C-SPAN
Electoral College Pros/Cons and Alternatives
If every vote counts, why do we need the electoral college? Middle and high schoolers study the Constitutional precedent of the electoral college, as well as its place in historical and modern elections, with an engaging social studies...
State Bar of Texas
White v. Regester
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...
Anti-Defamation League
Shirley Chisholm: Unbought, Unbossed and Unforgotten
A 13-page packet introduces high schoolers to a lady of amazing firsts. Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to Congress, the first Black woman to run for President of the United States, and a leader of the Women's Rights...
C-SPAN
The Electoral College and the Constitution
What is the purpose of the Electoral College? Is it antiquated, or does it have a place in today's political climate? High schoolers view a series of video clips as they analyze the parts of the United States Constitution that address...
Curated OER
VOTING
Students discuss 'The importance of voting'. They elect 5 candidates - each representing one of the five values. Each candidate presents a case why their value is important. The other class members then vote for whichever value/candidate...
Anti-Defamation League
Who Was César Chávez?
Scholars complete a KWL chart to indicate what they know about Cesar Chavez and then research what they want to know about this farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist. To complete the lesson, scholars research modern civil...
Curated OER
Prosecution or Persecution
Investigate the future of the presidency in the wake of the House of Representatives' vote to impeach President Clinton. The class brainstorms both sides of the argument, reads and discusses an article, then analyzes and writes a journal...
Global Oneness Project
Repairing the Fabric of Democracy
During elections, headlines constantly lament the issue of low voter turnout. Help class members understand why this is such an important topic with relevant articles, a discussion of both sides of the issue, and a reflective essay.
Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
You can't read Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory without craving the rich treats described in Dahl's vivid prose. Young writers try their hands at sensory language with a lesson plan that prompts them to write about their...
Curated OER
Can Justice Be Taylor-Made?
Students examine and discuss a quotation used as a slogan for Liberia's former president Charles G. Taylor. After reading an article, they consider the allegations against Taylor. In groups, they research a time period of his life and...
Curated OER
How to Use Technology to Teach the Water Cycle
Young scholars answer six content-related questions on reproducible information sheets. They predict how the jury vote at the end of the trial.
Curated OER
Small Steps; Great Journeys
Twelfth graders examine contributions to communities. In this philanthropy lesson, 12th graders discuss the quote, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Students identify issues that exist in their community and...
Curated OER
Martin Luther King Jr.: From Civil Rights to Human Rights
Students read essays and participate in a discussion that examines Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s stance on both civil rights and the broader issue of human rights. They conduct research about King's life and work, analyze quotes from his...
New Jersey Historical Commission and New Jersey Council for the Humanities
Thomas Edison: The Wizard of Menlo Park
What would change in your daily life due to a power outage? Here, learners explore the inventions brought to us by the one and only, Thomas Edison, and imagine a day without them. Scholars take part in a grand conversation and write a...
Curated OER
Causes of the Holocaust
Students analyze the causes of the Holocaust. In this causes of the Holocaust lesson, students vote on whether hate or indifference was the root cause of the Holocaust and argue their choice. Students complete a worksheet that uses the...
Curated OER
All Men Are Created Equal Except...
Students discuss the line "all men are created equal" in a time of slavery. They discover how equaliy and liberty changed over time in America. Role-playing different scenerios, they analyze the experiences of real-people coming to...
Scholastic
The Class Election from the Black Lagoon Storia Teaching Guide
One of my favorite things about this resource is that they use a standardized lexile to help you determine who should be reading what book. I also love this great teacher's guide for the book, The Class Election from the Black Lagoon. In...
Humanities Texas
Primary Source Worksheet: Lyndon B. Johnson, Excerpt from “To Fulfill These Rights”
"Equal opportunity . . . is not enough." Johnson's 1965 commencement address to the students at Howard University provides an opportunity for participants to see how education was a key element in his vision for civil rights.
National Council for the Social Studies
Analyzing a Product or Political Advertisement
How do advertisements evoke specific thoughts and feelings? Class members find out through the exploration of the Internet, videos, television, magazines, radio, and posters. Learners investigate commercial advertisements, political...
Museum of the Moving Image
Evaluating Information: Focus on the 2008 Election
Just how true is the information contained in political ads? Determining the veracity of campaign ads from the 2008 presidential race is the focus of a instructional activity that introduces class members to several fact-checking resources.
Curated OER
Advisory in Action
Students recognize that there are many ways to contribute to the community and the common good. For this importance of philanthropy lesson, students complete a worksheet to understand the community needs, how it is affected and what can...
Curated OER
The Middle Ages Quiz 1
In this Middle Ages quiz worksheet, students complete a 10 question quiz. Page has answers and links to additional activities.
Curated OER
What Do You Know? (Creating a K-W-H-L Chart)
Students complete a chart showing what they know about the Holocaust, what they want to know, how they're going to find it, and what they learned.
Curated OER
The Voter
Students identify the constitutional amendments and major federal laws that have shaped suffrage in the United States.