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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Be the Judge

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research and evaluate a case considered by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. They watch a Bill Moyers video, conduct a debate, and write about the decision they would make if they were a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights and the Founders

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explain similarities between historical statements of rights and their modern applications, explore ideas of "Rights of Englishmen" and natural rights, discuss evolution of concept of rights and its impact on Bill of Rights,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constitutional Convention

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students engage in a role-playing situation to illustrate the kinds of compromised that were made a teh Constitutional Convention. They write three short 1-2 paragraph arguments and then present their arguments to the class at the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Federalist 47

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students will analyze and evaluate political propaganda. In this lesson plan on the Federalist movement, students will examine the Federalist papers and analyze the Anti-Federalist argument mage against constitutional ratification. This...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Bias

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in an interactive writing and discussion activity, on the study of bias, as it is used in political debate and decision making. They evaluate the presentation of material and its importance in making informed decisions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Labour Market: Supply and Demand

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students question and evaluate the relevance of the traditional model of the labour market and apply it to public sector workers. They investigate problem problems and apply theories such as marginal revenue product to service sector...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers 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
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Curated OER

Nation Building

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Ninth graders examine the role of the United States in nation building.  In this World History activity, 9th graders evaluate the role of the United States in building nations in other parts of the world. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Path of the Black Death

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are able to show on a map how the Black Death moved through Europe. They summarize the direct effects of the Black Death in Europe. Students cite evidence from firsthand accounts in developing an argument that connections can,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting along With Others

For Teachers K - 5th
Students examine character traits to find the most positive behaviors.  For this getting along lesson, students identify behaviors that are beneficial to getting along.  Students evaluate their own behaviors and target three that could...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Contemporary Civic-life Issue Research Based Essay

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders write a five paragraph persuasive essay on a contemporary civic-life issue.
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Lesson Plan
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Museum of the Moving Image

What Makes an Effective Ad?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
As an introduction to a series of related resources that examine political advertising and commercials from 1952-2012, class members use the provided rubric to analyze and rate the effectiveness of the emotion, persuasion, factual...
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Activity
East Lyme Public Schools

To Declare or Not to Declare Independence?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Class members adopt the persona of real figures in American history, Patriots and Loyalists, research these individuals to determine their stance, and then debate the question of whether or not to declare independence from England. 
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Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Youth Curfews

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Don't stay out too late! Scholars analyze the need for youth curfews in a democratic society. They examine primary documents, case studies, and short video clips to form their opinions and take a position on the issue. Holding a class...
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

The Alaska Purchase: Debating the Sale from Russian and U.S. Perspectives

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Seward's Folly or brilliant strategic move? Class members investigate primary source documents from each country to determine the rationales behind the sale and purchase of Alaska, and then stage a debate.
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Lesson Plan
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Constitutional Rights Foundation

Unauthorized Immigration and the US Economy

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
As part of a study of immigration and the U.S. economy, class members assume the role of newspaper editors to determine which submitted letters to print on their paper's editorial page to present a balanced view of the debate.
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Lesson Plan
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Constitutional Rights Foundation

Guest-Worker Program

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The U.S. Guest-Worker Program and the H-2A visa are the focus of a social studies activity. First, class members assume the role of advisors who must present the president with four proposals that would amend the visas given to...
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Lesson Plan
NPR

The History of America’s Weed Laws

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
To understand the laws regarding marijuana use in the United States, you can go all the way back to the 1800's to learn about farming hemp, or you can go back to 2018 when California became the sixth state to legalize recreational...
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Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

Black Genius: How Did Black Genius Help Build American Democracy?

For Teachers 8th
"How did the slavery system undermine the United States' democratic principles?" This question launches a study of how the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, and Article IV,...
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Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

Reparations: Why Are Reparations Controversial?

For Teachers 8th
To understand why the topic of reparations is controversial, young scholars gather background information by reading articles, watching videos, and examining cases where reparations were made. Learners consider the lasting repercussions...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Student Cafateria as the "Leafy Chestnut Tree"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the difference between "news" of earlier periods, and "news" as we know it today. They then go out into the school common areas and analyze news from the perspective of word-of-mouth storys and discuss what they can...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

social Studies: First Amendment Role-Play

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars evaluate First Amendment case decisions by the Supreme Court. they divide into three groups - Supreme Court justices, prosecution attorneys, and defense lawyers. Both sides present their arguments and the justices...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Affirmative Action

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars explore policies concerning affirmative action. After reading affirmative action handouts, students use the internet and other resources to research information about affirmative action laws, court cases, and arguments....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voting and US Resident Aliens

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders examine the process of voting.  For this American Government lesson, 12th graders evaluate the arguments for and against alien voting.  Students participate in a debate on voting rights.