Curated OER
September 17th Writing Prompt
In this daily writing prompt instructional activity, students learn that September 17th is Citizenship Day in the United States and explain that they think it means to be good citizen of the World, the United States, their own state,...
Curated OER
Crazy Laws: There Must Have Been a Good Reason?
Young scholars study the reasons for the passage of some "crazy" laws and illustrate one of them. They examine how current laws may seem outdated in 50 years.
Curated OER
Let the Good Times Roll! with Louisiana Music
Seventh graders examine the role of the different types of music originating in Louisiana. Using the information they gathered, they create a PowerPoint presentation about an artist who plays Louisiana music. They compare and contrast...
Annenberg Foundation
Service Learning in the Social Studies
Active Citizenship Today (ACT) is a "unique social studies service learning program" that requires students to learn about the public policy associated with community issues they identify in their local community. This web site provides...
Curated OER
Big Business & Industrial Cities
This is a true gem. This PowerPoint is well-organized, has bullet points you control (which gives you time for discussion), has sound effects, and covers several aspects of American industrialization after 1900. The presentation begins...
Curated OER
When Enough Should Be Enough
Students take a closer look at world hunger. In this global issues instructional activity, students discuss hunger in African nations and determine how that might organize a school-side campaign to raise money to fight hunger through the...
Curated OER
Fair Trade: Raising the Profile
Seventh graders participate in different activities as they plan for a fair trade display or event. They design wordsearches and act out scenerios dealing with fair trade practices. They also brainstorm a list of items hat are fairly...
Curated OER
I am a Hero for Animals!
Students explore the humane treatment of animals. In this character development and civic responsibility lesson, students define "hero" and brainstorm related attributes. Students complete an action plan using the "rational approach"...
Curated OER
"Real Life" Budgeting Project
Pupils experience what it is like to be a responsible citizen through a monthly budget through using a variety of research skills.
They apply collected data in a decision making exercise and
present the final product in a clear and...
BBC
Local Democracy
Middle and high schoolers explore how democracy works. After a teacher-led discussion, pupils go to websites embedded in the plan which lead them through activities that are all about the democratic process. The first website has them...
Curated OER
Simplified United States Constitution and Bill of Rights
A good handout is a great find. Print this resource and hand out a simplified version of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights to your US government or US history class. The powers of the president, Congress, and the Senate are...
Curated OER
Teach Ancient Greece!
“We alone regard a man who takes no interest in public affairs, not as a harmless but as a useless character.” Pericles’ comment, part of a funeral speech, sets the tone for a unit study of Ancient Greece. A series of activities...
Civil War Trust
Genealogy
The Civil War is undoubtedly a part of America's history, but could it be part of your pupils' history as well? Middle schoolers conduct research to discover a connection between their ancestors and the American Civil War. Whether they...
Curated OER
What Responsibilities Accompany Our Rights?
Pupils are able to explain the importance of the fulfillment of responsibilities by citizens if everyone's rights are to be protected and able to describe specific responsibilities associated with five essential rights of citizens.
Curated OER
What is Honesty?
Students explore the concept of honesty. In this character lesson, students work in groups to brainstorm and discuss what it means to be honest. Each group shares their ideas with the class and they keep a list of keywords and descriptions.
Curated OER
Cooperative Learning Duties
Middle schoolers learn how to be held accountable while working in groups. In this accountability lesson plan, students complete an assignment in groups and everyone has a role to be held accountable for.
Curated OER
Rights of Non-Citizen Immigrants
Students continue their discussion of if coming to America was the best thing for a group of immigrants. As a class, they complete the citizenship test offered by the INS. They research the benefits and responsibilities of being a...
Curated OER
Good Old Days
Learners think about what people did for entertainment many years ago. To answer this, they should not only do library-type research but find and interview a senior citizen.
Curated OER
Dilemmas and Dealing with Them - Secrets
Students read an article about the secrets young people keep from adults with regards to the internet. Small groups analyze a worksheet of common dilemmas and agree on solutions for each problem. The whole class shares solutions for...
BBC
Crime: Justice
Are the juvenile courts fair? Learners read a bit from the classic Oliver Twist to consider how young people are treated and represented when they've been accused of a crime. They read a case study from their books, discuss children's...
Curated OER
Campaign Ads That Subtract and Add
Students explore media and media misrepresentation of prodcts. They create a video of a person (with both good and bad pictures.) Using creative titles, students download a slideshow. They add sound effects and other Adobe Premiere...
BBC
Conflict
Middle schoolers take a close look at the different forms that bullying can take, and share their ideas of ways to stop bullying in schools. Learners get together in groups of three and come up with a scenario that depicts a conflict....
James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
A Deliberate, Palpable and Dangerous Exercise of Other Powers: James Madison & Homeland Security
This resource uses primary source documents to explore the First Amendment. After reviewing key events of the 1790s, government or US history classes explore Madison's letter to Jefferson regarding the Alien and Sedition Acts. They then...
BBC
Identity
Ethnic diversity is the focus of the political science lesson presented here. In it, pupils discuss the variety of ethnicities they see at their own school. They share their knowledge, or personal experiences of the way that people of...