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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil Rights - What are yours?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore US Civil Rights. In this us government lesson, students watch a video and then complete a worksheet on identifying and understanding their personal civil rights.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fourth Grade Social Studies

For Teachers 4th
In this social studies worksheet, 4th graders complete multiple choice questions about the climate, landforms, regions, government, and more. Students complete 25 multiple choice questions.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Evolution of the Presidency: Theodore Roosevelt to Franklin D. Roosevelt

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
How much power should a president be allowed to exert? Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt exercised their power according to their interpretations of the United States Constitution, and these interpretations affected the...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

The Supreme Court: The Importance of Precedent in the Decisions of the Supreme Court

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
People often hear the words precedent and Supreme Court together, but why? A resource on the Supreme Court includes a variety of discussion questions, handouts that guide young historians, a video about Nixon and the court system, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Congress Works

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars study the role of the U.S. Congress in American government as described in the Constitution. For this U.S. government lesson, students watch an overhead about 'public criticisms' in the legislative process and complete a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Treaties: Students Explore the Lives of Yakama People Before and After Treaties

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students analyze treaties made between the US government and Native American tribes. For this government lesson, students evaluate bias emotionally connect with what was gained and lost during the late 1700's. This is a 3 part lesson...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dorothea Lange and the Relocation of Japanese Americans

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider the relocation of Japanese Americans during World War II. For this Japanese relocation lesson, students examine photographs by Dorothea Lange, the "Pledge of Allegiance," and a US government flyer from 1942. They use...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Economics: Actions of Government

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars examine the susceptibility of legislators to agricultural lobbyists to support subsidy programs. In small groups, they role-play as members of interest groups that might be affected by inflation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voting and US Resident Aliens

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders examine the process of voting.  In this American Government instructional activity, 12th graders evaluate the arguments for and against alien voting.  Students participate in a debate on voting rights.  
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Lesson Plan
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School Improvement in Maryland

Affirmative Action

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Do the government's affirmative action policies promote equity in the United States? The Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution and affirmative action policies come under scrutiny in an activity that asks class members to...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
National Endowment for the Humanities

“Read All About It”: Primary Source Reading in “Chronicling America”

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Can investigative journalism become too sensationalistic and accusatory, or is it vital for the survival of a democracy? Middle schoolers analyze primary source documents from early 20th-century newspapers as well as Theodore Roosevelt's...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

The Supreme Court: Define and Classify the Powers Associated with Federalism

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Federalism may sound to some like one, big vocabulary word ... but it is much more than that. A short video introduces class members to the powers associated with the Supreme Court and its role in balancing the powers under federalism.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

War of 1812 in the Old Northwest Territory

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students write 1-4 sentence answers to the Time Travel worksheet (available online). They design period costumes, orally present their perspectives to the rest of the class, and explain why this war played an important role in the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turning the Tide on Trash: Marine Debris Curriculum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Seven pages of fascinating reading on marine debris preface the activities in this lesson plan. Four different activities are employed to simulate how the debris is distributed in the ocean and along beaches. Early ecology learners...
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Lesson Plan
4
4
University of California

Roots of the Cold War

For Teachers 10th - 11th Standards
When and how did the Cold War begin? To answer this question, you will not find a better-organized, in-depth, activity- and inquiry-based resource than this! Executing best teaching practices throughout, each portion of this inquiry...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Steps In Selecting A President

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students follow a flowchart that describes the process of electing the American president and vice-president. They create a flowchart that explains some aspect of the US government.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Armed Forces Day Reading Comprehension Passage

For Teachers 4th - 6th
In this reading comprehension/ holiday worksheet, students read a passage about Armed Forces Day which is celebrated on the third Saturday in May in the US. They answer 6 short answer, fill in the blank questions based on the reading.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Government law

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explain how a bill becomes a law. They watch a video and take notes on the video titled: America Rock "I'm Just a Bill." Students work in groups to create a bill to present to congress that relates to safety. They read...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Lesson To Accompany "The First Bank of the United States: A Chapter in the History of Central Banking"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Here is an interesting topic. Learners examine the economics that led to the founding of the First Bank of America. They participate in a reader's theater experience depicting the debate between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson...
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Lesson Plan
State Bar of Texas

White v. Regester

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
One vote doesn't really matter, right? Class members investigate the concept of voter rights and restrictions using the 1973 Supreme Court case White v. Regester. They view a short video and work in pairs to analyze how people create...
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Lesson Plan
iCivics

Argument Wars

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
From start to finish, here is a fantastic resource that uses engaging activities and an interactive virtual game to teach about major US Supreme Court cases. Your class members will distinguish the primary arguments made in such cases as...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History Mystery Message Challenge

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the US Constitution.  In this American Government lesson plan, 11th graders gather the history and government facts to solve the history message.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Mass

For Teachers 8th
Student measure mass to discover how pennies have changed in their composition. In this measurement lesson, 8th graders investigate through an open-ended problem to discover how the US pennies composition changed in the 1980's.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Citizen Exam is Democracy 101

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students read a USA Today article about U.S. democracy and then complete questions about the topic. In this democracy lesson, students read the article 'New Citizen Exam is Democracy 101.' Students learn about the test for U.S....