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Mapping Our Home
Students explore how communities participate in census counting. In this census lesson, students recognize the absolute and relative location of a state and understand ideas about civic life and government.
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Racism: Law and Attitude
Young scholars examine discrimination laws. In this racism lesson, students compare and contrast de facto and de jure discrimination. Young scholars also explore the Bill of Rights and determine what makes some acts and speech illegal.
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Portraits Of Power: American Presidents
Learners discover the responsibilities of the presidency. In this U.S. government lesson, students watch "Portraits Of Power: American Presidents," and then compose essays regarding the citizens' relationship to the presidency.
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The Young Faces of Poverty
Students explore the topic of child poverty in the United States and the government's responses to it in different areas and through different programs and laws. They share their thoughts in letters to their Congressional representatives.
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The Declaration of Independence
Students identify and examine the Declaration of Independence and ascertain its true intent and its eventual realization. Then they analyze the Declaration of Independence and summarize the intentions of the Declaration. Students also...
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Oil Dependency Among Nations
Students research oil dependency amongst different nations in the world. In this oil dependency lesson plan, students use maps to locate oil sources, consider government actions on oil, and predict U.S. oil dependency.
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Donkeys and Elephants and Voters, Oh My!
Students celebrate party politics. In this American politics lesson plan, students discover what the 2 main political parties in the country are and discuss their functions. Students then participate in a classroom simulation that...
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Economics Concepts
Learners relate economics and government policies. In this lesson, students explore the relationship between economics and government policies. They understand how the economy works and can make better decisions as it relates to the future.
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Life Savers?: Exploring Ethical Dilemmas Regarding AIDS Treatment in South Africa
Students participate in a roundtable forum to discuss the notion of defying South African national government policies in order to fight AIDS after reading the online article, "A Bold Move on AIDS in South Africa."
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Public I or Private I
Students explore the topic of national identity cards in the United States as a starting point in determining what types of information should be publicly accessible to the government and private industry about specific individuals.
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O Canada
Young scholars examine the history of Canadian settlement through an interactive program. They learn why some parts of the country where more heavily populated than others. They discover what life is like for a Canadian and their...
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Protecting the Environment Through Civic Activism
Students discuss how to protect the environment through civic activism. They watch a video about someone who stood up to the government to protect the environment. They also identify something in their community that could be improved.
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The Bill of Rights And Japanese Internment
Students review the Bill of Rights. They interpret how the American Government violated these rights with regard to Japanese Americans during World War II. They write down the violations of the Bill of Rights during Japanese ...
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Acting Legally
Learners analyze potential challenges that immigrant women have in the workforce. In this history lesson, students identify specific problems immigrant women face, then brainstorm possible solutions in their group. The final...
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Editorial Cartoon Lesson Plan
Students consider the role of editorial cartoons on American politics. In this editorial cartoons lesson, students discover the history of the cartoons in America, analyze some cartoons, and then draw their own cartoons that make social...
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Liberty for Libya?
Students create a country profile on Libya in order to consider the viability of a transition to a democratic government.
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In His Own Words: James Madison On the Problem of Faction
Students are introduced to the writings of James Madison and explain why he is often called "The Father of the Constitution". Using primary source documents, they examine his view of the Bill of Rights and what he meant by faction. In...
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Death and Taxes
Students explore the "death tax" and analyze statistical information about how the government taxes dead people. They research sources to determine the validity of a anti-tax group campaign and John McCain's claims about taxes. ...
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Building a Human Rights Document
Students identify the issue of basic human rights, examine the importance of the UDHR, and compare it to United States Bill of Rights. They create a definition of human rights as a class. Students are divided into groups of four and...
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The Civil Rights Movement
Students analyze the tensions that existed in American society during the Civil Rights Era as well as the problems that children experienced. They evaluate editorial cartoons dealing with the American Civil Rights movement to view the...
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History of the American West
Ninth graders research early mining in California. They study the "placer method" for mining gold, which is surface mining that does not involve tunneling. They examine what it was like for the early miners to pan for gold with...
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Respect for Authority
Students examine the country of Mongolia and how it is trying to form a democracy. As a class, they participate in a class meeting about a new class rule and they voice their opinions. They read excerpts of a letter of a Peace Corps...
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Community Foundations and Procedure
Students understand what a community foundation is and how it gets input from the community. In this community foundation lesson, students form an advisory board to give suggestions. Students learn procedures to hold meetings to agree on...
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Turning the Century
Students examine the Gilded Age. In this Gilded Age lesson, students create a museum of their own showing what life was like in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Students investigate immigration, settlement and how these...