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Refugees from the Caribbean: Cuban and Haiti "Boat People"
Students investigate the plight of Cuban and Haitian refugees. In this refugee lesson, students discover the history of "boat people" and U.S. policies regarding refugees. Students role play presidential advisers that must recommend new...
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Not Your Average Joe
Students explore Al Gore's choice of Senator Joseph Lieberman as his presidential running mate. They investigate other political figures who are in the religious, racial, ethnic and gender minority in the United States.
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Analyzing Election Cartoons
Students are introduced to the history of political cartoons and examine both historical and modern examples. They analyze a cartoon that expresses an opinion about a current event different than their own and develop an original cartoon...
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Social Studies: The Declaration of Conscience
Students examine Margaret Chase Smith's Declaration of Conscience and discuss its impact on Maine politics. After reading it, they discuss their opinions and write short responses about them. As a follow-up activity, students write their...
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Virtual Tour of John F. Kennedy Library
High schoolers take a virtual tour of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. In this Kennedy presidency lesson, students access the library via the Internet and take notes on the experience. High schoolers write essays using the...
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Writing a Political Leader
Students peer edit a letter. In this editing lesson, students peer edit a letter written to a political figure by another student. Students discuss edits and revisions needed for improvement. This is a continuation lesson that is part...
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All Those In Favor
Young scholars share opinions about measures recently passed in their school, vote on and argue for and against hypothetical school policies, and respond to a "president's" decision to pass or veto the measures.
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The Roles of the President
Students list the many jobs of the U.S. president and explain the reasons for them. They compare current and past roles of the chief executive of the United States.
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Tales of Truman's Travels Fifty Years Ago
Fourth graders study President Truman and the Whistlestop Campaign. In this US history lesson, 4th graders complete a KWL about President Truman and write letters to stops on Truman's Whistlestop Campaign. Students create a presentation...
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The Making of Our First President
High schoolers investigate George Washington's military career. In this George Washington lesson plan, students research the contributions of Washington the colonial military and then write editorials about his accomplishments for a mock...
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Bill of Rights -- Texas v. Johnson, 1989
Middle schoolers examine the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. During a visit to the George Bush Presidential Museum, they watch a video about the Texas v. Johnson flag burning case. In groups, they discover the role of the Supreme...
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Making Informed Decisions
Pupils discuss various issues of importance in the 1998 congressional and gubernatorial elections, create comparison charts of their states' candidates' positions on these issues, and decide which candidate they would vote for based on...
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How the Electoral College Works
Students research the history and mechanics of the Electoral College and formulate opinions as to whether this institution should be preserved, modified or eliminated. They predict future outcomes of electoral vs. popular votes.
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Preserving and Promoting Democracy
Eleventh graders create surveys to determine whether or not young people have or plan to vote. Using their findings, 11th graders make advertisements aimed at encouraging youth to vote.
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Dear President Obama
Students write letters to the president as he begins his term. In this letter writing lesson, students discuss goals they hope the president will consider, and send good wishes to the president and his family. After the letters are...
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Combat Credentials
Students examine the connection between military experiences and presidential campaigns, reading "A War is Nice on the Resume, But It May Not Get You the Job." students research an American president's background and create a...
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The Jessie Jackson Campaign
Young scholars explore an African American's presidential campaign. In teams, students create a campaign for their presidential candidate. They create political ads and plan campaign strategies. Young scholars are simulate jobs such as a...
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They Have Issues
Learners examine the different campaign styles and political platforms of the nine candidates vying for the Democratic Party nomination for the 2004 presidential election. They graph and compare candidate platforms and write an essay...
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Taking Them On Faith?
Learners explore, examine and study about the role of religion in presidential campaigns and elections by reading and discussing the article, "God" 08: Whose, and How Much, Will Voters Accept?" They research a variety of presidents...
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Evaluating Material By Using Quotations
Twelfth graders examine how to evaluate reading material by using direct quotations. They read a Newsweek magazine article, answer questions, underline the passage that supports their written response, and write a letter to a senator...
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Election 2000
Students review the 2000 presidential election. Students write an expository essay in response to the following: Should the election process in the United states be changed?
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Kids Voting USA
Ninth graders use technology to learn about the right to vote and research information on candidates. They write questions for presidential candidates. Students read online chats with different candidates for senate and presidency.
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Voting in Violence
Students create K/W/L (Know/Want to Know/Learned) charts to study the political violence following Kenya's 2008 presidential elections. They draw connections between this and other events currently taking place around the world.
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Rights of Non-Citizen Immigrants
Students continue their discussion of if coming to America was the best thing for a group of immigrants. As a class, they complete the citizenship test offered by the INS. They research the benefits and responsibilities of being a...