National First Ladies' Library
Government: Defending the Bill of Rights
Pupils examine the proposition of a country without the Bill of Rights. In a role-playing activity, teams of students gather information to build a case for retaining the Bill of Rights and present it before their congressperson.
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Aquarium Bill of Rights
Pupils review the Bill of Rights on Aquademics and list the rights that are guaranteed to United States citizens. In groups, they role play the role of important leaders whose rules would make a difference for the lives of fish in...
Curated OER
Exploring the Bill of Rights
Learners examine, discuss, and research the Bill of Rights. They, in groups, develop a presentation about their amendment for the class.
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The Bill of Rights
Ninth graders research the Bill of Rights and consider which freedoms are the most important for them. They consider the Bill in detail and then write to their Congressperson about something they would like to see done or changed.
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Comparing/Contrasting Northern Life to Southern Life
Learners compare and contrast the lives of African Americans who moved North vs. those who stayed in the South during the era of Jim Crow Laws.
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The Beginnings of Constitutional Government
Students examine excerpts of Thomas Paine's Common Sense. In this early American history lesson, students read Paine's pamphlet and analyze the information according the rubric provided.
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Giving Voice to History
Students examine the plight of Japanese Americans during World War II. In this World War II lesson, students participate in a mock evocation simulation, research primary and secondary documents about internment camps, and share their...
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George Washington - A Graphic Novel
Students write and illustrate their own graphic novels. For this George Washington lesson, students collaborate to research Washington's life as surveyor, his involvement in the French and Indian War as well as the American Revolution,...
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George Washington's Revolutionary Journeys
Students take a closer look at historical maps. In this American Revolution activity, students examine the provided historical maps and documents to determine the assignments that George Washington assigned to subordinates during the...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Founding Documents
Teach the class about the predecessor to Declaration of Independence—the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Using the foundational documents, scholars examine the two writings to consider how they are similar and how they are different. A...
Carolina K-12
Marsh v. Chambers and the Establishment Clause
1983 Supreme Court case Marsh v. Chambers, which centers on whether opening a legislative session with a prayer violates the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment to the US Constitution, is the focus of a series of discussions and...
Curated OER
Foreign War and Domestic Freedom: A Delicate Balancing Act
Students investigate civil liberties in the U.S. They watch and discuss a PowerPoint presentation, conduct research on an event from a timeline, complete a worksheet, take an ideology quiz, and conduct a debate.
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American Economics after WWII
Students analyze the American culture after WWII. Through a variety of activities, students gain an understanding of ecomonics and prosperity in the US following WWII.
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Researching American Democracy
High schoolers compare Watergate and the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal. In this U.S. Constitution activity, students define vocabulary terms and read articles regarding the impeachment process. High schoolers respond to questions that require...
Anti-Defamation League
Shirley Chisholm: Unbought, Unbossed and Unforgotten
A 13-page packet introduces high schoolers to a lady of amazing firsts. Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to Congress, the first Black woman to run for President of the United States, and a leader of the Women's Rights...
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A Right to Bear Arms - One Patriot's View
Learners research Samuel Adams' role in the crafting of the Second Amendment. They consider how Adams' views evolved with time and write a one-page response linking their research to current events.
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Right on the Money
Learners are introduced to coins and bills in American currency. After watching a video, they practice making the same amount of money out of different combinations of coins and bills. Using the internet, they discover how much each...
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Meet the Press: American Presidents
Young scholars interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this presidential history lesson, students research the accomplishments of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Frankiln D. Roosevelt, and...
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In the Light of Reverence
Learners watch a documentary prior to participating in a Supreme Court simulation in order to study how religious practices are protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. They interpret conflict from a number of perspectives...
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Our National Documents
Students consider the significance of selected American documents. In this civics lesson plan, students analyze excerpts of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
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Outsourcing Jobs to Other Countries: Is Globalization a Threat to American Workers?
Students analyze the effects of outsourcing. In this globalization instructional activity, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the outsourcing of American jobs to other countries. Students respond to...
C-SPAN
Presidential Birth Requirement
Every president of the United States must be a natural-born citizen, but the definition of natural-born is not as straightforward as it seems. Secondary scholars examine two points of view surrounding the constitutional requirement...
Curated OER
The Homefront: America and WWII
Students are introduced to the experiences of various groups of Americans at home during WWII, highlighting race, gender, and ethnicity. They improve their ability to analyze and interpret historical documents and images.
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Roots of the Documents of Freedom
Students examine and analyze various excerpts from documents of freedom such as Magna Carta and Virginia Declaration of Rights, identify how documents influenced each other, and discuss ideas and rights necessary to build representative...