Curated OER
Civil Service Reform: Senate Debates
High schoolers examine the 1883 Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. They discuss the spoils system, answer discussion questions, read and analyze speeches, complete a worksheet summarizing their findings, and report their findings to the...
Newseum
Civil Rights: The Five Freedoms
After a close reading of the First Amendment and the five freedoms it guarantees, class members examine the civil rights timeline to see how civil rights groups applied these freedoms to create change. Using the issue the class chose in...
Curated OER
Civil Service Reform: Campaign Contributions
High schoolers investigate the campaign contribution scandal in Illinois during the 1990s. They listen to a teacher-led discussion, answer discussion questions, compare/contrast two reform acts, and write their own civil service law.
Curated OER
Civil Service Reform: Senate Debates
Eleventh graders outline civil service reform proposals made by Senators during debates on Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. They interpret 1883 Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act to see if it incorporated Senators' proposals or...
US House of Representatives
Keeping the Faith: African Americans Return to Congress, 1929–1970
The third instructional activity in a unit that traces the history of African Americans serving in the US Congress examines the period from 1929 through 1970. After reading a contextual essay that details the few African Americans...
National Park Service
Teaching with Historic Places: Discover the Jackie Robinson Ballpark
Can sports and popular culture change public opinion? That's the essential question asked by a lesson plan that looks at the role Jackie Robinson's appearance at City Island Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida played in the desegregation...
Curated OER
1856-1865: Abolitionists and the Civil War
Middle schoolers discover philanthropic acts of the Civil War era. In this service learning instructional activity, students research Underground Railroad literature, Reconstruction Amendments, and acts of philanthropy during the Civil...
Curated OER
Civil Rights Leaders; Past and Present
Young scholars explore the concept of social justice. In this Civil Rights lesson, students fulfill the Rubric for Historical Research requirements as they conduct research on a Civil Rights or Anti-Apartheid Movements leader.
Curated OER
Civil Disobedience Action Plan
High schoolers investigate incidences of civil disobedience. In this civil disobedience lesson, students watch a video and read a newspaper article on civil disobedience. Then, in groups, they search a current newspaper for examples of...
Curated OER
Participatory Citizenship
Students 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. Students...
Curated OER
Political Reform in the Late 1800s
Eleventh graders examine the type of political reform in the 1800s. In groups, they analyze the Pendleton Civil Service Act and two other economic acts. To end the lesson plan, they take a quiz and discuss the impact of the acts on the...
Curated OER
Transcontinental Railroad
Eleventh graders explain the development of the American West following the Civil War. They also explore the Homestead Act of 1862 and the Pacific Railway Act of 1862. They also participate in a simulation about the American West.
Curated OER
Growing Like Dr. King
Learners explore American History by reading biographical material. In this civil rights lesson, students read information about Martin Luther King Jr. and his successful demonstrations which led to equal rights for African Americans....
Curated OER
Carve That Mountain
Learners investigate major landforms (e.g., mountains, rivers, plains, hills, oceans and plateaus). They build a three-dimensional model of a landscape depicting several of these landforms. Once they have built their model, they act as...
Curated OER
Just a Spoonful of Rights Makes the Responsibility Go 'Round
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. For this service learning lesson, students define rights and responsibilities. Students discuss the role of philanthropy in contributing to the common good. They also review historical...
Curated OER
The Language of Human Rights
Did you know that there are 15.2 million refugees in the world? High schoolers will read "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights" and learn how they can get involved to lower this surprising number. To really encourage involvement,...
Curated OER
Just-Us and Kindness: A Voice for Children: King Day
Eighth graders investigate philanthropy. In this service learning instructional activity, 8th graders read human rights literature and use information gleaned to discuss children's rights around the world. Students discuss scenarios...
Curated OER
Tolerance and Non-Violence in Civil Society
High schoolers explore the concept of philanthropy. In this Oklahoma City bombing lesson, students submit public responses to the event in order to consider how the tragedy prompted a positive reaction. Extension activities are included.
Curated OER
These Honored Dead: The Battle of Rivers Bridge and Civil War Combat Casualties (94)
Students write creative accounts of the Battle at Rivers Bridge after studying historic accounts and looking at images in this series of activities.
Curated OER
C¿¿sar Ch¿¿vez, Organizes the Farm Workers Association - Act I, Scene I "The House Meeting"
Eleventh graders analyze the development of federal civil and voting rights for minority groups. In groups, they discuss how Cesar Chavez organized the farm workers and the techniques he used when protesting. They define and practice...
Curated OER
Sectionalism and the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Students define and discuss sectionalism and popular sovereignty, analyze impact of popular sovereignty in creation of state of Kansas, compare issues in territorial Kansas to current politically divisive topic, and evaluate primary...
Curated OER
Rosa Parks
Young scholars explore the life and works of Rosa Parks. In this Civil Rights lesson, students consider Rosa Parks' work as a philanthropist. Young scholars then write a letter to someone that they admire for making a difference.
Curated OER
Big Words
Young scholars discover philanthropy. In this philanthropic lesson, students read Martin's Big Words and explore voluntarily being nice to people. Young scholars discover how they may perform acts of service for others. Extension...
Curated OER
Fugitive from Labor Cases:
Learners examine the cases of Henry Garnett and Moses Honner, both of the 1850s. Students analyze the political climate building up to the Civil War through the lens of these similar cases with different outcomes.