iCivics
Why Government?
Why do people create governments? Where did we get our ideas about government? This is a fantastic introductory lesson for your American government class that begins by reviewing the philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke in...
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How Man Negotiates Away His Natural Freedom
Young scholars recognize that our legal-political system hasdeveloped through a process of moving from philosophical ideals to compromised working models. They apply John Locke's views to the development of U.S. political theory and...
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Locke v. Hobbes
In this Hobbes and Locke study guide worksheet, students respond to 18 short answer questions. The questions correlate to assigned readings in a textbook.
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Quotes by Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire
In Enlightenment quotations study guide worksheet, students read quotations and identify the speakers as Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Peter the Great, Copernicus, Louis XIV, Galileo, Harvey, Kepler , Frederick the Great, or...
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The Visions of Locke and Hobbes
In this visions of Locke and Hobbes study guide worksheet, students read the notes provided regarding government and add notes of their own.
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Why do we need a Government
Students explore some of the ideas of major importance to the Founders, why we need a government, and how the Founders believed governments should be created and what they should do. They think of a right that all people should have and...
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How Does Government Secure Natural Rights?
Students explain why a government with a constitution is not necessarily a constitutional government, and identify alternative models of government that the Founders had to choose from.
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Separation of Powers
Eighth graders explore and explain the responsibilities and limits of our national system of government. After reading various selections documenting the viewpoints of the federalists and anti-federalists and the separation of power,...
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How Man Negotiates Away His Natural Freedom
Students recognize that our legal-political system has developed through a process of moving from philosophical ideals to compromised working models.
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Politics and Leadership
Young scholars research a historic leader and analyze how a philosopher's writings influenced the ruler in an essay. In this philosophy of government lesson plan, students view a video and participate in a class discussion on how great...
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Age of Enlightenment
Studnets compare example of primary documents that have shaped U.S. government and our Constitution.
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Why Do We Need a Government?
Students are introduced to the basic concepts of the natural rights philosophy. After being introduced to the concept of natural rights, students are asked to speculate on what might be the benefits and problems of living in a state of...
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Survival
Students study the significance and impact of the Constitution on everyday life. They examine the ideas that influenced the creation of the Constitution. They study the philosophies of Locke and explore the state of nature philosophy.
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ROAD TO REVOLUTION
Pupils explain how England's Glorious Revolution affected the colonies and investigate how the Great Awakening and Enlightenment affected the colonies. Students determine how the outcome of the French and Indian war affected N. America...
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The Drafts of the Declaration of Independence
Seventh graders compare drafts of the Declaration of Independence. In this primary source analysis lesson, 7th graders access copies of Thomas Jefferson's original draft of the document and compare it the final document that gave birth...
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Revolution! Freedom for All?
Twelfth graders examine the causes of freedom by revolutionary patriots. In this Civics and Economics lesson plan, 12th graders analyze primary sources. Students work cooperatively to write a freedom declaration for their group.
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The Declaration of Independence
Students reflect on the Declaration of Independence. In this U.S. History lesson plan, students read the Declaration of Independence then complete an activity and worksheet on the topic.
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Writing a Classroom Constitution
Twelfth graders go through the process of writing a classroom constitution and then compare their process to that followed by the framers of the U.S. Constitution.
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Honoring Property Rights
Learners examine the issue of cheating. In this property rights lesson plan, students define honor and discuss intellectual property rights as they explore a case study.
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The Glorious Revolution, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution
Students relate the Glorious Revolution, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution through web based research and scenarios.
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Case Study - American Revolution 1775-1781
In this American Revolution case study worksheet, students read a brief overview pertaining to the time period in American history and then respond to 2 short answer questions.
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Writing a Classroom Constitution
Students work together to write a Constitution for their classroom. As a class, they discuss the need for laws and how the concept of compromise is important. In groups, they compare the process they used for writing the Constitution...
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Measuring Citizenship
Twelfth graders explore citizenship. They discuss what makes a person a citizen of a country. Students examine the differences between resident aliens and naturalized citizens. They discuss the process for becoming a citizen and decide...