Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Local Motives

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Investigate current local elections across the United States with this New York Times reading activity. Using informational text, middle and high schoolers research local elections and create their own news reports about what they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Leader of the Pack

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students take a closer look the 2008 London mayoral race. In this current events lesson plan, students research the listed Web sites that include information about the candidates for mayor and their attributes. Students also gather...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Citizen Me

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine what it means to be a citizen. Using the Constitution, they discover the functions and purpose of government. They compare and contrast the difference between a democracy and a monarchy. As a class, they discuss...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lights, Camera...Ticket...2

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students research the pros and cons of traffic light cameras that generate tickets and interview local city officials to see if they have considered this for the community. Students then prepare a panel to present the advantages and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Defining Issues

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students work on a 'campaign committee' to define civic issues that are important to them and their community. They write letters to city officials with proposals for how to address these issues.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cleveland may gamble on gambling

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students write a news feature or editorial discussing the debate of whether gambling should be legalized in Cleveland. Students research and debate about the issue. Students interview community members to hear views.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

People And Places To Know

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
In this social studies worksheet, learners learn pertinent facts about where they live (city, state, country) and who governs them (mayor, governor, president.) Students write their answers on the cards which could be cut apart and used...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Knights and Kings

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore feudalism. For this government lesson, students examine the role of knights and kings. Students discover the training boys went through for knighthood. Students write a letter home as if they were a squire during the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Enforcers of the Law, The Executive Branch

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the executive branch of government; in particular, Florida's executive branch of government.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is it Legal? - The Judicial System

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the judicial branch of government; in particular, Florida's judicial branch of government.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Local Leaders

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders recognize the importance of having community leaders.  For this community leaders lesson, 2nd graders find local leader names and local leader news items. Students answer questions and create a graphic organizer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Is Who? What Do They Do?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders create rhymes in order to remember the names of representatives and executives in our government at the state level.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Your Politician: Myth vs. Reality

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students adopt a public official, research how they spend their time, and define the actual duties associated with the job. They sort perceptions about the job into myths and realities, and analyze political cartoons involving their...
Worksheet
K12 Reader

Community Connections

For Students 2nd - 3rd Standards
Who helps our community run smoothly? Read a short passage about community members and helpers. After kids finish the passage, they answer five short questions on the other side of the page.
Worksheet
Polk Bros Foundation

John F. Kennedy: Remarks in the Rudolph Wilde Platz, Berlin

For Students 9th - 12th
“Ich bin ein Berliner.” Here’s the full text of John F. Kennedy’s famous address delivered to the people of Berlin on June 26, 1963. The resource could be used as part of a study of Kennedy’s presidency, of rhetorical devices, or as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spedwards

For Teachers K - 1st
Students discuss what makes up a community. Students elect officials of their community and complete an application for the position. Students research jobs within the community and hold a job fair where parents come to school and share...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keeping an Appointment

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students studey about Bernard B. Kerik's decision to withdraw his nomination as homeland security secretary by President Bush. They hold a mock vetting process for other potential nominees for this position.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

At the Governor's Mansion

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students visit Florida Governor's mansion online, and create class book about interesting facts and trivia.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dear Congressperson...

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars identify their local, state, and national officials. They create a short blurb about each official and their function in office. Students choose an issue of concern they would like to write to their local official about,...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Democracy in Your Hometown Scavenger Hunt

For Students 4th - 6th
For this democracy worksheet, learners utilize the Internet to access one specific website to answer five multiple choice questions about who makes the decisions in your hometown.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies: The Connecticut Hill Community

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discover the reasons for the settlement of the Connecticut Hill Community. Through an examination of the climate, occupations of the inhabitants, and demographics, they discuss reasons people choose locations for settlement. ...
Website
Other

New York City Government Official Website

For Students 9th - 10th
Visit this thorough site to gain valuable information about the local government of New York City. This official site contains press releases, photo galleries, pages for different agencies, and other related information.
Handout
Other

Milwaukee Publishers: Frank P. Zeidler: A Liberal in City Government

For Students 9th - 10th
Frank Zeidler was mayor of Milwaukee from 1948-1960. He published a book called A Liberal in City Government, which is highlighted on this website. This particular page has a short biography of his life.
Graphic
Other

Nyc Organization Chart

For Students 9th - 10th
Develop a better understanding of the New York City Government with this helpful organization chart.