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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Famous Signature

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners study important historical figures.  In this United States history instructional activity, students trace the signature of John Hancock using cotton swabs, glitter, and various art supplies after discussing the historical...
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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 Dream and an Idea: Searching for a Roadmap to Create a Country

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students compare and contrast opposing visions of government held by the founding fathers. They evaluate the roles of historical leaders in shaping the U.S. as an emerging nation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Studies

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Entitled American Studies, this small unit covers various topics related to the study of the United States. Learners warm up by creating a dictionary of democracy, then dive into three different lessons focused on government, famous...
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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

The Founding Fathers

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students discuss the basic ideas about the government of the English colonists. They identify three kinds of colonial government developed in the thirteen colonies.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonial Founders

For Teachers 7th
Who were the founding fathers of the American Colonies? Engage in online activities, Internet research, and focused writing to find out. Students choose one colonial founder, conduct biographical research on the person, and take a quiz...
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Lesson Plan
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Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

Benjamin Franklin: Master Diplomat for One Last Time

For Teachers 9th - 12th
At 81, Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where he exercised significant influence in shaping key elements of how the United States operates. The class examines his role, using “The Scene at...
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Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Lesson 4 James Madison: Internal Improvements Balancing Act—Federal/State and Executive/Legislative

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Who has the power? The founding fathers asked the same question when the United States was formed. Learners explore issues that arose during Madison’s presidency that raised constitutional questions. Through discovery, discussion, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning the Blues

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students take a virtual field trip to Memphis, Tennessee in their study of the blues, its characterisitics, founding fathers, and histororical influence on modern music. They compose blues lyrics that reflect present-day attitudes and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Declare the Causes: The Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study the Declaration of Independence and the process our founding fathers went through to get it written and signed. They analyze other similar historical documents and draft and present their own declarations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why A Bill of Rights?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Examine conflicting viewpoints in this lesson plan, in which middle schoolers write their own proposal for including a Bill of Rights in the Constitution. As a class, they discover how the Bill of Rights was not a planned document to be...
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Lesson Plan
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What So Proudly We Hail

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: A Lesson on the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
What does it mean to say that a right is unalienable? How did the founding fathers convey this revolutionary concept in the Declaration of Independence? Engage in a close reading and analysis of the Declaration of Independence, and...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

What is Meant by Returning to Fundamental Principles?

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
What did the Founding Fathers mean by the importance of continually returning to fundamental principles? Your young historians will analyze a series of quotations illustrating the fundamental ideals and principles of the United States...
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Lesson Plan
Judicial Branch of California

Protecting our Freedoms: The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 3rd Standards
Take to the stage! Integrate both drama and civic skills by asking pupils to create and perform skills that demonstrate the importance of the amendments in the Bill of Rights. After reviewing the Preamble to the Constitution, learners...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Amid Rising Economic Inequality, Does America Need a Third Reconstruction?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Young political scientists investigate the Poor People's Campaign protest held in Washington, D.C., on June 18, 2022. They research how the event was reported in various news outlets and consider their stance on whether "poverty is...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Papa's Got A Brand New Bag

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students design and promote technological devices for Father's Day gifts that reflect evolving social trends. They consider the new image of dads cast by today's media and advertisements and its influence.
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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
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

The Articles of Confederation

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Have you ever started a project only to realize you need to scrap it and start over? Scholars analyze the issues leading to the fall of the Articles of Confederation. A group investigation into Articles II, III, and VIII unveil the...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

The Founders’ Library: Thinking as a Founding Father

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students analyze the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. government instructional activity, students examine books, movies, and music that influence them today and then investigate writings that influenced the framers...
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Lesson Plan
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Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

What Ben Read

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Just what did Ben Franklin read? By juxtaposing Ben Franklin’s reading material as a young man with an analysis of his developed ideas, learners gain the opportunity to see how the influences of his youthful reading played out. Roman,...
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Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Creating the Office of the Presidency

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The United States needed an executive power, but it wanted to avoid a monarchy. Using James Madison's notes on the Constitutional Convention, young historians look at the juggling act the Founding Fathers did to create a role for the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.s. Constitution Roll Call Test

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students act as newspaper reporters from 1787 and interview some of the signers of the Constitution. They study the contributions of these Founding Fathers: Washington, Franklin, Madison, Hamilton and discuss the purpose of the U.S....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

George Washington: Founding Father

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explore George Washington. Focusing on his personal life, it offers an examination of the man behind the towering symbol. Washington's stature as first president and founding father created a public persona. George

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