Lesson Plan
iCivics

Constitution Day

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Celebrate Constitution Day, September 17, with an activity that asks class members to identify the responsibilities of the three branches of the U.S. government.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Government Spending: Why Do We Spend the Way We Do?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the categories for federal spending using the internet to locate them. They create a list of expenditures noting them as government purchases or transfer payments. They analyze the patterns of spending during the past 40...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examine Your State Government's Demographics

For Teachers 8th - 11th
How is your state government organized? How many elected officials are women? What is the mean age of your state representatives? Young scholars answer these questions in a research project before creating a chart to reflect their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Democracy: An Introduction.

For Teachers 7th - 9th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Congress Works

For Teachers 6th - 9th
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....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The U.S. Constitution Power Grab Game

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners study the powers and limitations of the three branches of the American government. They explain how the system of "checks and balances" protects the individual citizens. They explain how the amendments to the Constitution...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Constitutions

For Teachers 8th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Government by the People

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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...
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 instructional activity, students discuss the laws that were enacted for Nazis to take control of Germany, and the types of laws we have put...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Does Congress Work That Way?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover the powers of Congress. In this legislative branch lesson, students examine the legislative process as they analyze Article I of the U.S. Constitution. Students consider the powers of Congress as they define the role of...
Lesson Plan
Federal Reserve Bank

U.S. Income Inequality: It's Not So Bad

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What is the difference between a flat tax, progressive tax, tax deduction and transfer payments? Pupils examine the ability-to-pay principle of taxation through discussion, problem solving, and a variety of worksheets on topics from US...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Juvenile Death Penalty

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Sensitive material is discussed in this lesson. Please review to ensure that the content is suitable for your class. The topic is the Eighth Amendment and how the U.S. Supreme Court makes determinations about what constitutes cruel and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taxes in U.S. History: Tax Reform in the 1960s and 1980s

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explain the content, purpose, and impact of the Tax Reform Acts of 1969 and 1986.
Lesson Plan
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Advocates for Human Rights

Civic Engagement and U.S. Immigration Policy

For Students 8th - Higher Ed Standards
To conclude their study of immigration and human rights, class members create a civic engagement project centered on an issue of immigration and designed to influence US immigration policy. They examine examples of attempts to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taxes in U.S. History: The Social Security Act of 1935

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the history of the Social Security Act and the FICA tax. They describe what Social Security is and whom it is intended to help. They explain the purpose of the FICA tax.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Supreme Court Justice Sworn In

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to a series of statements about the Supreme Court, then read a news article about the confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Impact of the IWW on the Nation or Who were the Wobblies?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Local Government: Caring for Your Community

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders investigate the role of local governments. In this government lesson, 7th graders examine historical photographs and determine what services are being performed in the photographs. Students research how the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing the European Community with the U.S.

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners research a country to compare with the U.S. In this compare/contrast instructional activity, students research the CIA World Factbook research a European country's characteristics. Learners calculate growth rate and doubling...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Government Necessary?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate the purpose of Congress and determine how it affects them. They explain what life would be like without government.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Can You Find in the Cabinet?

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Looking in the cabinet can be fascinating! Examine the various departments of the Executive Cabinet in this group research project, which jigsaws so each small group has a different department and presents to the class. Groups create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Branches of Government

For Teachers 5th - 6th
After reviewing and reading about the three branches of US Government, complete this activity with your class. In groups, they will place their "cards" on the board under the correct branch. This lesson is weak and unclear. I'd make a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tibet and the U.S.

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...

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