Curated OER
Current Events and the Constitution
Understanding the Constitution is critical to helping students become valuable and engaged members of society.
Curated OER
Border to Border
Students use the Internet to gather information on the country of Mexico. They also discover the culture of their people and compare them with the United States population. They take a virtual tour of some of Mexico's most historical ruins.
National Constitution Center
Creating Your Own Town Hall Poster
Middle and high schoolers are walking into a world rife with strong political viewpoints and vocal opinions. Help to prepare them for controversial discussions with a lesson in which they choose, research, and learn more about a...
Curated OER
Put It In Print
Students research immigration reform and immigrant experiences in Indiana. They form their own opinions and voice them. They role-play editors and writers of a newspaper to get their information across.
Curated OER
Over the Borderline?
Young scholars study President Bush's proposal for immigration policy in the US and examine various perspectives on immigration that are currently being debated. They read and discuss an online New York Times article.
Curated OER
American History: Finding your Voice
Students are able to write a speech and create a slogan through analysis of current issues articles dealing with pesticide use. They put themselves in the position of one of the workers affected by the story they read.
NPR
Civil Rights of Japanese-American Internees
Prompted by a viewing of Emiko and Chizu Omori’s Rabbit in the Moon, a documentary about the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, high schoolers examine a series of documents, including the Bill of Rights and the UN’s...
Curated OER
Latin America and United States Policy Today
Students compare the situation of Latin American immigrants with the situation of immigrants from other areas of the world. They use media to obtain information on topics of academic interest, personal interest, and intellectual interest.
Curated OER
Social Studies 11: Canada
You'll find questions regarding government, immigration, ethnic issues, suffrage, and turn-of-the-century history to complement any lesson on Canada. There are 17 questions in need of full-paragraph answers. A great resource to finish a...
Curated OER
American Minority Groups
Explore the contributions individuals have made in the lives of American minority groups. Twelfth graders write a five-page expository piece providing a social history, examples of discrimination, and patterns of assimilation for an...
Curated OER
History of American Child Labor
Learners study the historical and social issue of child labor. They examine the photographs of Lewis Hine to see evidence of child labor and decide how the photographs depict the historical impact of the practice. They write a letter to...
Curated OER
Calling Names
Students explore how language shapes debate by researching the names and tags both advocates and opponents use when discussing a topical issue. For homework, they create name collages and write prose poems.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Refugees: International Law and U.S. Policy
Discover the ways America has opened its borders to international refugees, and the ways other countries have been more or less welcoming, with an informational passage about United States and international policies on refugees. After...
Curated OER
Mock Standing Committee
Students participate in standing committees to explore controversial issues. They research the issue in order to develop a perspective on the topic.
Curated OER
Refugees: International Law and U.S. Policy
Students explore refugee policies. In this international law and U.S. policy lesson, students examine the U.S. policy on refugees between 1950 and 1980 as well as the current policy. Students examine the compliancy of international laws...
Curated OER
America's Future Culture
Seventh graders research the past and present policies in the United States regarding immigration. As a class, they read "Immigration Timeline" to examine the various groups who came to America for a better life. To end the lesson,...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Herblock at 100
In this current events learning exercise, students analyze political cartoons by Herb Block and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
All Access Spotlight: U2
Learners listen to songs from the group U2 to examine civil rights issues.
Curated OER
In Praise of Political Parties
Students research a political party and prepare a report about its history, philosophy, and the party's position regarding two major political issues. They complete a variety of additional creative activities regarding their party, as well.
Curated OER
Burning Hatred
Students examine the constitutionality of various forms of expression; they then take part in a mock trial on the issue of cross burning. Divide the class into three groups; Supreme Court Justices, and two groups that don't agree on this...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Drawing English into the Spotlight
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about the English-language debate and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Charisma vs. Experience
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about the 2008 Presidential election and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
Our Changing Voices
Twelfth graders examine their role in society. They search primary documents and assemble a family album.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Options for Affecting Public Policy
Letter-writing, e-mail and telephone campaigns, petitions, marches, meetings, with lawmakers. Options for influencing elected representatives are the focus of resource that details how to craft each of these approaches to influencing...