Students view a PowerPoint presentation to explore the three branches of government. Using this infromation, they identify the people, buildings and responsiblities of each branch. They complete a worksheet using the internet and take a...

Students translate the meanings of and draw illustrations depicting the Bill of Rights amendments. They discuss how philanthropy is enabled by the Bill of Rights.

Eighth graders examine the time period of the Industrial revolution in American history.  In this American History lesson, 8th graders read the chapter on this time period.  Students create a presentation on this time period to...

Freedom of religion has been a controversial, yet fundamental, tenet of the United States since even before the nation's birth. In a well-constructed lesson, the class compares the Minnesota Constitution to the US Constitution as a means...

Young sociologists analyze the needs of white and black students. They discuss how Central and Dunbar High Schools are alike and different before 1957. They write an essay comparing the two schools.

For this editing activity, learners read and edit a paragraph about Thurgood Marshall, and find the 10 errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling and/or grammar. Learners correct each error they find.

Young scholars examine what experts have discovered so far about Alzheimer's. They explore how the brain works, and how it changes as we age. They discover things they should do - or not do - to keep their brains healthy.

Students review the 1st Amendment and the clauses which deal with prayer/religion in schools. They discuss, in groups, the Equal Access Act, which gives students the right to practice/express their religion at school and take a quiz on...

Students focus on the First and Ninth Amendments of the Bill of Rights. Before visiting a museum, they examine the Americans with Disabilities Act. During the visit, they work together with a museum member to watch a video and get...

Build vocabulary and have a class discussion. Use this PowerPoint to illustrate concepts of Early American History, including, Bill of Rights, Supreme Court, elections, and the Constitution. Note: Each slide has only a single vocabulary...

Students research and discuss the 2000 presidential election. They role-play Al Gore's and George W. Bush's legal teams, and members of the Florida Supreme Court. They of each legal team present their arguments to the Supreme Court.

Students are introduced to the 4th Amendment of the Washington state Constitution. In groups, they examine the Constitution of the state of Washington and compare it to the United States Constitution. They role play the role Supreme...

Students use the National Archives to research the Supreme Court's 1954 ruling in Brown V. Board of Education.

Students examine the issue of tribal sovereignty for Native Americans. Following a mock trial simulation based on the case of Johnson v. McIntosh, they write opinion papers based on the results of the Supreme Court decision in 1823.

Students examine how lawyers prepare their arguments. They realize that both sides of a legal case may use the same cases as precedents in their positions. They find decisions of the Indiana Supreme Court and the Indiana Court of Appeals...

Students, in groups, discuss opinions about medical marijuana use. They form their own opinion about the U.S Supreme Court case involving this issue.

The first legal gay marriage in the United States occurred in Massachusetts in 2004. Since then, countless others have tied the knot. Scholars decide whether gay marriage should be legal by reading a history of the issue, analyzing the...

The battle over same-sex marriage is a prevalent issue in the United States, and a valuable topic to be discussed in your social studies classroom. Here is a basic outline of introductory questions, focus questions, vocabulary, and media...

In this sit or set worksheet, students choose the correct word to complete the sentences. Students complete 8 sentences with the word sit or set.

Fourth graders create a time capsule that is representative of their community. They explain why the chosen objects are representative of themselves or their community.

Use this thorough presentation to help your English Learners prepare for their citizenship. Covering questions 1-51 from a History and Government practice test, these slides could be a great resource for those who are working to become...

Looking for a line dance? Look no further. This dance is performed to Michael Jackson's "Beat It". It is comprised of four eight-counts. The moves consist of walking forward, swinging the hips, doing the grapevine, walking backwards, and...

Learn this 32-count line dance. There are four eight-counts that repeat throughout the song. The steps include walking forward, walking backward, pivots, grapevine, and some jumps. All in all this is a simple and quick dance to learn....

In this interactive JeopardyLab game, with the assistance of a teacher, students can play against each other or in teams to review the content of Third Grade Social Studies. Allow the first team to choose a topic and a point value for a...