Curated OER
Can You Make a Difference?
Students write and present a speech. In this service lesson plan, students read an anecdote adapted from The Star Thrower and discuss their feelings about their ability to make a difference in the world. Students make a short speech...
Curated OER
Climate Change Challenge: Earth Day
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this environmental stewardship instructional activity, students watch a video about state policies pertaining to greenhouse gas emissions. Students plan and carry out an Earth Day service...
Curated OER
Holiday Help for U.S. Sevicemen Overseas
Young scholars research what is possible locally and online to provide support for U.S. troops overseas during the holidays. Students also discuss what they would need to do to collect money or other items or launch a writing project.
Curated OER
Citizenship Programme of Study for KS2
Young scholars discover ways to be active citizens. In this civics activity, students prepare for student body elections by creating election materials an writing manifestos. Young scholars also consider offering their services to local...
Curated OER
Many Hands Together Make a Lighter Load
Students participate in a community service project. In this philanthropy lesson plan, students read the book, Selavi, That is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope and identify the problem in the text. Students help families who are living in...
Curated OER
Growing Into Public Service: William Howard Taft's Boyhood Home
Pupils research the role that education, family values, and respect for civic duty played in forming the leadership skills of the Taft family. They list and examine jobs held by William Howard Taft before he became president.
iCivics
Responsibility Launcher
So how would pupils solve a town's problems? Using a video game, scholars tell residents of a town how to solve their problems by taking steps such as going back to school, voting, or serving in the military. As they make good choices,...
Curated OER
Changes in Draft Registration
Students evaluate the differences between the first draft registration and today's Selective Service form. They explore how changes in American society and culture influence changes in the draft system.
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Mapping Our Home
Students explore how communities participate in census counting. In this census lesson, students recognize the absolute and relative location of a state and understand ideas about civic life and government.
Curated OER
Mock Trial, A Service Activity
Students present a courtroom simulation demonstrating common good, decision making model, opportunity cost, limited resources, pursuit of happiness and civic writing.
Curated OER
Planning a Community Service Project
Students practice using a new language to plan a community event. In this civics lesson, students practice writing a proposal for a community project using their target language. Students brainstorm in small groups what their project...
Curated OER
Introducing Recycling
Students study environmental issues of excess garbage and learn about recycling. In this recycling lesson, students discuss recycling and read a story about too much garbage. Students write a persuasive essay about the importance of...
iCivics
Taxation
A paycheck stub can offer loads of information on the taxes American citizens pay. This resource not only includes analysis of a stub as an activity, but also provides a wealth of informative reading material on such topics as the...
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum
The Constitution
Three activities focus on the need to have rules. Young historians are first challenged to suggest rules for their classroom and then to create their own constitution that balances the need for freedoms and protections. The third...
Judicial Learning Center
The Judge and the Jury
Unless you are a lawyer, you might not understand just how unrealistic Law and Order and other legal dramas actually are. Here's a great resource to help scholars of criminology gain a more realistic perspective. The lesson outlines the...
Curated OER
Life Inspires Art Inspires Life
Students create philanthropic documentaries. In this philanthropy lesson, students collaborate to create a multimedia documentary regarding the community philanthropy work they took part in.
Curated OER
The Important Thing About Reading
Third through fifth graders discover the importance of reading and plan a service project to provide books to children. First, they read the book The Important Book and then they brainstorm about the importance of reading. Afterward,...
Speak Truth to Power
Harry Wu: Forced Labor
Over the course of two class periods, young historians explore human rights issues; specifically, forced labor in China. This resource provides everything you need, including relevant vocabulary, an anticipatory activity, and a...
Curated OER
Truth, Trash and Treasure
Middle schoolers investigate how democracy in the United States makes civic virtue possible. They examine the rights and responsibilities associated with democracy. In small groups, they create public service posters that highlight these...
Curated OER
Growing a Citizen
Learners analyze messages and values associated with civic engagement present in the media. They analyze the local community's promotion of values associated with civic engagement by conducting investigative research. They hypothesize...
Curated OER
Helping Ourselves: Why Philanthropy Works
Middle schoolers discover the concept of philanthropy. In this civics lesson, students investigate the role of philanthropy in our society, and how it makes life better for all.
Curated OER
By the People for the People
Students explore, using discussion, writing, and data collection, how different social factors affect civic participation and equality across the country and in their own school community.
Curated OER
The Role of American Embassies
Students examine services provided by US embassies abroad. They determine what US ambassadors and embassies do in relation to US foreign policy and the protection of American interests.
Curated OER
Participatory Citizenship
Learners explore U.S. politics by completing a class project. In this National policy lesson, students review and compare the National Service Act of 1990 and the Kennedy Service Act and the importance of service in the U.S.A. Learners...