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 plan, 9th graders create a party platform to address political issues that are likely to arise during a national...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

the World Rushed In: "Who Are These People? And How Came They Here?"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the struggles Californians dealt with regarding diversity brought about by the Gold Rush. They participate in a variety of creative, original activities and projects designed to reinforce the idea of historical diversity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deerfield Debates Its Future: What Constitutes Progress?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the many resources that one can use to explore a community, the Colonial Revival movement, and how the industry and technology reshaped life in Deerfield the Connecticut River Valley.
Activity
Constitutional Rights Foundation

The Election of 1912

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
The Election of 1912: an election with four competitive opponents. Pupils get to know the candidates with informative reading passages that provide context to the election. Then, the class engages in a debate and answers questions as one...
Activity
Beverly Hills High School

French Revolution Word Bank

For Students 9th - 12th
Vive la résistance! Provide young historians with a list of important people and events during the French Revolution and Napoleonic periods.
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Refugees From Vietnam and Cambodia

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The United States may have pulled its troops from the Vietnam War in 1973, but the conflict was far from over for the citizens living in Asia at the time. An informative resource lets learners know about the wave of over 220,000...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adventures in the Alaska Economy Today: Enduring Understandings

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students research the campaign to win statehood for Alaska and the constitution which was in place before statehood was approved.
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

King Cotton

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the cotton plant. In this cotton lesson, 5th graders research the process of growing cotton. Students explore the economic and cultural differences in the states that grew cotton for trade and industry.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

JFK, LBJ, and the Fight for Equal Opportunity in the 1960s

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the presidencies and John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. In this American history lesson, students specifically analyze the civil rights support of the 2 presidents and their support of civil rights legislation....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Secure is Social Security?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the Social Security System including its history, benefits, funds, problems, and its future.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ben Franklin and the Rising Americans

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students prepare for and learn through a walking tour of Philadelphia. In this history lesson, students support their studies with a field trip. This lesson could be adapted to suit regions with other historic places or museums. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Push/Pull factors in Immigration

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Learners explore the push/pull factors experienced by immigrant families. They interview a parent and an American about their family's immigration history. Students write a summary of the interview and compare the push/pull factors of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Overview of Japanese War Crimes of the Sino-japanese War And World War Ii

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders discuss the definition of a war crime and what the Germans did to the Jews during WWII that constituted a war crime. The analyze the results of political, economic, and social oppression and the violation of human rights.
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Refugees: International Law and U.S. Policy

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Discover the ways America has opened its borders to international refugees, and the ways other countries have been more or less welcoming, with an informational passage about United States and international policies on refugees....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meet the Press: American Presidents

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this presidential history instructional activity, students research the accomplishments of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Frankiln D....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Perseverance

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine how the failure of Reconstruction led to the systematic passage of Jim Crow laws in states across the South and the negative impact these laws had on the growth and development of the US.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Share in America

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine map - reflect on why English colonist kept coming to America (scarcity of land in England / seemingly endless land in America) Recite line from English poem. They discuss English attitude towards Indians and their lands.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What price Freedom! Civil War and Reconstruction

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders become familiar with the events of Reconstruction and the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. In this reconstruction lesson, 5th graders work in pairs where each student  creates a building with blocks and draws it. Their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Articles of Confederation

For Teachers 8th
The purpose of this instructional activity is to assist students in discovering the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the foundation for creation of the United States Constitution. Students will investigate the events...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prohibition Then; MADD Today

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine consumer traits. For this economics lesson, students examine the separate histories of Prohibition and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Middle schoolers participate in a classroom simulation to discover how the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Robert Smalls: Warrior and Peacemaker

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars research the events that led to the Civil War and the Reconstruction. In this Civil War history instructional activity, students study images of Robert Smalls and research his role in the Civil War. Young scholars review...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Government Lesson Plan 11

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers apply United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the United States Constitution to contemporary situations, and predict possible United Nations responses to violations of the UDHR.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Should the United States Have a Central Bank?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students assess the validity of a national bank. They study the importance of McCullough v. Maryland. They review the arguments of Hamilton and Jefferson. They analyze the Tenth Amendment and the debate over state v. federal power. They ...