Library of Congress
Thomas Jefferson's Library: Making the Case for a National Library
The United States Library of Congress, the largest library in the world. But such was not always the case. The library was destroyed during the War of 1812. In a persuasive letter to Samuel H. Smith, Thomas Jefferson offered to sell his...
Curated OER
How Did Slavery Impact Our Nation?
Fifth graders closely examine the effects of slavery on American society giving special emphasis to the issue of social injustice, the life of Harriet Tubman, the underground railroad and the achievements of Abraham Lincoln during this...
Curated OER
Women's Roles in Post World War II
Students discuss the role of women before, during, and after World War II. For this equality lesson, students plan how to make the workforce more equal among men and women after World War II. They research World War II and its effects on...
National Academy of Sciences
Global Warming: Facts and Our Future
According to the United Nations, climate change affects every country on the planet. This research project encourages scholars to explore the factors that affect climate change from different perspectives: climate scientist, policy...
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National Parks
Students explore the National Parks of the United Kingdom. In this National Park Authority lesson, students investigate the structure of the parks system and find out how the Otterburn Training Area is used. Students then create...
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Planet Earth: Almost 6 Billion Served
Students investigate the global population explosion, by comparing India's and China's population control efforts and results. They interpret the UN's Human Development Report, and conduct research on another highly-populated country.
Curated OER
Simulating a Middle East Peace Summit
Tenth graders explore the issues in the Middle East. In this World History lesson, 10th graders research the problems between Palestine and Israel. Students write a speech on their point of view of the peace process.
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Introducing Elections Unit
Students discover the political parties of our country by participating in a role playing activity. In this U.S. Government instructional activity, students visit several different classrooms that each represent one of the political...
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Human Rights And Civil Rights
While he may not be as well known as civil rights activists such as Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, or Malcolm X, Ralph Bunche's contributions certainly made him a leader in the struggle for civil rights in the United States and...
Curated OER
The Supreme Court: The Judicial Power of the United States
Students learn basic facts about the Supreme Court by examining the United States Constitution and one of the landmark cases decided by that court.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
What Should the US Do About North Korea's Nuclear Weapons?
North Korea, a shadowy nation distrustful of America, is working on a nuclear weapons program. What should the United States do? The question has plagued American presidents for years, but now young scholars get to make their...
Curated OER
United Nations Lesson Plans
United Nations lesson plans can help students learn about an organization whose mission is to promote peace and security.
Advocates for Human Rights
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
To gain a deeper understanding of the plight of refugees and asylum seekers, class members read stories written from the point of view of an emigrant, map the individual's journey, and note the human rights affected by each stage of the...
Advocates for Human Rights
U.S. Immigration Policy
The United States Immigration Policy is incredibly complex. To gain a deeper understanding of the criteria, quotas, preferences, and categories of immigrants admitted to the US, class members engage in a role playing activity that...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Educating About Immigration The DREAM Act
Group members role play state legislators, supporters of and opponents to the The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors). After listening to the arguments put forth for and against the immigration legislation,...
City University of New York
The 15th and 19th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
Who gets to vote? Learn more about struggles for suffrage throughout United States history with a instructional activity based on primary source documents. Middle schoolers debate the importance of women's suffrage and African American...
Smithsonian Institution
Young People Shake Up Elections (History Proves It) Educator Guide
Vote, it's your civic duty! The resource provides several videos about voting in the United States. Scholars watch a series of topics ranging from youth participation to civic action. The educator's guide provides teachers with...
National Endowment for the Humanities
James Madison: Raising an Army—Balancing the States and the Federal Government
To war! To war! Every nation in the history of the world has had to deal with warfare on some level. Scholars go through a series of activities and discussions surrounding the development of the Constitution to help them better...
Curated OER
How Has the Constitution Shaped the Economic System in the United States?
Students examine the characteristics of market economies. In this United States economics instructional activity, students analyze the Constitution to understand how it contributes to the market economy established in the United States....
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The National Motto
Second graders examine the meaning of the national motto, "In God We Trust." In this national motto lesson, 2nd graders explain some of the reasons why people selected the motto for the nation after viewing and discussing a coins and a...
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Indian Heroes And Role Models
Fourth graders investigate the concept of heroes and role models within the Native American community. They use primary and secondary resources to answer specific questions intended to bring the students to a definition of Native...
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What are the Qualifications to be President of the United States?
High schoolers research the qualifications necessary to be the president of the United States. They create a want-ad for this position using what they have learned about the qualifications.
Curated OER
Nation Building
Ninth graders examine the role of the United States in nation building. For this World History activity, 9th graders evaluate the role of the United States in building nations in other parts of the world.
Curated OER
200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons
Upper graders explore pop culture and pop music as a forum for female role models. They explore women who have currently contributed to our pop world and why they could be considered role models. They each interview a woman in their...