Unit Plan
Kids Voting USA

Kids Voting USA: K-2 Classroom Activities

For Teachers K - 2nd Standards
Address both social studies and critical reading skills with a resource dedicated to the voting process, the American democracy, and the ability to evaluate information in order to develop a stance on an issue. Each themed activity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Education Reform

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars identify problems and potential improvements for U.S. public school education. They research and debate the pros and cons of the "No Child Left Behind Act".
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who are American Citizens?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate American citizenship. In this civics lesson, students consider the basic knowledge of U. S. government new citizens are required to have. Young scholars also examine the 14th amendment that describes U. S....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How to Web 2.0 Accessorize Your Classroom

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Become a digital citizen. Follow the scripted directions of this resource to create a technologically integrated webpage for your classroom. Class members learn how to create a class blog, an Internet start page, a classroom wiki, and...
Unit Plan
Water

Global Water Supply Middle School Curriculum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
We take a steady shower stream and clean drinking water for granted, but in many countries around the world, the lack of water or a clean water supply is responsible for higher sickness and death rates. Taking a closer look at the water...
Lesson Plan
Judicial Branch of California

Separate But Equal - Is It Black or White?

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
The story of Ruby Bridges and the case of Brown vs. The Board of Education are fantastic tools for discussing the concept of separate but equal. Kids tackle some big questions about what is fair, what is civil, and what rights or laws...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civic Education

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students in an adult ESL class are introduced to the political discourse in the United States government. As a class, they develop their own definitions of democracy. In groups, they read an article and present their analysis of the...
Lesson Plan
Global Oneness Project

Repairing the Fabric of Democracy

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
During elections, headlines constantly lament the issue of low voter turnout. Help class members understand why this is such an important topic with relevant articles, a discussion of both sides of the issue, and a reflective essay. 
Lesson Plan
Carolina K-12

African Americans in the United States Congress During Reconstruction

For Students 5th
The Civil Rights Act of 1866, which granted citizenship to all males in the U.S., resulted in the first African Americans to be elected to Congress. Class members research 11 of these men, the challenges they faced, and craft...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

That Was Then, This Is Now

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the world power of the United States. In this Social Studies activity, 5th graders choose a world issue and identify ways the United States could help to solve the situation. Students determine the consequences and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Communities Around the World

For Teachers K - 5th
Students investigate the idea of community by taking a field trip.  In this civics lesson, students participate in a supervised walk around their neighborhood while identifying characteristics and objects that make their home town...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rosa Parks Changed the Rules

For Teachers K - 5th
Students listen to a story about Rosa Parks and examine the bus seating rules of the 1950s. In this civil rights movement lesson plan, the teacher reads students a book about Rosa Parks, then students complete a worksheet with a diagram...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits: Grades 3-5

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the contributions of African Americans of the 20th century. In this African American history lesson plan, students examine portraits of Muhammad Ali, Romare Bearden, Lorraine Hansberry, Judith Jamison, and Leontyne Price...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding the Importance of Cyber Ethics

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students play a paper clip game which leads to a lesson on cyber ethics. In this cyber ethics lesson plan, students play the game, and then discuss the proper rules of how society should act and view their internet usage.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ho Chi Minh and Freedom of Speech

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils explore freedom of speech. Individually, they complete a K-W-L chart. Students participate in a "Stand If You Can" activity where they make statements regarding the freedom of speech. Pupils stand if they agree with the...
Lesson Plan
North Carolina Consortium for Middle East Studies

Missing Pieces of the Puzzle: African Americans in Revolutionary Times

For Students 5th - 11th
What's missing from most studies of the American Revolutionary War is information about the role African Americans played in the conflict. To correct this oversight, middle schoolers research groups like the Black Loyalists and ...
Lesson Plan
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Judicial Branch of California

Articles of Confederation…Well, They Were Trying!

For Teachers 5th Standards
Different currencies, multiple armies, unreliable protection from thieves: class members experience these challenges playing a game that demonstrates life under the Articles of Confederation. After playing the game—which takes them on a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Crisis in Darfur

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils examine the history and current humanitarian crisis occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan. In small groups, they conduct Internet research, answer discussion questions, and present their findings to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Technology Blackout Day

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students describe the impact of modern technology inventions on daily life. They create a graph of the class's favorite item of technology and draw a picture of their favorite piece of modern technology.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Documents of Natural Rights: The Declaration of Independence and The Plan of Delano

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders analyze the philosophy of government in the Declaration of Independence. As a class, they discuss how this philosophy has caused other revolutions in history and how well it supports our natural rights. In groups, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hey, Mom! What's for Breakfast?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners examine how he world eats breakfast. For this food choices lesson, students work in groups to list breakfast foods and their ingredients and find goods and consumers on the list. The, learners use the Internet to complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voting and US Resident Aliens

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders examine the process of voting.  In this American Government lesson, 12th graders evaluate the arguments for and against alien voting.  Students participate in a debate on voting rights.  
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Government Policy and Its Impact on HIV/AIDS

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine "President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief", identify important U.S. policy events related to AIDS/HIV from the last 25 years and hold a policy debate on the funding for AIDS/HIV programs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies: Campaign Finance Reform

For Teachers All
Students develop arguments for and against campaign finance reform, examine federal and state laws that attempt to limit contributions to political candidates, evaluate various plans for campaign finance reform and formulate their own...