Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Politics during the Civil War

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the politics of the Civil War. They use a graphic organizer in order to help sort the information. The use of key questions help to create starting points for class discussion or student essay responses.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compare the United States Government with Other Political Systems

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students explore the U.S. form of government and illustrate other forms of government found throughout the world. They explain the similarities and differences between the U.S and other governments.
PPT
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Complete with maps, photographs, and historical documents, this presentation would be a great resource throughout a unit about mid-19th century America. Manifest Destiny, Texas Independence, the Oregon Trail, and the Mexican War are...
Activity
Carolina K-12

Revolutionary War Era Tick-Tack- Toe

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
So many fantastic activities on the American Revolution! From drawing political cartoons illustrating events of the Boston Massacre to writing a diary entry as a shopkeeper during the Boston Tea Party, your young historians will...
Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Who Burned the Peggy Stewart?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Not all Patriots were on the same page against the British before the Revolutionary War. While some wanted to use peaceful means, such as debate and petition, others used violence, such as burning ships carrying British tea. Using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presidential Election One Year Away

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students identify political parties, then read a news article about the 2008 election. In this current events lesson (written prior to the 2008 election), the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

McCarthysim

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore and analyze the impact of the Cold War at home and how the fear of communism and nuclear war affected American life throughout the Cold War. They study what role Senator Joseph McCarthy played on American fears...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conflict and Compromise

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine opinions about the Boston Tea Party. In this colonial America lesson, students analyze several primary sources about the Tea Party and then write essays that reveal efforts to compromise as well as efforts to instigate...
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Young People Shake Up Elections (History Proves It) Educator Guide

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Vote, it's your civic duty! The resource provides several videos about voting in the United States. Scholars watch a series of topics ranging from youth participation to civic action. The educator's guide provides teachers with...
AP Test Prep
College Board

Balance of Power Between Congress and the President

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Three branches of government help create a system of checks and balances. A helpful resource provides a series of articles regarding the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches of government. Historians answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Songs of the Times: American Concerns in 19th Century Campaigns

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Learners examine campaign songs from the 1840, 1848, and 1860 elections to explore the campaign strategies of 19th century political parties.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: The Angry Election

For Students 8th - 12th
In this election of 2010 learning exercise, students analyze a political cartoon about the Tea Party and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Origins of American Government

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers 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...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Midterm Elections of 2010

For Students 9th - 12th
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about the midterm elections of 2010 and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

History of the Americas: Causes of the Civil War

For Students 8th - 12th
In this American Civil War activity, students read assigned textbook pages about the causes of the war and then respond to 35 short answer questions about how the war began.
Handout
C-SPAN

Virtual Presidents Exhibit

For Students 3rd - 12th
Scholars get a glimpse into the lives of all 46 Unites States presidents. An engaging timeline details each president's background and time in office. LInks send pupils to a website with more in-depth information.
Activity
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Purged From the Voter Rolls: Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Once a registered voter isn't always a registered voter. Academics explore the topic of voter registration and hindrances to remaining registered. The resource focuses on data analysis, federal voter registration law, and Supreme Court...
Lesson Plan
Teaching Tolerance

The Truth About Voting

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
True or False: Only Presidential elections matter. Academics delve into common voting myths to understand what is true and why the election process is critical to democracy. The lesson uses group discussion, activities, and handouts to...
Lesson Plan
C-SPAN

Make a “Deliberations” Site

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Many hot button issues require deliberations, even in your classroom! Learners work in teams or as individuals to decide on a deliberation question to make into a Google site. They research the topics in depth, discuss both sides of the...
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Two's Company; Is Three a Crowd?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explore the history of third-party politics in America. They research the impact of one third-party or independent candidate for president and develop a poster and stump speech representing that candidate's motivation for running.
Interactive
Curated OER

The First Years of the Union (1797-1809)

For Students 7th - 12th
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 11 short answer and essay questions about the United States between 1797 and 1809. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
Worksheet
Curated OER

President Herbert Hoover

For Students 4th - 6th
In this President Herbert Hoover worksheet, students read a 4 page article on the history of Hoover's life and presidency and then answer 10 true and false questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Price of Power

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Explore the current political debate over regulating power plant emissions. Critical thinkers research, formulate, and present arguments regarding selective catalytic reduction systems for coal-burning plants.