Constitutional Rights Foundation
Options for Affecting Public Policy
Letter-writing, e-mail and telephone campaigns, petitions, marches, meetings, with lawmakers. Options for influencing elected representatives are the focus of resource that details how to craft each of these approaches to influencing...
National Constitution Center
Born in the U.S.A: Music as Political Protest
Though often used in shows of patriotism, Bruce Springsteen's 1985 song "Born in the U.S.A." is critical of America's role in the Vietnam war and its treatment of American veterans. High schoolers analyze the song's lyrics in an activity...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Crime and Punishment
Should the United States ban the death penalty? Scholars use real-life examples of criminal activity to come to their own conclusions on the death penalty. Primary source documents, as well as video clips, open the issue of capital...
University of California
Containing Communism Abroad
Learn more about the policy of the United States to contain communism during the Cold War. The fifth installment of an eight-part series looks at primary and secondary materials about a challenging time in history. After analyzing the...
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension: Guinness Book of World Records
If your learners are curious about human achievement, superlatives, or esoteric trivia, the Guinness Book of Records is a way to tap into instrinsic motivation and relevance. Here's an informational reading that will grab their attention...
Curated OER
Patriots v. Loyalists
Students consider how colonial citizens chose sides in the American Revolution. In this Revolutionary War lesson plan, students role play Loyalists, Patriots, and undecideds in a classroom simulation. Students research their positions so...
Curated OER
Political Spectrum
In this government worksheet, high schoolers identify and describe the differences between each part of the political spectrum by listing some points under each title in the chart. Then they choose any of the 9 issues listed, discuss and...
Curated OER
US Patriot Act: Security vs. Privacy
High schoolers use readings, worksheets and discussion to explore the ramifications of the US Patriot Act which was passed by Congress shortly after September 11th. They review Constitutional Amendments and consider how they relate to...
Curated OER
VA Statute for Religious Freedom, II. Matching Activity
Pupils read and analyze primary source documents. In this matching lesson, students read sections of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Pupils match the document sections with paraphrased sections and discuss the accuracy of the...
Curated OER
Dual Federalism
Students compare and contrast the roles of federal and state governments in the United States. In this government lesson, students research state and national governments' joint and individual powers prior to debating a topic relevant to...
Curated OER
Evolution vs. Intelligent Design
Ninth graders explore the arguments surrounding evolution versus intelligent design have affected relationships among people of different religious backgrounds. In this ethics lesson, 9th graders determine whether relationships...
Curated OER
Voting and US Resident Aliens
Twelfth graders examine the process of voting. In this American Government lesson, 12th graders evaluate the arguments for and against alien voting. Students participate in a debate on voting rights.
Curated OER
History of Miss America
Students make a time-lines of of decades using images from Miss America. For this history lesson, students looks at the country's beauty pageant and how it changes the lives of women in America. Students debate issues...
Curated OER
Election of 1860
Students determine how the presidential election of 1860 led to the American Civil War. In this election of 1860 lesson, students discover details regarding the election and hold their own mock debate and election. Students also write an...
Curated OER
Symposia: Scholarly Parties
Young scholars hold a symposium during which students debate the benefits of democracy in ancient Greece and the United States. By doing this, young scholars explain the role of symposia in ancient Greek culture and politics.
Curated OER
Public Demonstrations - Lesson Plan
Students examine various handouts to determine the value, necessity and potential limitations of assembly and public demonstrations. They then select a side and debate pre-provided questions.
Curated OER
Lesson Plan on Intellectual Property: Combating Piracy in China
High schoolers determine how counterfeit goods undermine the economy. In this global issues instructional activity, students examine economic principles. High schoolers discuss how international piracy and property rights undermine trade...
Curated OER
What are the Economic Functions of Government?
Students examine the role of government in market economies. In this economics lesson, students analyze the 6 economic functions of government as they explore current newspaper stories and categorize them. Students debate the role of...
Curated OER
The Duties of Governments: Dix vs. Pierce
Students examine the role of Dorothea Dix on behalf of people with disabilities. They discuss President Pierce's veto of legislation she helped create. They address the rights and responsibilities of citizen's and the role of government.
Curated OER
Ratification of the Constitution
Eighth graders view two resources from the ratification debates and infer the motives and concerns of people in the two states involved. They write a newspaper editorial in favor or opposed to ratifying the Constitution.
Curated OER
Landmines on Trial
Students engage in a discussion of both sides of the arms trade and landmine ban argument. They gain a broader understanding of the impact of landmines on human rights and development. They introduce solutions to the landmine issue.
Curated OER
Divinity of hell
Students have to look at the text of the play Othello and cut the text in half. Each group then moves to the computer to their right and continues on with what that group wrote. They then have to stage the final script and perform in...
Curated OER
Politics of Death
Young scholars examine the topic of euthanasia. In this religion and ethics lesson plan, students investigate the cases of Terri Schiavo and Hugh Finn in order to gain an understanding of the euthanasia controversy.
Curated OER
Immigration in the United States
Students explore how recent immigration and migration patterns impact social and political issues. They apply affective learning techniques