Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: What Responsibilities Accompany Our Rights?
These are discussion topics to incorporate into your lesson on rights and responsibilities of citizens. Features questions to encourage debates or essay ideas. Also includes lesson plans.
Read Works
Read Works: Who Are We?
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about civics and why it is important for Americans to know about their country's history. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Making Civics Real: Controversial Public Policy Issues
This set of lesson plans contains background information on the teacher and school featured in the one hour video Workshop 7: Controversial Public Policy Issues.
Read Works
Read Works: Power of Americans
[Free Registration/Login Required] An excerpt form a speech given by President Ronald Reagan at the Republican National Convention in 1988. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
University of North Carolina
American Self Government: The First & Second Continental Congress [Pdf]
Looks at the significant events and decisions of the First and Second Continental Congresses that piloted the movement towards self-government.
iCivics
I Civics: Korematsu v. United States (1944)
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that determined the government acted constitutionally when it detained people of Japanese ancestry inside internment camps during World War II. Students learn what...
iCivics
I Civics: Foundation Basics
In this lesson, students are introduced to the concepts of authority, legitimacy, and sovereignty and consider how governments establish and maintain these foundational characteristics.
iCivics
I Civics: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association (1988)
This mini-lesson examines the Supreme Court case that pitted the interests of government economic projects against the religious rights of American Indians. Young scholars learn about the religious protections of the First Amendment's...
iCivics
I Civics: Benjamin Franklin Mini Lesson
"The First American", Benjamin Franklin, is the only Founding Father that signed all three major documents that founded the United States of America. Students explore the many roles he took during the founding of America.
iCivics
I Civics: A Dive Into Democracy
The Founding Fathers had many influences. Discover how aspects of Athenian democracy shaped the structure and ideals of the U.S. government.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Writing in u.s. History: The Bill of Rights
Explore why the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution and its enduring impact on defining our rights. In this interactive lesson from WGBH, students develop a written argument in response to the question "How does the Bill of...
iCivics
I Civics: Jim Crow
Use primary documents and images to discover the ways state and local governments restricted the newly gained freedoms of African Americans after the Civil War. Compare, contrast, and analyze post-war legislation, court decisions...
iCivics
I Civics: Anatomy of the Constitution
This lesson gives an article-by-article overview of the structure and function of the U.S. Constitution. Students learn about the duties and powers of the three branches, the amendment process, and the role of the Constitution as the...
Other
Dirksen Center: Why Is It Important to Vote?
A basic right in a democracy. We know we should vote, but does our vote mean anything? Good answers to some good questions. This site provides many classroom resources.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Federalist No. 78
This resource from Khan Academy includes the full text of Alexander Hamilton's Federalist No. 78, one of the Federalist Papers. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Unit: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
This unit from Khan Academy provides many video lessons and quizzes over topics connected to civil liberties and civil rights. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Your America: Democracy's Local Heroes: Teacher's Guide
Inspire civic awareness, promote student activism and examine the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship by exploring stories of how ordinary citizens accomplished extraordinary changes.
Ohio Test Prep
Ohio Test Prep: Module 5: Role of the People
Test preparation material includes video tutorial, interactive review, and assessment for students taking Ohio state test in Social Studies. Students review how the government of the United States protects the freedoms of its people and...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Your America: Democracy's Local Heroes: Student Guide
Investigate the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship focusing on examples of citizens who took action to effect positive changes. Explore ways in which students can become involved in their communities.
Read Works
Read Works: Branching Out
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about three branches of government and their system of checks and balances. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in classifying and categorizing.
Read Works
Read Works: Meet the Judge!
[Free Registration/Login Required] An biographical text about Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic American Supreme Court Justice. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Celebrate Flag Day
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the American flag and Flag Day. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: The Struggle for Equality
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about heroic African Americans including Rosa Parks, Langston Hughes, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, and Barbara Jordan. A question sheet is available to help students build...
Read Works
Read Works: Born to Run
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating the necessity of Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution which states that only natural-born American citizens can be elected President of the United States. A question...