Curated OER
Education Reform
Students 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".
Curated OER
Who are American Citizens?
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....
Curated OER
How to Web 2.0 Accessorize Your Classroom
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...
Judicial Branch of California
Separate But Equal - Is It Black or White?
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...
Curated OER
Civic Education
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...
Global Oneness Project
Repairing the Fabric of Democracy
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.
Carolina K-12
African Americans in the United States Congress During Reconstruction
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...
Curated OER
That Was Then, This Is Now
Fifth graders examine the world power of the United States. In this Social Studies instructional activity, 5th graders choose a world issue and identify ways the United States could help to solve the situation. Students determine the...
Curated OER
Communities Around the World
Learners 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...
Curated OER
Rosa Parks Changed the Rules
Learners listen to a story about Rosa Parks and examine the bus seating rules of the 1950s. For this civil rights movement lesson, the teacher reads students a book about Rosa Parks, then learners complete a worksheet with a diagram of...
Curated OER
Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits: Grades 3-5
Students explore the contributions of African Americans of the 20th century. In this African American history lesson, students examine portraits of Muhammad Ali, Romare Bearden, Lorraine Hansberry, Judith Jamison, and Leontyne Price in...
Curated OER
Understanding the Importance of Cyber Ethics
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.
Curated OER
Ho Chi Minh and Freedom of Speech
Students 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. Students stand if they agree with the...
North Carolina Consortium for Middle East Studies
Missing Pieces of the Puzzle: African Americans in Revolutionary Times
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 ...
Judicial Branch of California
Articles of Confederation…Well, They Were Trying!
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...
Curated OER
The Crisis in Darfur
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.
Curated OER
Technology Blackout Day
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.
Curated OER
Documents of Natural Rights: The Declaration of Independence and The Plan of Delano
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...
Curated OER
Hey, Mom! What's for Breakfast?
Students examine how he world eats breakfast. In this food choices instructional activity, students work in groups to list breakfast foods and their ingredients and find goods and consumers on the list. The, students use the Internet...
Curated OER
Voting and US Resident Aliens
Twelfth graders examine the process of voting. In this American Government lesson plan, 12th graders evaluate the arguments for and against alien voting. Students participate in a debate on voting rights.
Curated OER
Government Policy and Its Impact on HIV/AIDS
High schoolers 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.
Curated OER
Social Studies: Campaign Finance Reform
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...
Curated OER
How To KidPix II
Students practice using KidPix to create illustrations. In this visual arts lesson plan, students define key vocabulary words, such as "palette" and "toolbar" to familiarize themselves with the KidPix program. Students create...
Curated OER
How to Teach Geography with KidPix II
Students use the computer program KidPix II to color a map of the world. In this world map lesson plan, students fill in different colors for different continents that are told to them on the program KidPix II.