National Constitution Center
Fourth of July (Grades 3-5)
Bring history to life for your young scholars with a Fourth of July lesson series. After a class reading of the Declaration of Independence, students translate this pivotal document into layman's terms before working in small groups to...
National Constitution Center
Fourth of July (Grades 9-12)
Class members work to translate the Declaration of Independence into their own words, as well as design a Facebook page within the context of 1776 to raise public awareness about the document and its meaning for citizens.
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Advice And Consent - the Senate Considers the President's Supreme Court Nominations
Young scholars study the process and questioning for selecting a Supreme Court Justice. They examine how the decisions of the Supreme Court effect the lives of citizens. They complete worksheets as they study the material.
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Understanding The Work Of The Legislature
Students participate in a instructional activity that is about the operations of the legislature and how it operates on a daily basis. They conduct research using a variety of resources and use focus questions to help create the context...
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Fun with Jury Trials
Students take a true or false quiz about jury trials and then gain understanding of interesting facts. It is basically again, an outline that students have as the teacher lectures. The quiz would be for students to remember for further...
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Federalist and Antifederalist Papers
Students debate the Federalist and Anti-federal Papers after using the Internet as a research tool.
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I'm Tellin'!: Kids Bringing Folktales Alive
Students participate in a reading lesson that works on social and academic skills. They increase reading comprehension with direct instruction with the group reading of a folktale. Then students research their own stories to tell.
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Moot Court Preparation
Twelfth graders prepare themselves for a mock moot court. In groups, they are presented with an overview of each activity and research appellate cases related to the topic given to them. They identify regions of the country that have...
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New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985)
Students examine student search and seizure. In this Supreme Court lesson, students examine primary documents from New Jersey v. T.L.O. and discuss the implications of the decision.
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The New Republic
Students research the Federalists and Anti-federalists. In the lesson on state legislature, students use primary sources to create a brochure and write an essay that illustrates federalist and anti-federalists viewpoints.
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Colin Powell, a New Adlai Stevenson?: The Cuban Missile Crisis
Students compare and contrast a speech given to the United Nations by Colin Powell and a speech given to the UN by Adlai Stevenson. Clearifying the objective of each, they evaluate their proposals to the United Nations. In groups, they...
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The Nuclear Option
Students explore the history behind judicial nominations as well as the filibuster process. They discuss and debate filibuster merits and detractions, its use and alleged misuse, and what some Congressional leaders are currently doing...
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Exploring Franchise and Elections
Students examine the American election process. In this elections lesson plan, students use Internet sources to respond to 13 questions about election terminology.
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A Study of Cross-Cultural Connections
Ninth graders analyze connections between Asia and Europe in the pre-Renaissance period. They identify and analyze elements of Japanese and Chinese culture similiar to that of feudal Europe.
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Democracy in the Middle East
Students explain that President Bush's foreign policy to promote democracy is a departure from the Cold War policy of containment, and examine the reasons this policy has been proposed at this time.
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Beauty Behind Barbed Wire: The Relocation Camp Experience of Estelle Ishigo
Eighth graders study World War II through art.
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Quotas and Jim Crow Laws
Young scholars examine the use of quotas and Jim Crow laws. They discuss discrimination against minority groups both historically and in contemporary society. Students examine an affirmative action case and discuss the controversies...