Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chicago Tribune vs. US (1942): When Does Freedom of the Press Go Too Far?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students define freedom of the press in peace and war time. As a class, they identify the need for the public to be informed, but discuss where the line should be drawn to protect national security. They develop their arguments and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Down Low Talk Show

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine popular fashion trends and their personal tastes in clothing styles. They explore the legislation and controversy over wearing pants too low by reading and discussing the article "Are Your Jeans Sagging? Go Directly to...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: The Right to Know vs. Government Secrecy

For Students 8th - 12th
In this current events worksheet, students analyze political cartoons about government secrecy and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: The Competition of Ideas

For Students 8th - 12th
In this current events learning exercise, learners analyze political cartoons based on anti-American sentiments. Students respond to 4 talking point questions
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Nothing is More Patriotic Than Social Criticism

For Students 8th - 12th
In this historical events worksheet, students analyze political cartoons that feature social criticism. Students respond to 2 talking point questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons in the Classroom: Drawn to Freedom

For Students 8th - 12th
In this current events worksheet, students analyze political cartoons that feature the free exchange of ideas and government criticism. Students then respond to 2 short answer questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Liberty vs. Security

For Students 8th - 12th
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about civil liberties and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Freedom of Religion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use this lesson to focus on the freedom of religion. In groups, they discuss how the separation of church and state applies to the public schools across the country. They compare and contrast the establishment and free exercise...
Activity
Novelinks

Tuck Everlasting: Titles for Chapters

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
High schoolers synthesize the information they've learned from each chapter of Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting with a creative summarizing activity. With a graphic organizer for all of the book's chapters, readers title...
Website
Independence Hall Association

American History: From Pre-Columbian to the New Millennium

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Need an online resource to supplement the paper textbook in your classroom? An all-encompassing website covers historical events throughout the last half of the second millenium, leading right up to the third. From the pre-Columbian...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Rock the Vote! But When?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research and examine about voting turnouts in the United States and around the world. They assess about various aspects of the so-called "youth vote," and have an opportunity to consider the meaning of the vote in a...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

The Flying Inauguration of the "Sudden President

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students study the inauguration process as well as what the constitution states about who succeeds the President of the US when the office is emergently vacant. They discuss the role of government and the events leading to Lyndon...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Playing the Part of the Potter

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars identify and define horror vacui (fear of empty spaces) and create their own pinch pot vessels with no empty spaces.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get to Know Your Bill of Rights

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders research and examine the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America. They sequence events significant to this time period, read and discuss text, and in small groups prepare and present the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bill of Rights Day

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine and identify the values and purposes of the Bill of Rights. They complete a class KWL chart, participate in a class jigsaw activity, write and illustrate a book about the first ten amendments, participate in a mock...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Star Spangled Banner

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students use the Internet to discover the basic information about the American Flag. They explore how to fold a flag and which holidays to use the flag. They compare Betsy Ross's flag to the ones of today. They discover the story of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The U.S. Constitutional Tradition

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students study the Constitution and then in an interactive group activity create a "Second Constitutional Convention" specifically designed to evaluate and trim down the number of amendments.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Bill of Rights Day

For Students 8th - 12th
For this current events worksheet, learners analyze a political cartoon about the Bill of Rights and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voting

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars investigate the importance of voter participation while examine gender bias in voting situations. They design a campaign aimed at increasing voter participation after experiencing an activity which only allows the boys in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rome: Republic to Empire

For Teachers 6th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine Miranda v. Arizona. In this court decisions lesson, students analyze the self incrimination case and read other supplemental articles about police procedures and due process. Students discuss the Supreme Court decision...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kensington Mansion: Plantation, Sharecroppers, Tenants

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders investigate the significance of the Kensington Mansion. In this South Carolina history lesson, 11th graders take field trips to the mansion and research primary and secondary sources about plantations, sharecropping, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore rules of conduct in a political body, first drafting rules that apply to their classroom, then adapting them to political actions in Congress.
Interactive
Curated OER

Society in the 1950s (5)

For Students 8th - 12th
In this online interactive American history worksheet, students respond to 8 matching questions regarding 1950's America. Students may check their answers immediately.