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Creating a Bill of Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Creating a Bill of Rights isn't easy! Help your scholars experience what the Founding Fathers did by challenging them to write a Bill of Rights. Groups pretend they are a new democratic country and proceed to create that country's Bill...
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What Can You Find in the Cabinet?

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Looking in the cabinet can be fascinating! Examine the various departments of the Executive Cabinet in this group research project, which jigsaws so each small group has a different department and presents to the class. Groups create...
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Legislative Branch

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze Article 1 of the Constitution. They respond to the Public Criticism E-Learning module.
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Basic Concepts of Democracy

For Students 10th - 12th
Bring the government to your classroom with this challenging activity. Great as either a review activity or a quiz, the worksheet contains ten questions about the philosophy and characteristics of a democratic government.
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Participating in Democracy

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students analyze film clips in class. In this democracy lesson, students identify the differences between civil liberties, democracy and freedom. Students view a video regarding Japanese internment and answer study questions as well as...
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Rules and Responsibilities: Youth and the Process of Change

For Teachers 1st
First graders analyze politics by participating in a class rules lesson. In this democracy lesson, 1st graders identify several class and school rules they dislike and conduct discussions to examine if they should be changed or not....
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Citizens Together

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars examine the bill of rights as it relates to founding documents and their significance today. In this bill of rights lesson plan, students use newspapers as sources to answer critical questions regarding democratic...
Worksheet
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Pericles and Democracy

For Students 8th - 12th
In this Athenian democracy worksheet, students read a 1-page selection about Periclean democracy and then respond to 27 short answer and fill in the blank questions.
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"An American Story"--The Responsibility of Citizenship

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers describe the importance of being a responsible citizen. In this philanthropic actions lesson, students view "An American Story" and identify examples from the movie. High schoolers discuss and recognize philanthropic...
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Piggy Tale Election

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate democracy by reading The Three Little Pigs.  In this government lesson, 2nd graders discover ways laws are changed or enacted by holding their own election in class.  Students compare the Big Bad Wolf...
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Donkeys and Elephants and Voters, Oh My!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students celebrate party politics. In this American politics lesson plan, students discover what the 2 main political parties in the country are and discuss their functions. Students then participate in a classroom simulation that...
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All Aboard The Campaign Train!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore campaign politics. In this political campaign lesson, students investigate multimedia sources in order to examine the structure of political parties and platforms from previous presidential elections. Students then...
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Ancient Greece

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students explore the origins of modern language. In this etymology lesson, students discuss the cultural influences of Ancient Greece on modern society. Students design and complete charts that demonstrate the original and contemporary...
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Hitler's Fatal Gamble

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students consider the differences between totalitarianism and democracy. In this comparative politics lesson, students will read a handout describing the major components that comprise totalitarianism and democracy, then they will...
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Democracy and Representative Government

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students complete a worksheet about the government and identify the characteristics of different governments. In this government lesson plan, students define representative democracy and complete a worksheet.
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Take a Stand

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore the importance of taking part in our government. In this government lesson, students decide between several families as to who will recieve a goat. Students try to convince each other who to vote for.
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To Be or Not to Be Democratic

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the democratic republic principles of U.S. government. In this U.S. government lesson plan, 7th graders compare and contrast the governments of ancient Athens,the Roman Republic, and the United States today....
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What Are Our Common Values?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students make a poster. In this values lesson, students read the Preamble to the Constitution and discuss the core democratic values that are found there and in the Declaration of Independence. Students are each assigned a core...
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The Rise of the City States in Greece

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine Ancient Greece and its development of democracy. In this Greek History lesson, 6th graders explore the rise of city-states in Greece and its overall effect on the development of democracy. The class continues with...
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Planting Seeds of Philanthropy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the importance of maintaining a democracy through philanthropic actions. In this character education lesson, students discover what the Japanese internment camps were, and why they were an infringement on personal...
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No Choice!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate freedom. In this character development and U.S. history lesson, students participate in role playing in which the teacher assigns recess restrictions including whom they play with and what they play. Students discuss...
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With Liberty & Top Soil for All

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers compare the basic needs of plants to the basic needs of democracy. In this democracy comparison lesson, students complete a worksheet on what happens to a plant that's not nourished. Middle schoolers draw a correlation...
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The League

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of civic virtue in a democratic state. In this democracy lesson, students listen to John F. Kennedy's inaugural speech, read selections on democracy, and discuss the importance of civic rights and...
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Bullying and Core Democratic Values

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the concept of core democratic values. After completing a survey of student populations regarding bullying, small groups analyze their findings and present their findings to the Student Council, principal,...