Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Progressive Era: Public Pressure and Government Actions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read sections of the novel, "The Jungle". They identify the problems of the meat industry during the Progressive Era. They discuss food concerns of today and make connections between the two time periods.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

QUIZ SHOW! What were you thinking? What did you say?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students participate in a game show to share the information they have uncovered about the US expansion policy and how it affected Native Americans.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What to Do with a $20 Bill Besides Spend It

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students explore the concept of anti-counterfeiting measure.  In this economics lesson, students use science equipment to discover anti-counterfeiting designs.  Students then explore other denominations of bills. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Ok, What's the Next Crisis?

For Students 8th - 12th
In this current events instructional activity, students analyze a political cartoon about recent world crises and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Department of Archives and History

Alabama's 1901 Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
"We, the People of the State of Alabama. . ." Did you know that the Alabama State Constitution has 357,157 words while the US Constitution has only 4,400? And that it has 798 amendments while the US Constitution has...
Lesson Plan
Bill of Rights Institute

The Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 8th - 10th Standards
Take classes on an in-depth tour of the Declaration of Independence. An informative resource effectively scaffolds learning by providing warm-up and wrap-up activities. It also includes a variety of handouts for individuals to complete,...
Lesson Plan
George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens

George Washington: Centerpiece of a Nation

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
A neat Presidents Day activity, this lesson provides a culminating learning experience for upper elementary aged learners. After analyzing George Washington's, "A Display of the United States of America," your learners will conduct...
Interactive
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Judicial Learning Center

Your 1st Amendment Rights

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Why should classes care about the First Amendment? An engaging lesson serves as a powerful tool for answering just that. As all four cases in the lesson relate directly to freedom of expression in schools, young scholars explore the...
Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Lost Hero: Was John Hanson Actually the First President?

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
The first president of the United States was ... John Hanson? Scholars investigate the notion that the initial leader of the nation was not George Washington. Using research, articles, and open discussion, individuals create a quest for...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: The Bush and Clinton Years

For Students 10th - 12th
Examine how the Bush and Clinton years are an example of political dynasties. This cartoon provides a way to explore the concept and activate critical thinking skills in order to better grasp U.S. Politics. A fun and educational way to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American History Through the Len of the Supreme Court Decisions

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students examine the historical background of Supreme Court decisions and the basic principles behind legislation. As part of the activity, students discover legal concepts and terms and write sentences using the vocabulary they have...
Worksheet
Bismarck Public Schools

Executive Branch Worksheet

For Students 5th - 12th Standards
Consider using this assessment on the executive branch of the United States Constitution to help you work backward and plan your curriculum accordingly. The worksheet covers who specifically holds the office of chief executive,...
Lesson Plan
C-SPAN

Should States Shift to Mail-In Voting during the Coronavirus Pandemic?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
With the coronavirus pausing many norms in American society, officials are trying to decide how to safely hold voting in the 2020 presidential election. Using curated video clips, including speeches from Congress, journalists, and...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Fracking: Positive or Negative Impact?

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Your teenagers may have heard of fracking, but do they really know what it is? And could they debate the benefits and risks? Educate your environmental science class with a lesson about hydraulic fracturing, non-renewable energy...
Lesson Plan
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Museum of the Moving Image

Understanding the Language of Political Ads

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The verbal techniques and emotional appeals contained in the language used in political ads plays a vital role in creating the impact of the ad. As class members continue their study of Presidential campaign commercials from 1952–2012,...
Worksheet
Reading Through History

Early History and Exploration Unit

For Students 8th - 12th Standards
We all know about Christopher Columbus, but who else explored the Americas, and specifically, the future United States of America? Learners find out these answers and more in a resource that includes four different reading sections,...
Website
American Museum of Natural History

Being an Archeologist: Chuck Spencer

For Students 6th - 12th
Meet Chuck Spencer, an archeologist who studies the Zapotec people who lived in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico over 2000 years ago. Spencer shares in print his response to questions posed by kids.
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Impacts of Climate Change

For Teachers 5th - 6th Standards
Scholars become experts on the eight major impacts of climate change through a jigsaw and grand conversation. They then research and present what they learned about effects specific to their region.    
Lesson Plan
Teaching American History

Interpretation of the Declaration of Independence

For Students 7th Standards
Ready to interpret the Declaration of Independence and understand its meaning? The resource divides scholars into pairs, where they work as a team to match translations with excerpts from the declaration. The class then engages in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Selection of Judges

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze documents to determine the steps taken in the selection of judges.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Panhandlers May Go Begging Elsewhere

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research what laws affect panhandlers in the community or nearest city, what other cities do about panhandlers and businesses, and what homeless advocate groups suggest is a humane solution. Students then create a presentation...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supreme Court Decisions and Their Effect On Us

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Consider five Supreme Court cases and how their outcomes have directly affected the American population. Government students research and compose a 1-2 page pager outlining the examples of our daily life that have specifically been...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Don't Flick Your Bic!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the ban on lighters in the airport and how it is being enforced. Individually, they create and conduct a survey on family members who smoke about this issue. Using the internet, they discover what airports are doing to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Requiring HPV vaccine

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the HPV vaccine and discover what it is supposed to do. In gropus, they consult with doctors and local health officials to discover the possible side effects of the vaccine and presents their findings to the class. They...