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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presidents and the Constitution: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and the Barbary Pirates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the Barbary Pirates of the Mediterranean. In this American history instructional activity, students read a narrative regarding the conflict between the Barbary Pirates and the United States under the leadership of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why a Bill of Rights? What Impact Does it Have?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the Bill of Rights. In this Bill of Rights activity, students compare the Federalist view of government to the Anti-Federalist view of government. Students consider the impact of the bill of rights as they take notes on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How the Court Became Supreme

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate how the Supreme Court changed under the leadership of John Marshall. In this Supreme Court lesson, students recognize the role of the Supreme Court as well as the significance of Marbury v. Madison. Students also...
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Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Creating the Office of the Presidency

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The United States needed an executive power, but it wanted to avoid a monarchy. Using James Madison's notes on the Constitutional Convention, young historians look at the juggling act the Founding Fathers did to create a role for the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interview With the Signers of the Constitution

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students work in small groups to develop three questions that a newspaper reporter assigned to cover the signing of the Constitution might have asked each of the following signers of the Constitution: George Washington, Benjamin...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roots of Religious Liberty

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the First Amendment and consider the contributions of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. They review conflicts between the rights of Church and State and write a Madisonian argument on the issue.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Federalist Papers

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the Articles of Confederation and explain why it failed. They explain the argument over the need for a bill of rights in the Constitution and James Madison's role in securing its adoption by first Congress. Finally,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African American Education in Virginia During the Jim Crow Era

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils read and analyze a letter writtine by Dolley Madison. They evaluate a cartoon. They evaluate portraits of Dolley and James Madison. They create an earlier version of the original letter based on the information they have gathered.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roles of Individuals and Groups in Politics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils review the Federalist Paper by James Madison. They discuss the influence of interest groups in contemporary politics.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Ratifying the Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Ratifying the Constitution was no simple task. Using primary sources, such as classic writings from the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, young scholars examine the arguments for and against the Constitution. They then decide: Would they...
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Lesson Plan
K20 LEARN

Analyzing Early American Figures: Analyzing History

For Teachers 8th Standards
Who were they? High school freshmen brush up on their research skills by investigating an important person in American history. They select a name, fill out a KWHL chart, and research why their person is important. Scholars then complete...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Establishing the Presidency

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars consider how George Washington influenced the presidency. In this presidential history worksheet, students discuss the precedents Washington set and analyze a letter that Washington sent to James Madison. 
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Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Government: Defending the Bill of Rights

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils examine the proposition of a country without the Bill of Rights. In a role-playing activity, teams of students gather information to build a case for retaining the Bill of Rights and present it before their congressperson.
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Lesson Plan
Center for Civic Education

Matching Game with the US Constitution

For Teachers K - 3rd
In September we celebrate Constitution Day. Begin the celebration with a grand conversation about the US Constitution. Follow up the in-depth discussion with a learning game in which scholars match terms to images such as the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Living Constitution

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate why the Constitution is a living document and dissect the document to discover why it has survived while so many other charters have not. Students use James Madison's constitutional admonition concerning checks and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Monroe Doctrine: U.S. Foreign Affairs (circa 1782-1823) and James Monroe

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read the test of the Monroe Doctrine then list the key points and discuss its central tenets.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Two: The Federalist Papers

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Pupils identify Articles of Confederation and explain why it failed, explain argument over need for Bill of Rights in Constitution and James Madison's role in securing it's adoption, and compare and contrast ideas of Federalists and...
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

The Monroe Doctrine: A Close Reading

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify specific passages in the Monroe Doctrine to events in early U.S. diplomacy.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Political Traditions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare and contrast the political institutions in Greece, Rome, and the United States. In groups, they take this information to determine the influences on James Madison when organizing the republic. They develop a chart and...
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Lesson Plan
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What So Proudly We Hail

The Meaning of America: Enterprise and Commerce

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Using Mark Twain's The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, invite your learners to consider the concept of virtue in a democratic society devoted to gain and self-interest. This stellar resource guides your class members through a close...
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Lesson Plan
What So Proudly We Hail

The Meaning of America: Freedom and Individuality

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What are the strengths and weaknesses of American individualism and independence? Explore these principles through a close reading of Jack London's To Build a Fire, and engage in high-level discussion with your class by analyzing the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New $1 Coins Honor U.S. Presidents

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Elementary schoolers examine money, then read a news article about new coins being produced by the U.S. Mint. The teacher introduces the article with samples of American money and a vocabulary activity, then students read the news piece...
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Lesson Plan
Heritage Foundation

Congress's Territorial Powers, Implied Powers, Citizenship, and the Bureaucracy

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
An informative resource gives scholars a look into why the US Constitution placed certain federal powers over that of the state. A variety of activities about constitutional clauses helps to create meaningful learning.
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Lesson Plan
Heritage Foundation

Slavery and the Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
It's hard to believe the abolition movement was once seen as scandalous. Help learners understand how the US Constitution changed everything. A variety of activities such as corresponding reading activities, group work ideas, and...

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