Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Beginnings of Constitutional Government

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students examine excerpts of Thomas Paine's Common Sense. For this early American history lesson, students read Paine's pamphlet and analyze the information according the rubric provided.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Online Lesson Political Parties, Platforms, and Planks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore historical political parties and their platforms. After studying the origins and functions of political parties, students create their own platform to address current issues. In groups, learners design an ad campaign...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Political Parties, Platforms, and Planks

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the origins and functions of political parties.  In this American Government lesson, 9th graders create a party platform to address political issues that are likely to arise during a national election. ...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Learning About Our Government

For Teachers 4th - 5th
learners about the organization of our nation's government. They are introduced to the three branches of American government and the responsibilities of each. They discuss the requirements for becoming President.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Judicial Review

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Student demonstrate understanding of both sides of the argument between Jefferson and Marshall that led to the strengthening of the Judicial Branch through the creation of judicial review. Unit is comprised of five lessons and fits into...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Emergence of the Judicial Branch

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students demonstrate understanding of both sides of the argument between Jefferson and Marshall that led to the strengthening of the Judicial Branch through the creation of judicial review.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Checks on Presidential Power

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine presidential powers. In this checks and balances lesson, students identify the constitutional and informal restraints of the president and consider the reasons for the limitations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paving the Road to the Constitution

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders assess the strengths and weaknessess of the Articles of Confederation as related to the United States and North Carolina. They demonstrate an argument for or against ratification of the United States Constitution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students engage in a variety of activities aimed at strengthening comprehension of the Constitution. The activities are part of a layered curriculum and students create a portfolio for assessment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

George to George

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use the internet to research the beginnings of the United States government. In groups, they examine the presidency of George Washington while they are guided along a museum tour. They end the lesson by discussing the changes...
Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Sheg: Reading Like a Historian: Federalists & Anti Federalists

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students solve a problem surrounding a historical question by reading primary source documents. This historical inquiry lesson allows students to read Federalist and Anti-Federalist positions from the...
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: The Anti Federalist Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents a user-friendly index of the Anti-federalist papers, leaflets and discussions in the Constitutional Congress. These items demonstrate how the Anti-Federalists saw the constitution as a threat to rights and...
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: The Federalist Debate

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The ratification debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists gives us insight into the ideas behind both sides and a better understanding of how our government developed in its early years.
Website
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Federalist No. 70

For Students 9th - 10th
This study resource from Khan Academy discusses the Federalist No.70. This information is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP Government course.
Unit Plan
CPALMS

Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Great Debate: Federalists vs. Anti Federalists

For Students 7th
In this tutorial, students learn about the viewpoints of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists in the debate about the Constitution. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Website
Teaching American History

Teaching American History: Federalist Antifederalist Debates

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive resource enriching studies of the debates over the new Constitution includes biographies, timelines, Federalists and Antifederalists.
Study Guide
Ohio Test Prep

Ohio Test Prep: Federalist Papers and Anti Federalist Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
Ohio test prepartion material provides three videos from which students compare the arguments of the federalists and anti-federalists.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Federalists & Anti Federalists

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Look at the debate and eventual compromise, between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists that occurred around the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
Graphic
University of Oregon

Intro to u.s. Politics: Anti Federalist and Federalist Models of a Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
In chart form, review the major differences between the political ideas of the Federalists and the Antifederalists, including a comparison on the nature of representation, sovereignty, legislative deliberation, governmental legitimacy,...
Activity
University of Chicago

The Founders' Constitution: Federal v. Consolidated Government

For Students 9th - 10th
This chapter introduction describes the historical context in which the issue of federalism was discussed by our nation's Founders. Discusses the Federalist and Anti-Federalist points-of-view.
Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

C3 Teachers: u.s. History Module: Did Founders Want Government to Work? [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A comprehensive learning module on the system of government established by the founders that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and primary source materials, followed by a summative performance task....
PPT
US National Archives

National Archives: Congress Creates the Bill of Rights Iia

For Students 9th - 10th
Ths is the second PDF is in the series Congress Creates the Bill of Rights. This part focuses on the debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists on questions surrounding passage of the Bill of Rights. Short biographies, pictures,...
Primary
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Archiving Early America: Jack Rakove and Original Meanings

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This interview with Pulitzer Prize Winner Jack Rakove about his book Original Meanings is very informative. He discusses the ideology of the framers of the US Constitution and the debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: James Madison: Proposed Amendments to Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
Text of James Madison's "Proposed Amendments to the Constitution," June 8, 1789. Madison states his reasons for the amendments in view of the anti-federalist feelings in many of the colonies. The proposal explains in Madison's own words...