Digital History
The Age of Constitution Writing
Was the United States significantly more democratic in their governing structures and laws after the overthrow of British authorities? Compare and contrast summaries of the country's constitutions under British rule and after...
California Polytechnic State University
Australian Geography Unit
At the heart of this resource is a beautifully detailed PowerPoint presentation (provided in PDF form) on the overall physical geography of Australia, basic facts about the country, Aboriginal history, and Australia culture and lifestyle.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lesson 2 James Madison: The Second National Bank—Powers Not Specified in the Constitution
How much power is too much power for the federal government? Scholars use primary documents and constitutional research in groups to analyze the creation of the Second National Bank under James Madison. This is the second lesson of a...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Guest-Worker Program
The U.S. Guest-Worker Program and the H-2A visa are the focus of a social studies activity. First, class members assume the role of advisors who must present the president with four proposals that would amend the visas given to...
Curated OER
Representation: Majority Rule
Students explore government. In this decision making lesson, students discover the importance of majority rule in the passing of bills. They all participate in a class debate and practice the different forms of decision making. This...
Curated OER
Identifying Career Interests in the Volunteer and Government Sectors
Here is a great way to give your class a real-life job experience, while also serving the community. They explore a variety of volunteer opportunities to build career interests, gain work experience, and help their community grow. This...
Curated OER
We Are Colony! Settlement Design
Middle schoolers explore government systems. In this colonial America lesson, students consider colonial settlement needs as they design settlements that can sustain themselves and meet the needs of colonists.
Curated OER
Community Foundations and Procedure
Students understand what a community foundation is and how it gets input from the community. In this community foundation lesson, students form an advisory board to give suggestions. Students learn procedures to hold meetings to agree on...
Curated OER
Living in the Community
Students explore the differences between the four sectors of business. In this nonprofit business lesson, students give examples of needs met by businesses and the importance of the community nonprofit sector.
Curated OER
All the President's Men and Women
Students research responsibilities, programs and government departments of leaders that make up the presidential cabinet, in the form of a Web Exploration, after reading "Dueling Power Centers" from The New York Times.
Curated OER
Registering to Vote
Eighth graders register to vote. In this registration lesson, 8th graders complete the first step of the voting process by completing a form. Students use this lesson to prepare for a mock election. The lesson is part of a unit.
Curated OER
February Civics Internet Hunt 2
In this government learning exercise, students click on the links in the questions about civics and government to find the answers to the questions and then come back and answer the questions. Students answer 7 questions total.
Curated OER
The Bill of Rights
In groups, learners review one of four selected Supreme Court cases. The whole class watches a video introducing the four cases, and then small groups dive into Internet research in an attempt to write a two-paragraph summary of the...
Time Warp Trio
My Big Fat Greek Olympics
The Olympic Games are indeed a significant and far-reaching cultural component in our international community today, but from where do they originate? Where do our traditions stem from, and how do we choose the sports that constitute...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
The Election of 1912
The Election of 1912: an election with four competitive opponents. Pupils get to know the candidates with informative reading passages that provide context to the election. Then, the class engages in a debate and answers questions as one...
Curated OER
Beginning Your Inquiry
If you're starting a research project, use this guide to help young learners form the inquiry for their research. With steps that outline the entire process, including note taking and gauging the quality of an inquiry question, this...
Curated OER
Marvelous Moods
It isn't always easy to tell another person how we feel; and little ones have an even more difficult time identifying and expressing their emotions. They get a chance to discuss and explore how they can express how they feel in different...
EngageNY
Tax, Commissions, Fees, and Other Real-World Percent Problems
Pupils work several real-world problems that use percents in the 11th portion of a 20-part series. The problems contain percents involved with taxes, commissions, discounts, tips, fees, and interest. Scholars use the equations formed for...
Great Books Foundation
Discussion Guide for 1984
George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, published in 1949, can seem strangely prophetic when compared to modern news events and politics. Readers of Orwell's dystopian classic sharpen their critical thinking skills by engaging in a shared...
Curated OER
Water Resources and the Role of the Independent Sector
Students explore how water conservation is influenced by the four sectors of economy. In this social studies economics lesson, students brainstorm problems and solutions related to water conservation. Collages are created to represent...
Curated OER
Presidential Briefing
In this comparative government instructional activity, students follow the steps provided to form a National Security Council and then brief the President on long-term goals for the nation. Students prepare written briefs with charts and...
Curated OER
How the Community Meets Needs: The Drive
Young scholars explore the four sectors of the economy. For this character development lesson, students experience giving up "their worldly possessions" and then discuss feelings that might occur when people experience homelessness or...
Curated OER
Have Something Done Exercise
Particularly useful for English language learners, this resource tests learners on their ability to distinguish between doing something and having something done. There's an example at the top of the page and 15 sentences that follow....
Curated OER
What is a Community?
Students explore the characteristics of their community. In this communities lesson plan, students read Humphrey the Lost Whale: A True Story and discuss how the community came together to solve a problem. Students identify services...