Curated OER
The Panic of 1837 And the Presidency of Martin Van Buren
High schoolers analyze period political cartoons as they study the causes of the Panic of 1837. They use primary sources to evaluate President VanBuren's response to the panic and public opinion of the results of his policies. Then...
Curated OER
How Women Got the Vote: The Story of Carrie Lane Chapman Catt
Students participate in a simulation and compare and contrast the arguments for and against womens' right to vote. In this civil rights lesson, students simulate disenfranchisement of women by allowing only half of the class to vote on a...
Curated OER
Congress and the Creation of the Bill of Rights
Learners participate in inquiry activities to explore powers outlined in the Bill of Rights. For this Bill of Rights lesson, students creation of a class Bill of Rights, evaluate and propose amendments, and analyze primary source...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Running on Renewables
Learners investigate the costs and benefits of switching their school to sustainable technology energy production. They use software called HOMER developed by the National Renewable Energy Lab to do the cost/ benefit analysis. They then...
Curated OER
Endangered!
Students research endangered species. In this ecology and literacy research lesson, students work with a partner to research an endangered species of their choice. Students choose from a variety of presentation methods and...
Curated OER
Rome: Republic to Empire
Sixth graders discuss the rise of Rome from a republic to a dictatorship. In small groups, they role-play as congress people debating whether or not to give the president more powers. In another activity, 6th graders produce television...
Curated OER
TB - Lusitania Day (1916)
Students, after brainstorming all the different types of propaganda, explore, analyze and study the nature, origin and purpose of propaganda and how its aims are achieved. They assess how the sinking of the Lusitania was manipulated by...
Curated OER
Where Do They Stand?
In this presidential election worksheet, students research the 2008 presidential candidates and create a booklet of candidate profiles that clearly differentiate each one. They also assume the identity of one of the candidates and hold a...
Curated OER
High Crimes and Misdemeanors
Students gather information about the meaning and process of impeachment through reading and discussion. Next, students role play hypothetical cases.
Curated OER
Making Good Decisions
Students analyze the consequences that result from their choices. In this good decision-making lesson, students listen to an article in the "Little Planet Times" and complete the associated worksheet. They participate in a role play in...
Curated OER
Build a Paper Plane
Students study the history of the paper plane. In this design lesson students create several types of paper planes and determine if there is a difference in mean flight distances.
Curated OER
"The Case of the Pilfered Pizza"
In this problem solving learning exercise, students read a 2 page math mystery involving pizza. Students use their mathematical skills to solve the mystery of finding out who was the pizza thief.
Curated OER
Students Press Law and Ethics
Learners research the rights and the responsibilities of journalists in dealing with First Amendment issues. In this First Amendment lesson plan, students research the Alien and Sedition Acts and study the five elements of...
Curated OER
Making Moths
Students study the Gregorian Calendar and its historical significance.In this calendar lesson students create a calendar design for an imaginary planet.
Curated OER
Critical Thinking & Writing: Brainstorming
Have your young writers organize their thoughts before writing. They generate ideas through various brainstorming activities prior to writing a mock feature news story for USA Today. A series of USA Today articles debating the level of...
Curated OER
Lesson 16: DNA Technology
Pupils research different areas of biotechnology. In this biology lesson, students create a presentation about their research. They debate the topic presented and share their views on the subject.
Curated OER
That's Your Side of the Story!
Twelfth graders discuss the elements of effective debating. they debate governmental issues after reseraching selected topics. With student permission, the debate may be videotaped for viewing to other classes or during open house.
Curated OER
Keep The Ball Rolling
High schoolers are introduced to new vocabulary associated with a topic of their choice. In partners, they are to keep the conversation going by using the new vocabulary and proper tenses. They are graded based on a rubric given to them...
Curated OER
Listening To a Guest Speaker
Pupils review the main points of note-taking to summarize the content of a formal or informal spoken presentation. They hear a guest speaker talk about a pre-arranged topic and take notes during the presentation. Next, they write a...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Kennewick Man: Science and Sacred Rights
"Have respect for the dead!" Scholars investigate how science and religion often clash. As they look into the laws of science and the laws of religion, the legal ramifications at the federal level of both play into an argument they...
Administrative Office of the US Courts
Morse v. Frederick
If you stop a student from expressing views that advocate drug use, are you violating their right to free speech? Use the 2007 Supreme Court case Morse v. Frederick to discuss a nuanced interpretation of the First Amendment....
Administrative Office of the US Courts
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
Freedom of speech is not always free. Scholars investigate how the First Amendment provides for the right to express opinions. Through the court case Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, they analyze free speech using primary documents—and hopefully...
Personal Genetics Education Project
Genetics, Jobs and Your Rights
Your class will read an overview of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, passed in 2008 and address the question of whether or not genetic information should be used to influence our career paths. In jigsaw style, they then are...