Lesson Plan
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iCivics

Congress

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Through reading materials, worksheets, and a primary source activity, this resource provides an overview of the structure and powers of the legislative branch of government in the United States. Readings review how a bill becomes a law,...
Printables
Children's Commissioner for Wales

Know Your Rights!

For Students K - 12th
Children around the world enjoy a list of rights that protect their bodies, minds, families, and lifestyles. Review the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child with learners of all ages, and teach them all about their rights.
Interactive
DocsTeach

Birth of the Environmental Protection Agency

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Seeing is believing when it comes to climate change. An informative activity explores the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its efforts to document environmental issues with photographs. Academics match images...
Interactive
iCivics

County Basics

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
To understand the concept of a county government system, scholars read a short passage, view a helpful visual aid, use the web to conduct some research about their local areas, and then answer related questions online.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Sitting Bull: Spiritual Leader and Military Leader

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
Sitting Bull was not expected to be a great warrior. Yet, he led the Lakota people and other tribes to several pivotal victories against the United States government when federal troops threatened their land. Using primary sources, such...
Interactive
DocsTeach

Baseball: A Morale Booster During Wartime?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
How did baseball become America's national pastime? A sports-minded activity explores the importance government placed on baseball to boost morale during both world wars. Academics read letters to understand the importance of baseball...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Presidential Campaign Game

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Upper graders play a game as a way to facilitate understanding of US Presidential Campaign issues and strategies. After being divided into small groups, a candidate will be chosen to run for office. Each group creates propaganda to get...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Bipartisan Filibusters

For Students 11th - 12th
There is no doubt many changes or lack of changes are due to bipartisanism in the capital. Learners analyze a political cartoon that describes the issues surrounding changes to the current health care system, and consider whether...
AP Test Prep
College Board

2015 AP® Macroeconomics Free-Response Questions

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
Currency exchange is a big factor in governments making economic decisions. Scholars consider various scenarios to evaluate how factors such as interest rates and private investments would affect a nation's economy using a practice test...
Lesson Plan
K20 LEARN

Whose Manifest Destiny? Westward Expansion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Your land is my land! Young historians investigate the concept of Manifest Destiny used by the United States government to justify western expansion. Jigsaw groups read primary source documents to gain an understanding of the movement...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Checks and Balances

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explain the structure and function of the United States government established by the Constitution. They set up a make-believe scenario: the 3 volunteers have been friends for a long time and have formed a club (the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Faith-Based Initiatives

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine faith-based initiatives. In this religion and ethics lesson, students consider the separation of church and state in the United States as they examine government funding of social service programs that are affiliated...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bill Of Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine Supreme Court cases. In this U.S. government lesson, students watch a video about the Bill of Rights and then research 4 Supreme Court cases using the noted web site. Students analyze the presented information and write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lessons from the Holocaust

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover what a dictatorship is by examining the holocaust.  In this government activity, students discuss the laws that were enacted for Nazis to take control of Germany, and the types of laws we have put place to prevent...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Home Front: Convincing Americans to Help America Prepare

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine the actions of the U.S. Government after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In this preparation for war lesson, 6th graders analyze WWII posters and view a clip on the American Home Front. Students discuss and list the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Treaties

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders research treaties. In this treaties lesson, 6th graders go online to build knowledge about treaties. Students read information and take quizzes. Students write a comparative essay about how the Aboriginal and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Model United Nations Activity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine current and past problems and situations affecting the United Nations, and explore life, career, and philosophy of Ralph Bunche, American diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Students then prepare portfolios to...
Lesson Plan
Heritage Foundation

The Amendment Process and the Bill of Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Did you know that lawmakers have proposed more than 5,000 bills to amend the US Constitution in Congress? Your class learns intriguing facts about the process of choosing amendments. A variety of activities including before and after...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Corporate Governance

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Examine the role of the Securities Exchange Commission. Upper graders watch a short Bill Moyers video, analyze a political cartoon, complete a graphic organizer on the SEC, and develop SEC reform strategies to rebuild investor confidence.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dictating the Future

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Read the article "Bush Lays Out Goals for Iraq: Self-Rule and Stability" and examine the keys points from President Bush's speech. Whether presented in written text or as an audio bite students will work in groups to research world...
PPT
National Humanities Center

Teaching The Great Gatsby: A Common Core Close Reading Seminar

For Teachers 11th - 12th
The 41 slides in a professional development seminar model how to use close reading techniques to examine the many layers of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. In addition to passages from the novel, slides provide biographical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

US Government: Foreign Policy

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine American foreign policy. In this diplomacy lesson, students research Internet sources to identify and describe foreign policy events that have shaped the United States and examine the role of the United Nations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Be Or Not To Be a State? That Is the Question

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research Puerto Rico's culture, religion, language, government, etc. and identify differences and similarities with the United States. They participate in a debate about whether or not Puerto Rico should become a state.
Interactive
Curated OER

Chart Reading - Uninsured in the United States of America

For Students 9th - 12th
In this chart reading learning exercise, students click on the links to read different charts about health insurance in the United States and then answer short answer questions about it. Students complete 7 questions total.