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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Architecture and Democracy

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders contrast and compare ancient Greece to the U.S.A.  In this Greek History lesson, 5th graders investigate the buildings and designs of ancient Greece, as well as their democracy and government.  Students answer questions...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is Government?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate and describe the various levels of government. They develop a list of the services provided by each level of government, and identify the needs not being met by the government.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fighting for Democracy, Fighting for Me

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore what it means to be American. In this American identity lesson, students consider the contributions of Americans throughout history that have protected the promises of the U.S. Constitution.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Holiday Help for U.S. Sevicemen Overseas

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research what is possible locally and online to provide support for U.S. troops overseas during the holidays. Students also discuss what they would need to do to collect money or other items or launch a writing project.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stitching Truth Lesson One: What is Civil Society?

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders create a working definition of civil society.  In this US History lesson, 9th graders create a list of terms that help make up the term civil society.  Students examine the case study of life in Pinochet's Chile.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tiananmen Square

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and explain the Tiananmen Square incident of June 1989. Studentsl compare what it is to be an American Citizen (Democracy) vs. Chinese Citizen (Communism). Students identify and define various vocabulary terms,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rules and Responsibilities: Youth and the Process of Change

For Teachers 1st
First graders analyze politics by participating in a class rules lesson. For 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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Lesson Plan
North Carolina Consortium for Middle East Studies

Missing Pieces of the Puzzle: African Americans in Revolutionary Times

For Students 5th - 11th
What's missing from most studies of the American Revolutionary War is information about the role African Americans played in the conflict. To correct this oversight, middle schoolers research groups like the Black Loyalists and  Black...
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Unit Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

What Happens in the White House?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young historians complete a unit of lessons on the functions of the White House. They conduct Internet research, develop a list of activities that take place at the White House, and create a chronological timeline of events at the White...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering Democracy in Canada: Federal Perspectives

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders research one aspect of government. They teach their peers co-operatively about the key elements of Democracy in Canada at the Federal Level by giving group presentations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is a Puppy Mill?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider community and legislative efforts to stop puppy mills. In this animal welfare lesson, students discuss the needs of pets and determine how puppy mills do not meet the needs of animals.  Students research animal cruelty...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Truth, War and Consequences

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students explore their understanding of democracy, while comparing their concept of democracy with other students. They also research the possibility of democracy in Iraq.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding What Makes a Good News Story

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore the news sources at their school in order to write stories that reflect what's going on in all communities and to identify what makes a good story. In this news writing lesson, students journal about what makes a good...
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Lesson Plan
Foreign Policy Research Institute

Democracy Wall

For Teachers 7th - 12th
How free are people in the United States, or in the world for that matter? The class reads and compares two articles that discuss levels of freedom enjoyed by different people around the globe. They discuss why some people have more...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Are the Issues?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Investigate and report on three issues related to a current election. Elementary aged learners research information about specific issues, develop an opinion, and write a persuasive essay using supporting details and evidence to support...
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Lesson Plan
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School Journalism

Investigative and Data Journalism – Day One

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
A free press, free to investigate and report on responsibly, compelling stories, is essential to a democracy. A 10-slide presentation details where to get ideas, how to go about an investigation, gather data, and assure the accuracy of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dictatorship

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research world history by researching democracy. In this dictatorship lesson, 5th graders read the story "The Composition" and identify a list of former dictators on the Internet. Students define several key terms and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Democracy…Not Yet!

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students analyze the concept of democracy. In this democratic values lesson plan, students analyze the lyrics of selected popular music that address issues that challenge the role of United States as a world leader. Students create...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Explorers, Early Settlements and the Beginning of Democracy

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research and discuss the early explorers, why countries sent out explorers, where they explored, and what their cultural contributions are to our US culture today.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get Out the Vote!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss importance of voting within a democracy, and investigate reasons why people vote, and why they don't. Students then conduct survey, make hypotheses about voter motivation, and develop materials to promote voting among...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does School Work?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars identify and interpret what their school is like and how it works. They watch animations and slideshows on the government website. Students also develop thinking skills by examining the way voting and democracy works...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Are the Government

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students read primary documents to find the motivations of the founding fathers of the United States. In this primary documents lesson, students discuss the meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution, read parts of the Constitution...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stocking up for the Next Millennium

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students examine how democracy stands the test of time. In this technology lesson, students research inventions and contributions of the 20th century in order to gather information to write a persuasive essay on the topic.