Constitutional Rights Foundation
History of Immigration From the 1850s to the Present
The Statue of Liberty may embrace the huddled masses of the world, but has American society always joined in? After young historians read a passage about the history of American immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on...
Carolina K-12
African Americans in the United States Congress During Reconstruction
The Civil Rights Act of 1866, which granted citizenship to all males in the U.S., resulted in the first African Americans to be elected to Congress. Class members research 11 of these men, the challenges they faced, and craft...
Anti-Defamation League
Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day?
"Columbus Day"? Indigenous Peoples' Day"? "Native Americans' Day"? The controversy over what to call the federal holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October is the focus of a lesson that asks high schoolers to consider various...
Curated OER
How Congress Works
Learners describe role of the U.S. Congress in American government as set forth in the Constitution, and explain why the Framers created a Congress with a House and a Senate and gave them different roles.
Curated OER
History of Political Parties in the U. S.
Twelfth graders name some of the parties in the political system of the United States. They identify the two main parties along with key information, issues, events, elections and/or people for each system. They then break into groups...
Curated OER
North Korea and the United States
Students analyze U.S. policy toward North Korea. In this foreign policy lesson, students conduct research on the relationship between the United States and North Korea. Students prepare for a classroom debate to determine whether the...
Curated OER
Documents and Symbols and American Freedom
Students complete a unit of lessons on the documents, symbols, and famous people involved in the founding of the U.S. government. They create a personal bill of rights, write a found poem, design a flag, conduct research, and role-play...
Curated OER
Seals: From the National To the Local
Third graders investigate official government symbols by completing a scavenger hunt. In this U.S. Government instructional activity, 3rd graders participate in a scavenger hunt in which they locate seals or logos in their community....
Curated OER
The Constitution: What's in It...Exactly?
Seventh graders examine the U.S. Constitution. In this American government lesson, 7th graders listen to a SMART Board-supported lecture about the branches of the U.S. government. Students write responses based on the lecture.
Curated OER
Play House
Students explore U.S. government by participating in a role playing activity. In this House of Representatives activity, students discuss the first day of congress and the role the House plays in running the United States. Students...
Curated OER
Ohio's U.S. Presidents
Fourth graders investigate the state of Ohio's claim to be the "Mother of Presidents." Nine U.S. presidents were from the state and their contributions and terms of office are examined in this lesson.
Curated OER
The Embodied Presidency Wilson
Students take a closer look at U.S. intervention in Mexico. In this 20th century history lesson, students examine primary documents to consider why the United States entered the Mexican War and then write DBQ essays on the topic.
Curated OER
A More Perfect Union
Fourth graders complete a unit of lessons on the development of the U.S. government. They examine the main ideas of the Declaration of Independence, develop a class translation of the preamble to the Constitution, create a flow chart,...
Curated OER
Bill of Rights
Learners analyze the U.S. Bill of Rights. They conduct research on an amendment of the Bill of Rights, complete a worksheet that matches scenarios to amendments of the Bill of Rights, and write a letter to their Congressperson.
Curated OER
Native American History
Students examine how Chief Joseph attempted to challenge stereotypes about Native Americans. In this Native American history instructional activity, students read "An Indian's Views of Indian Affairs," and then paraphrase the selection....
Curated OER
What Would the United States Do?
In this U.S. history scenario worksheet, students use their critical thinking skills to explain how the U.S. would respond in a scenario that involves the Soviet Union sending support to Communist rebels in Nicaragua.
Curated OER
Colonial America
Students discover the history of Colonial America by creating a class presentation. In this U.S. History lesson plan, students utilize the Internet to research one of 20 topics in which they will create a PowerPoint or other type of...
Curated OER
U.S. History: Industrialization and Entrepreneurship
Eleventh graders investigate industrialization and explain how laissez-faire policies influenced entrepreneurship. On bubble maps, 11th graders locate causes of industrialization. In an activity/demonstration, students role-play as...
Curated OER
The Underground Railroad and The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
Students discover racism and slavery by completing a role playing activity. In this U.S. history lesson, students analyze documents from the Civil War era and describe the Fugitive Slave Law. Students view a video on YouTube about the...
Curated OER
Discovering the Oregon Trail
Students explore U.S. history by researching the Oregon Trail. In this American exploration instructional activity, students read the story On the Shore of the River and define the exact path early settlers took to find the state of...
Curated OER
An Interview With the Past: Ancient Roman and U.S. Government Leaders
Students produce a modern television interview show where they present information about Ancient Rome and its influence on modern governments. For this governments lesson plan, students produce shows in groups.
Curated OER
Government by the People
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students examine primary documents regarding the founding of the United States. Students analyze section of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of...
Curated OER
U.S. History: The Progressive Era
Learners examine the Colonial Revival Movement as a response to industrialization and immigration. focusing on Deerfield, Connecticut, they create a documentary artifact reflecting the period.
Curated OER
Corporate Governance
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.