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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Gathering Information about Water Management: Assessing and Reading Internet Sources, Day 1

For Teachers 7th Standards
It takes time to discover what makes a source accurate and credible. Using everything they've learned about source credibility, scholars begin researching supporting questions about how industry and agriculture manage water. They select...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
C-SPAN

Supreme Court Justices Research and Resumes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
According to Article III, Section1 of the United States constitution, the only qualification one needs to be appointed to the Supreme Court is to demonstrate "good behavior." The president and Congress are given the power to determine...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Encyclopedia Britannica

Write an Election Day Letter

For Teachers 9th - 12th
For some, getting to the polls to vote is no easy task. Voting may mean needing to choose between a job and civic duty. But what if Election Day was a national holiday? After reading an article about the pros and cons of designating...
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Lesson Plan
1
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Meta-Study: Political Brains

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Are there differences in the brains of liberals and conservatives? That is the question young political scientists are challenged to answer. Class members examine studies, consider how the results are presented, and how the studies were...
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Lesson Plan
1
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Get out the Vote Campaign

For Teachers 9th - 12th
While some of your students may be too young to vote, they can get involved in the election process by creating a nonpartisan campaign encouraging voter registration. After researching how to register to vote, class members design PSAs,...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Encyclopedia Britannica

Impeachment Explainer

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Andrew Johnson (1868) Bill Clinton (1998) and Donald Trump (2019) were impeached by the House of Representatives. To demonstrate their understanding of the impeachment process, individual create their own "Impeachment Explainer." Writers...
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Lesson Plan
1
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Election Topic Deep Dive

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Researchers go beyond the surface of an election issue to craft an objective report on the history of the issue, factors surrounding the issue, and factors in a candidate' biography that may influence a candidate's position on the issue....
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Lesson Plan
1
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Candidate Reflection Essay

For Teachers 9th - 12th
After writing about which of the 2020 presidential candidates the class has researched most closely represents their ideas, young political scientists take a 2020 Presidential Election Candidate Quiz to determine what candidate they in...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Encyclopedia Britannica

Presidential Electability

For Teachers 9th - 12th
There are specific constitutional requirements that candidates must meet to become president of the United States. In addition, there are societal opinions that affect a candidate's electability. Class members examine historical...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Encyclopedia Britannica

Political Issue Timeline

For Teachers 9th - 12th
As part of a study of US Presidential elections, class members track the history of an issue in the 2020 campaign. They create a timeline to determine if there are any patterns, if ideas about the issue have evolved, or if in issue is no...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Encyclopedia Britannica

Candidate Position History Research

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Climate change. Assault weapons ban. Death penalty. And the list goes on. So many issues are part of a US presidential election that it can be hard to determine a candidate's position on a particular topic and whether their position has...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Encyclopedia Britannica

Presidential Qualifications

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Can anyone grow up to be president of the United States? As part of their study of the 2020 election, groups research the constitutional requirements to become president. The class then brainstorms a list of qualifications beyond those...
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Lesson Plan
1
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Nemours KidsHealth

Media Literacy and Health: Grades 6-8

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Internet suffers could drown in the volume of information available on line. Here's an activity that can be a lifeline and buoy confidence in middle schoolers' ability to find reliable information and credible sources. After reading...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Encyclopedia Britannica

Do the Campaign Math

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Follow the money trail! As part of their study of the 2020 Presidential campaign, class members to research how much money candidates have raise and spent, as well as the sources of the funds. They then graph their findings to compare...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Encyclopedia Britannica

Presidential Succession

For Teachers 9th - 12th
"Who takes over if a president dies, resigns, is impeached, or is otherwise removed from office?" That is the question class members research. After listing the 18 successors in order, individuals respond in writing to a series of...
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Lesson Plan
1
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Candidate Position Research

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
As part of their study of the US Presidential election process, class members research a presidential candidate's position on a specific topic or topics. Formatting their research as a pro/con question ("Should the Death Penalty Be...
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Lesson Plan
1
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Candidate Flip-Flop or Evolution?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Beware political rhetoric! Connotation is everything! Groups select a presidential candidate and investigate how the candidate's position has changed on a specific issue. After analyzing the situation, the group determines whether they...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Encyclopedia Britannica

Candidate Book Report

For Teachers 9th - 12th
After reading candidate biographies, class members select one candidate to research. They craft a report on the candidate's book, their position on issues, and the image the candidate wants to project.
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Lesson Plan
1
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Campaign Photo Analysis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
It's the art of the image!  As part of a study of the 2020 Presidential race, groups analyze an image of a candidate, first from an objective point of view and then subjectively. They then prepare a presentation detailing what they...
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Lesson Plan
C-SPAN

What Are Ways for Youth to Engage in Politics?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Help young people become excited to participate in politics. High school historians participate in an engaging lesson focused on ways for youth to become involved in government. Scholars review articles, videos, and essential vocabulary...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Gathering Information about Screen Time: Assessing and Reading Internet Sources, Day 2

For Teachers 7th Standards
Calling all researchers! Using the resource, scholars continue conducting independent Internet research about a chosen research question. As they browse the web in search of articles to answer their questions, pupils paraphrase their...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Gathering Information about Screen Time: Assessing and Reading Internet Sources, Day 1

For Teachers 7th Standards
What's the best way to evaluate a source's accuracy and credibility? Pupils discuss the question with a partner and then share their ideas with the class. They also conduct Internet research, looking for an article that answers a chosen...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Finding Relevant Information and Asking Research Questions: The Benefits of Video Games

For Teachers 7th Standards
Video games may not be so bad after all. As scholars read the text "The Many Benefits, for Kids, of Playing Video Games," they summarize the gist in their researchers' notebooks. Next, pupils draft supporting research questions based on...
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Activity
Teaching Tolerance

Voting in Your Town

For Teachers 6th - 12th
A socially important resource focuses on voter turnout and roadblocks to voting. Scholars review resources on voting stats, watch a documentary, and participate in group discussion regarding voting in their local communities. Academics...