Curated OER
Capitals of Ohio
Fourth graders construct timelines of historic Ohio events and explain how it progressed from territory to state. They locate points of interest on a state map.
Curated OER
Statehouse: Fact or Fiction
Fourth graders determine whether or not statements about the Ohio statehouse are true or false. They examine the stories behind the myths about it. including one about the ghost of Abraham Lincoln.
Curated OER
Write As If...You Were There
Fourth graders use their imagination to create a story about being present when the Great Seal of Ohio was designed. They draw a picture of the Great Seal of Ohio.
Curated OER
Ohio's U.S. Presidents
Fourth graders investigate the state of Ohio's claim to be the "Mother of Presidents." Nine U.S. presidents were from the state and their contributions and terms of office are examined in this lesson.
Curated OER
Federal Court Systems and Court Cases
Ninth graders investigate the basis for the Common Law Tradition. They examine the organization of the Federal Court System and students identify the various sources of the American Law.
Curated OER
Personal History
Fourth graders gain an appreciation of knowledge about recent history by interviewing senior citizens. They summarize their interviews and organize them into a written presentation.
Curated OER
Write a Constitution
Fourth graders examine the United states Constitution and discuss the difficulties the framers faced in writing it. They explore ideas about the division of power, rights, and other topics contained in it.
Curated OER
Capitol vs. Capital
Pupils construct time lines to show the order of significant events in Ohio history. They explain how Ohio progressed from territory to statehood.
Curated OER
Discovering Democracy in Canada: Federal Perspectives
Tenth graders research one aspect of government. They teach their peers co-operatively about the key elements of Democracy in Canada at the Federal Level by giving group presentations.
Curated OER
It's All About Justice
Students examine a specific environmental concern to their local community. In groups, they explore how the justice system would deal with the problem by participating in a treasure hunt. They review the meaning of federal and state...
Curated OER
Scavenger Hunt
Learners participate in a scavenger hunt to gather information on their governmental officials. Using the internet, they identify and discuss the various political boundaries to determine who their representative is. They complete a...
Curated OER
Advice And Consent - the Senate Considers the President's Supreme Court Nominations
Students study the process and questioning for selecting a Supreme Court Justice. They examine how the decisions of the Supreme Court effect the lives of citizens. They complete worksheets as they study the material.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Legitimacy of the Judicial Branch: Lesson Overview
This lesson overview from Khan Academy discusses the legitimacy of the judicial branch. This lesson is intended for learners taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP Government course.
iCivics
I Civics: The Judicial Branch
Learners will learn about the federal and state courts and what they do. They will explore the courts' role in fairly settling disputes and administering justice, and the unique role of the U.S. Supreme Court in interpreting the U.S....
iCivics
I Civics: Mini Lesson: Executive Orders
Students discover how presidents use executive orders to wield power and how the legislative and judicial branches support and challenge these measures.
iCivics
I Civics: Judicial Branch in a Flash!
In this activity, students learn the basics of our judicial system, including the functions of the trial court, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. They also learn how a case moves up through these levels and discover that these...
iCivics
I Civics: Marbury v. Madison (1803)
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that affirmed the Court's power of judicial review. Students learn how Congress tried to add to the Supreme Court's Constitutional power, how the Supreme Court rejected...
iCivics
I Civics: Separation of Powers: What's for Lunch?
Students find out how the three branches of government interact with each other and how decisions about laws are made by several parts of the U.S. government.
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: How Constitution Used to Organize the New Govt [Pdf]
This lesson describes how, using the guidelines provided in the Constitution, the First Congress in April 1789 named the new president and vice president, provided funding for the new government, organized the executive branch, organized...
iCivics
I Civics: Judicial Review
This lesson explores the case that established the power the Supreme Court has today. Students will learn how the decision in Marbury v. Madison influenced the structure of the third branch, and how the Court's use of judicial review can...
iCivics
I Civics: Our Courts: Constitution Day Lesson: Checks and Balances [Pdf]
Students learn the roles and responsibilities of each branch of government and where the checks and balances are located in this role-playing lesson plan. Requires Adobe Reader.
iCivics
I Civics: Judges: Playing Fair
This mini-lesson examines the role of fair and impartial courts in American life. Students learn a basic overview of the judiciary branch, including how judges are appointed and held accountable by citizens.
National Cable Satellite Corporation
C Span Classroom: Free Resources for Teaching Civics and u.s. Government
This is a site filled with current events that make connections to the relevant historical topics. There are six clickable topics, the videos of which are updated weekly. RealPlayer is needed and registration is required to stream or...