Constitution and then use Venn diagrams to compare and...
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FDR Tries to Pack the Supreme Court

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze the Court Reform Bill of 1937. In this Supreme Court lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details Frankin Roosevelt and his attempt to pack the Supreme Court. Students...
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Lesson Plan: Early Political Parties

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the platforms of early political parties in the United States. In this political parties lesson, students discover details regarding the attributes and ideals of the federalists and the democratic-republicans. Students...
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The Voter

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the constitutional amendments and major federal laws that have shaped suffrage in the United States.
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Should the United States Have a Central Bank?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Pupils assess the validity of a national bank. They study the importance of McCullough v. Maryland. They review the arguments of Hamilton and Jefferson. They analyze the Tenth Amendment and the debate over state v. federal power. They ...
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Mapping the Domestic Slave Trade

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners develop their analytical skills when examining historical maps. They examine a map for data which supports textual information about the Constitution, Congressional legislation, and the historic U.S. economy.
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An Early Threat of Secession: The Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Nullification Crisis

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students analyze an interactive map of the Missouri Compromise to identify the regions and their relation to slavery. In this pre-civil war era lesson, students read primary source documents and research online to answer questions...
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The Right to Remain Resilient

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the Civil Rights Movements in the U.S., both current and historic. In small groups students investigate a specific civil rights group, create an illustrated timeline, noting key events, people, and state and federal laws.
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Documents of Natural Rights: The Declaration of Independence and The Plan of Delano

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders analyze the philosophy of government in the Declaration of Independence. As a class, they discuss how this philosophy has caused other revolutions in history and how well it supports our natural rights. In groups, they...
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The Louisiana Purchase

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore the Louisiana Purchase. In this U.S. history lesson, 2nd graders examine the purchase of the Louisiana territory by the United States as they read text, take notes, complete homework, and take a quiz.
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Washington and the Whiskey Rebellion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 and its significance in the early history of the United States. They explore how George Washington made the choice to meet this challenge to federal authority with military force
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The Hello Goodbye Window: Visual Art

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students create a portrait of themselves with a grandparent.  For this visual art lesson, students read the book entitled The Hello Goodbye Window and discuss the events.  Students then draw a portrait of themselves and their...