Curated OER
"Whispering Wires": Public Law vs. Individual Civil Liberties
High school student love discussing controversial issues like those brought up in this fourth amendment case study. They examine the 1928 Olmstead vs. U.S. prohibition court case, applying the fourth amendment to determine whether...
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...
Curated OER
To Be or Not to Be Democratic
Seventh graders explore the democratic republic principles of U.S. government. In this U.S. government lesson plan, 7th graders compare and contrast the governments of ancient Athens,the Roman Republic, and the United States today....
Curated OER
Native American History
Young scholars examine how Chief Joseph attempted to challenge stereotypes about Native Americans. In this Native American history lesson, students read "An Indian's Views of Indian Affairs," and then paraphrase the selection. Young...
Curated OER
Town Meeting with Class
Students discover civic responsibility and the purpose of town meetings. In this U.S. Government lesson, students investigate how the government is involved with almost every decision made in a city, no matter how big or small....
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
We the People Level 2
Students explore U.S. history by participating in a government activity. In this Constitution lesson, students identify the role government plays in our society and the differences the British colonies had in the early 18th century....
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.
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...
National Endowment for the Humanities
The "To Do List" of the Continental Congress
What is on your to-do list today? The second lesson of a three-part series on Lost Heroes of America investigates the laundry list of items in front of the second Continental Congress. Scholars research, analyze, and present information...
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...
Curated OER
Democracy: An Introduction.
Students study the U.S. Constitutional System and how it compares with forms of democracy that developed in ancient Greece and Rome. They list and explain the requirements it takes to form a society to be considered a nation.
Curated OER
How Congress Works
Students study the role of the U.S. Congress in American government as described in the Constitution. In this U.S. government lesson, students watch an overhead about 'public criticisms' in the legislative process and complete a quiz....
Curated OER
Comparing Constitutions
Students compare and contrast plans for government. In this government systems lesson, students compare and contrast the U.S. Constitution to the constitutions of selected countries using the provided checklist as a guide. Students...
Curated OER
The Presidential Nominating System
High schoolers examine the process by which candidates for U.S. president are nominated by the Democratic and Republican parties. They identify the differences between primaries and caucuses and key terms and issues related to the...
Curated OER
Understanding History By How America Felt
Students explore public opinion of presidential decisions. In this history instructional activity, students examine various graphs that depict overall American approval of U.S. Presidents and government decisions then answer...
Curated OER
Government by the People
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. For 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
Taxes in U.S. History: Tax Reform in the 1960s and 1980s
Learners explain the content, purpose, and impact of the Tax Reform Acts of 1969 and 1986.
Curated OER
Immigration
This 3-day immigration study draws on historical trends and current events. A worksheet accompanies initial research on one group's U.S. immigration history, giving opportunity for collaborative learning through sharing findings. Groups...
Curated OER
The Impact of the IWW on the Nation or Who were the Wobblies?
Young scholars evaluate the role labor groups had on the U.S. Government in the early 1900's. In this teaching American history lesson, students complete several activities, including response writing and listening to music, that...
Curated OER
The Republic; Roman History, Democracy
Students explain the ways in which current American system of government both resembles and differs from the system of government in Rome form about 510 to 264 B.C.
Curated OER
Tibet and the U.S.
Young scholars study the Tibetan situation. In this global issues lesson plan, students listen to a lecture regarding Tibet, its location, and its ties to China. Young scholars then create political cartoons or write letters to their...
Advocates for Human Rights
The Right of Indigneous Peoples in the United States
The sovereignty of U.S. Native American nations is the focus of a resource that asks class members to compare the Right to Self-Determination in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples with a fact sheet that...