Students examine and analyze various excerpts from documents of freedom such as Magna Carta and Virginia Declaration of Rights, identify how documents influenced each other, and discuss ideas and rights necessary to build representative...

Students examine one woman's impact on a nation. In this suffragette instructional activity, students are introduced to Elizabeth Cady Stanton and examine her involvement in both the anti-slavery and woman's movement. Students compare...

Students examine the significance of the 8/30/99 vote in East Timor, which determined the territory's independence from Indonesian rule, by analyzing an NYT article to explain actions/reactions.

Students examine what they know about American Indians past and present, then research key issues facing American Indian tribes today. To synthesize their learning, students write letters taking the perspective of an American Indian.

While the Constitutional Convention lay the foundation of the new government for the United States, the protections given under the Bill of Rights were controversial. Using documents, such as James Madison's and Thomas Jefferson's...

Eighth graders identify the main ideas of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. They read and discuss text, read and summarize a section of the Declaration of Independence in small groups, and write a paper on why the colonists felt it...

Students discover details regarding the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In this civics lesson plan, students read mini-biographies of some of the signers of the document. Students then create a model of one of the 10 signers.

Students investigate how American colonists felt they would be impacted by conflict with the British. In this colonial America lesson plan, students examine the Declaration of Independence, papers from the Committees of Correspondence,...

Students read primary documents to find the motivations of the founding fathers of the United States. For this primary documents lesson, students discuss the meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution, read parts of the Constitution...

Students research the symbols of America, present their research to the class, write a paper about being an American and write their own Declaration of Independence.

Students review George Washington's reasons for not wanting to be viewed as a monarch. They review the Declaration of Independence and identify five grievances the United States had against the British monarchy. In groups, students...

In this Enlightenment influence study guide worksheet, students read 5 quotes from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution and then respond to 5 reflection questions.

High schoolers take a close look at the foundations of American government. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students analyze the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution. High schoolers...

Learners explore the meaning of freedom.  In this U.S. History activity, students research the Declaration of Independence and how it relates to American freedom by completing activities and a mock trial.

Students explore the significance of National Documents. In this National Documents lesson, students read handouts regarding the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Students complete the provided...

In an engaging activity on universal and unalienable rights, learners work in groups to establish a democratic nation and determine what principles they want to protect to ensure a democratic society. They conduct a "rights auction" in...

Fourth graders explore U.S. history by creating a timeline of the Colonial era. In this American Revolution instructional activity, 4th graders identify and discuss the conflicts that led to the revolution and list ways people deal with...

Students analyze a copy of the Declaration of Independence to discover how it was adopted, approved, and signed. The tone and style of the document are analyzed for intention through an exploration its the language and vocabulary.

Eighth graders participate in a instructional activity that focuses on the study of the Declaration of Independence. The freedoms outlined in the document are discussed. Students make connections between philosophy and the writing of the...

Students discuss the Declaration of Independence and the violation of those rights in colonial times. They compare it with the Declaration of Sentiments and why women felt their rights were being violated. They write their own personal...

Fifth graders read a rewritten version of the Declaration of Independence, create a set of pictures illustrating the Preamble of the Constitution and create a version of the Declaration of Independence in the form of a song, a poem,...

Young historians research the debate over slavery; some students take the pro-slavery side and others the anti-slavery side. They take the role of a character such as a plantation owner, a legislator, a free Black, a slave, or a northern...

Students read excerpts from several Freedom Documents, evaluate amount of freedom guaranteed by each document, and rank documents on scale to determine which grant greatest and least amount of personal freedom.

Students complete a unit of lessons on the documents, symbols, and famous people involved in the founding of the U.S. government. They create a personal bill of rights, write a found poem, design a flag, conduct research, and role-play...