Curated OER
American Deaf Culture: A History of Language
Young scholars examine the relationship between language and culture in the Deaf Community. They discover the history of sign language and how it has been viewed in the past. They examine the Deaf community's beliefs and values.
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Democracy…Not Yet!
Students analyze the concept of democracy. For this democratic values lesson, students analyze the lyrics of selected popular music that address issues that challenge the role of United States as a world leader. Students create exhibits...
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The Need for Government—A Cinematic and Literary Perspective
Students examine the philosophy of government. In this types of government lesson, students explore literature and movie clips to determine the value of rules in lawless societies.
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Lives, Fortunes, Sacred Honor
Students discover details regarding the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In this civics lesson, students read mini-biographies of some of the signers of the document. Students then create a model of one of the 10 signers.
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Looking into Careers: Doing What I Like and Liking What I Do
Students explore careers. In this service learning instructional activity, students consider the value of job satisfaction and explore non-traditional jobs related to animal welfare.
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Our National Documents
Students explore the significance of National Documents. In this National Documents lesson plan, students read handouts regarding the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Students complete the provided...
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With Liberty and Justice for All
High schoolers examine the role of Supreme Court justices. In this judicial branch lesson plan, students consider the civil rights and civil liberties as they investigate Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940) and West Virginia...
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Classroom Constitutional Convention
Learners investigate the eight phrases that comprise the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution to determine its principles and purpose. Their own Constitutional Convention is convened to craft a preamble for their school's governance.
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A Letter Read 'Round the World
Students examine primary document to examine the concept of free assembly, and analyze Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's letter to the clergy to explain the rationale for this tactic to advance civil rights.
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The Many Faces of Paul Robeson
Young scholars discuss and construct timelines based on the life of author/performer/Civil Right's activist, Paul Robeson. They view photographs of him at various times in his life and discuss the roles he may have been playing at those...
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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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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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Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits: Grades 3-5
Learners 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...
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Gandhi's Life and Guiding Principles
Second graders investigate philosophy by researching the life of Mahatma Gandhi. In this biographical instructional activity, 2nd graders listen to a reading of the book "Gandhi" and make a character map of his actions, feelings...
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Creating A Bill Of Rights In Space
Students define rights, analyze and apply the U.S. Bill of Rights to hypothetical situations, and create an Intergalactic Bill of Rights.
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CDV, CDV, What's a CDV?
Introduce your class to the Core Democratic Values. The instructional activity focuses on defining the Core Democratic Values and related terms. Small groups look up terms and present a song based on the information they've found. After...
Mikva Challenge
Why Vote?
Elections are supposed to represent the will of the people. So why don't 100% of registered voters line up at the polls on Election Day? High schoolers study the last few elections and the voter turnout for each, according to race,...
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Growing Into Public Service: William Howard Taft's Boyhood Home
Students 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.
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Civil Liberties and National Security
Young scholars identify the civil liberties outlined in the U.S. Bill of Rights and discuss the importance of these liberties in today's society. They research examples of when Congress has taken legislative action to protect national...
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Learning About the Civil Rights Movement Through Photographs
Students examine the racial inequality that existed in the United States before the Civil Rights Movement. After listening to song lyrics and viewing photographs, they discover the importance of the movement in helping society move...
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Civil Rights and the Michigan Supreme Court II
Students view a PowerPoint presentation on the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society's Civil Rights and/or the Native American Rights. They write a reaction paper and prepare for a class discussion. They work in groups and discuss...
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Philosophical Conflict and the Founding of New Societies: Gandhi and Nehru in India, and Jefferson and Hamilton in the United States
Students explore the foundations of "new societies" such as those created by figures like Jefferson & Ghandi, The evaluate the differences between what was intended and the actual reality of these societies including where the...
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In the Struggle for Equality and Justice for All
Students focus on the struggle for minorities rights. They describe the civil rights movement of the late 1950's and the 1960's. They trace the roots of the movement in the second-class treatment accorded many black Americans and...
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Perspectives on Civil Rights
Students examine speeches of the Civil Rights Era. In this American history lesson, students listen to speeches delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy. Students respond to guiding questions as they listen to the...