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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

With Liberty and Justice for All

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the role of Supreme Court justices. In this judicial branch lesson, students consider the civil rights and civil liberties as they investigate Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940) and West Virginia State Board...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Racism: Law and Attitude

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine discrimination laws. In this racism lesson, students compare and contrast de facto and de jure discrimination. Learners also explore the Bill of Rights and determine what makes some acts and speech illegal.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paving the Road to the Constitution

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders argue for or against the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. In this U.S. government instructional activity, 8th graders complete four activities that encourage them to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Do We Need Authority?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine a situation in which there is no effective authority and identify problems which the lack of authority creates. They explain how authority can be used to deal with these problems.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Can You Decide Among Competing Responsibilities?

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students study the characteristics of competing responsibilities. They read a article in which a person faces competing responsibilities and create a skit. Finally, they discuss how they would deal with the situation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Public Demonstrations - Lesson Plan

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students examine various handouts to determine the value, necessity and potential limitations of assembly and public demonstrations. They then select a side and debate pre-provided questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hut One, Hut Two ... Teams of the National Government: The Three Branches of Government

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the three branches of government and the system of checks and balances.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celebrating the Legacy of Ella Baker

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students research the life of Ella Baker and examine the importance of Civil Rights through citizen mobilization. In this rights lesson, students read the biography of Ella Baker and make suggestions of things to change in their own...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitution & Native Americans

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and consider US Constitutional origins in American Indian culture. They discuss and consider what it means to them to attribute the origins of the US Constitution to American Indian oral tradition. They compare the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Declaration of Independence and Acts of Courage

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the trait of courage. In this Declaration of Independence lesson, students discuss what it means to be courageous and identify the courageous acts the signers of the Declaration showed. Students research the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Selecting a Chief Justice For The United States Supreme Court: The Senate Confirmation Hearings of Judge John Roberts, Jr.

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students review the procedures for selecting a new Supreme Court Justice. In groups, they determine which questions the nominee should be asked and practice asking the questions with a classmate. They watch the confirmation hearings...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Didn't Do It! (Is Anyone guilty Anymore?)

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students explore the concept of "reasonable doubt" in our criminal court system and compare it to "preponderance of the evidence" in the civil court system. They discuss the trials of OJ Simpson and other historical criminal defendants.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Texas History

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover the importance of certain Texas historical people, places, and times. They develop an Inspiration slide which displays the five to ten summarized facts as well as a picture from the Clip Art program.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultural Lit. 31: The U.S. and Iroquois Constitutions

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify and compare major elements of Iroquois and United States Constitutions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil Rights and the Michigan Supreme Court II

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a PowerPoint presentation on the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society's Civil Rights and/or the Native American Rights. They write a reaction paper and prepare for a class discussion. They work in groups and discuss...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History in the Making

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students create and perform a skit that demonstrates the historical period and foriegn policy of a particular president. They first complete a diagram of George Washington's presidency as a class and then form small groups to research...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discover the art of writing letters. In this writing lesson, students read letters written by President Harry Truman and then write a series of their own letters that would give insight into the times in which they live.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bullying

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders investigate bullying. In this character education lesson, 7th graders participate in a class discussion on how to make the school a more respectful place. Students brainstorm ideas and develop a plan to create a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

No Choice!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the concept of democratic freedom. For this service learning lesson, students investigate the freedom the Pilgrims sought as they moved from England and write a journal from their point of view.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Battle to the Death: Adding Integers

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Young scholars explore the concept of adding integers.  In this adding integers lesson, students simulate the battle of the 300 spartans at Thermopylae.  Young scholars use colored game pieces to represent positive and negative numbers. ...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Second Amendment and the Right to Bear Arms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students interpret the Second Amendment. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students examine the right to bear arms as they compare 2 Michigan Supreme Court cases and discuss their personal interpretations of the amendment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Upton Sinclair's The Jungle: Muckraking the Meat-Packing Industry

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore muckraking. In this American history lesson plan, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. Students respond to discussion questions pertaining to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Indian Removal: The Cherokees, Jackson, and the “Trail of Tears”

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine executive power. In this Indian Removal instructional activity, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the "Trail of Tears". High schoolers respond to discussion questions regarding the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ancient Greek Philosophers:Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students discover the famous Greek Philosophers. In this Greek activity, students find the contributions of Ancient Greece and their philosophers. This activity includes brief bios on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle