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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
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
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

What Experiences Shaped the Founders' Thinking about Government?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students 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
PBS

Alexander Hamilton: Lawyer, Writer, and Founding Father

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
Scholars analyze the impact Alexander Hamilton had on the creation of the United States. Primary documents and video clips give learners a glimpse into the life of one of America's Founding Fathers, arming them with enough information to...
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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
Center for History Education

The Founding Fathers and the Constitutional Struggle Over Centralized Power

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Believe it or not, the Constitution was America's second attempt at a democratic government. Academics travel back to the past to explore the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation that would eventually lead to the Constitutional...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Benjamin Franklin: Writer, Inventor, and Founding Father

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
Imagine being a writer, inventor, businessman, and the founding father of an entire nation! Pupils analyze the life and activities of Benjamin Franklin. Primary documents, videos, and paintings open up the world of Franklin to young...
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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
National Endowment for the Humanities

Slavery and the American Founding: The "Inconsistency Not to Be Excused"

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
High schoolers examine slavery in the revolutionary and colonial eras of the United States. In this slavery lesson, students investigate the presence of slavery in early America, the language of the Constitution, and the intent of the...
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Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Why is John Adams Standing on Thomas Jefferson's Foot?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Was it a bromance, or were they frenemies? Young historians use a controversial portrait and letters between Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and others to evaluate the relationship between the two Founding Fathers. Examining the primary...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars study the biographies of Ellsworth, Hamilton, Paterson, and Randolph. They study roles of these men during the Constitutional Convention.
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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

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

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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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

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

The Origins of American Government

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners 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
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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Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

The Road to the Constitutional Convention

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
After defeating the most powerful nation in the world, the United States had to deal with its own weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation. Activities in the lesson plan include analyzing primary sources from the Founding Fathers to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting to Know the Founding Fathers

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students focus on the values of moderation and self-discipline as exemplified by the U.S. Constitution and the Founding Fathers. Students participate in dialogues and role-plays.
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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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitutional Convention: What the Founding Fathers Said

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers critique the Creation of the U.S. Constitution. They list some ideas proposed and debated during the Constitutional Convention. Discussion of the important issues requiring compromise are examined.
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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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