Young scholars examine the advantages of being flexible when visiting or living in a different culture. They read and discuss a first-hand account by a Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan, and write a letter from the point of view of a...

Eleventh graders interpret and analyze political cartoons. In this primary source analysis lesson, 11th graders examine the implications of Industrialization as they respond to questions regarding selected political cartoons about the...

Learners examine the contributions of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson to American Independence. In small groups, they conduct Internet research, read and discuss primary source documents, and complete a chart.

Students investigate how successful they were in obtaining their goals in the Revolutionary War. The peace feelers of 1775 are examined and the reasons for the British rejection of them explored. the main provisions of the Treaty of...

High schoolers examine the controversies over slavery's expansion and how the federal tariffs further entrenched the dividing line between northern and southern interests.

Pupils learn basic facts about the Supreme Court by examining the United States Constitution and one of the landmark cases decided by that court.

High schoolers examine discrimination laws. In this racism lesson, students compare and contrast de facto and de jure discrimination. High schoolers also explore the Bill of Rights and determine what makes some acts and speech illegal.

Seventh graders examine how to be active participants in their local, state, or federal governments. They create a powerpoint presentation and write a letter to one of their governmental representatives about a problem and solution of...

Students examine the role of citizen journalism, freedom of the press, and the First Amendment. They analyze the results of an Internet survey, discuss the ethics of downloading copyrighted material on the Internet, and write a news story.

Students explore the beginning of the United Colonies that were formed in 1774.  In this history instructional activity, students discuss the Articles of Confederation and then answer questions about the events surrounding the...

Learners understand the purpose of the judicial branch of government. In this judiciary lesson, students participate in exercises to understand how the court system works. Learners complete activity sheets to develop understanding of...

Students learn about and discuss the important symbols that represent America. In this symbols lesson plan, students cut out pictures of the bald eagle, American flag, Liberty Bell, and more. They color them when they have them cut out.

Fourth graders analyze colonial rule and policies with regard to the causes of the American Revolution. For this Colonial America simulation lesson, 4th graders role play in an Independence Game, reacting to a variety of "events" that...

Middle schoolers create dictionary of terms for citizens of a democracy, using events and biographies from both their state's history and U.S. history.

Fifth graders portray one of the actual framers of the Constitution. They summarize each class period with a journal entry and culminate the experience with the actual framing and signing (or not signing) of the Constitution.

Students examine excerpts of Thomas Paine's Common Sense. In this early American history lesson, students read Paine's pamphlet and analyze the information according the rubric provided.

Students study Benjamin Franklin including who he was, what he invented and his experiment.  In this inventive lesson plan students follow the steps of Ben Franklin and build a Leyden jar.

High schoolers analyze the American Bill of Rights, compare it to the English Bill of Rights and note the differences in an essay. They access websites imbedded in this plan to do their research, then present their findings to the class.

Fifth graders complete an analysis of the Revolutionary War through literature. After "My Brother Sam Is Dead," students create a time capsule containing items that would be relevant during the Revolutionary War. They identify key...

Eighth graders investigate the role of South Carolina in the American Revolution. For this colonial American lesson, 8th graders analyze primary documents and images to determine how the state was involved in the outbreak of the war and...

Studnets compare example of primary documents that have shaped U.S. government and our Constitution.

The various peace proposals, made by both sides, to end the Revolutionary War come under scrutiny in this final lesson of a three-part series on the war. Class members read primary source documents and compare them with military...

After analyzing both examples and non-examples of a variety of protests conducted by ethnic groups in Seattle and the state of Washington during the twentieth century, your class members will work to identify the key ideas and...

America has always been seen as a melting pot to the world. Scholars research the concept of blending cultures in the United States and how it is changing over time. The final instructional activity of a four-part series analyzes the...