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Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Lost Hero: Was John Hanson Actually the First President?

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
The first president of the United States was ... John Hanson? Scholars investigate the notion that the initial leader of the nation was not George Washington. Using research, articles, and open discussion, individuals create a quest for...
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Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

The "To Do List" of the Continental Congress

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What is on your to-do list today? The second lesson of a three-part series on Lost Heroes of America investigates the laundry list of items in front of the second Continental Congress. Scholars research, analyze, and present information...
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Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Chief Executives Compared: The Federalist Papers

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Delve into the responsibilities of the president by looking at President Hamilton's opinion of the presidential office in his own words. The second in a three-part series, the resource also offers an interesting compare-and-contrast...
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Activity
Shell Education

Leaders from the 1790s

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The Founding Fathers contributed to the United States in many ways. Class members explore various Founding Fathers through research, group work, and realia. The final product of group work are posters and artistic representations of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Experiences Shaped the Founders' Thinking about Government?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars study the ideas and experiences that shaped the founding fathers' perspective about government. In this the government lesson plan, students examine the Articles of Confederation as they relate to the power of government....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Federalist Debates: Balancing Power Between State and Federal Governments

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the pros and cons of state sovereignty vs. federalism, as argued by the Founding Fathers. They identify the basic positions of each side, complete a worksheet, and write a persuasive essay arguing for Jefferson or Hamilton.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Background on the Patriot Attitude toward the Monarch

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Learners explain the Patriot attitude toward the British monarchy, which helps them embrace the Founders' reluctance to have a strong executive under the Articles of Confederation as well as their desire to build in checks of executive...
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Interactive
Curated OER

The Federalist Papers

For Students 8th - 12th Standards
What were The Federalist Papers? If you're preparing your class for a quiz on this topic, consider providing them with these thought-provoking study questions. Ten questions are provided, although only three contain possible answers. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Branches of Government

For Students 5th - 8th
After reading a short text on the branches of government in the United States, future voters answer 8 fill-in-the-blank questions, as well as 11 true or false questions. This instructional activity would be a great homework assignment or...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitutional Convention: What the Founding Fathers Said

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students list some ideas proposed and debated during the Constitutional Convention, and discuss the important issues requiring compromise during the Constitutional Convention.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Citizens Together

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students 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 citizenship....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History of the Local Community

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research their local communities and identify the founding fathers of their city and county. In this communities lesson plan, students research using the library and internet. Students also interview citizens who have lived in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

United States Constitution Framers

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders discover details about delegates to the American Constitutional Convention. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, 8th graders research information about 9 delegates to the convention and then write paragraphs about the most...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electricity and Magnetism: Ben Franklin and His Influence

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore electricity by examining the life of Benjamin Franklin.  In this biographical lesson, 4th graders listen to the teacher read facts of Benjamin Franklin's life and analyze his contributions to our current society. ...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Famous Signature

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study important historical figures.  In this United States history lesson plan, students trace the signature of John Hancock using cotton swabs, glitter, and various art supplies after discussing the historical significance of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitutional Convention: Four Founding Fathers You May Never Have Met

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners read biographies of their assigned Founding Father. They present an oral argument that their assignee deserves to be better known by making connections between regional politics and postions defined by character.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Documents and Symbols and American Freedom

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students complete a unit of lessons on the documents, symbols, and famous people involved in the founding of the U.S. government. They create a personal bill of rights, write a found poem, design a flag, conduct research, and role-play...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A More Perfect Union

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a unit of lessons on the development of the U.S. government. They examine the main ideas of the Declaration of Independence, develop a class translation of the preamble to the Constitution, create a flow chart,...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Worksheet #49 - Constitution

For Students 8th - 9th
In this historical quiz worksheet, students test their knowledge on multiple historical references about the Constitution as they answer the ten fill in the blank questions.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Benjamin Franklin

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this Benjamin Franklin worksheet, students read a 1 page article on Benjamin Franklin, answer 3 questions with multiple choice answers, fill in 4 blanks to complete 4 facts and answer 2 statements as true or false.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Origins of American Government

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create an advertising campaign to persuade the Founding Fathers to adopt a particular political philosophy. Working in groups, they conduct research about a certain political philosophy. Students create a pitch to be made to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We the People... How Does Government Secure Natural Rights?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the Founders' ideas about what kind of government is most likely to protect the basic rights of people. They distinguish between limited and unlimited government.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Philantrophy of the Founding Fathers -- Alive and Well Today

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the role that individuals have in contributing to society. They develop alternative solutions to problems in their area. They write a paper about what they have discovered.