College Board
2005 AP® Human Geography Free-Response Questions
Why do people leave their home countries and come to the United States? How has nationalism affected European nations politically and socially? The answers are complicated. Pupils explore the intricate dynamics using structured questions...
Judicial Learning Center
Judicial Independence: What’s Wrong with This Court?
Why is it important for judges to operate independently of politics or other branches of government? Scholars ponder the question as they examine video clips, case studies, excerpts of the US Constitution, and an interactive computer...
K20 Learn
American Exclusivity: The Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act—the first race-based immigration restriction—is echoed in today's debates on the topic. Using graphic organizers and structured discussions, historians consider the reasons behind the act and compare the...
PBS
Catch-22: Satirize This!
Some assignments are great, some can become great, and some have greatness thrust upon them. This one is great. After completing Joseph Heller's classic satire, Catch-22, groups craft and present their own political satire.
Curated OER
1864-1865: Bringing the War to an End
An interesting lesson plan explains the last battles of the war and the terms of the Articles of Surrender. It also analyzes the election of 1864 with copies of the Baltimore and Chicago platforms. To conclude the instructional activity,...
Digital Public Library of America
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
A set of 14 primary sources provides background for a study of Lorraine Hansberry's drama, A Raisin in the Sun. Featured are images from stage productions of the play, white supremacy protests, a clip from a television interview, and...
National Woman's History Museum
Feminist Philosophers of the 20th Century
Reclaim forgotten philosophers of the twentieth century. Feminist philosophers have shaped our current concepts of politics and gender, but they are seldom mentioned in the classroom. Change that omission with a lesson plan that includes...
Center for History Education
Nineteenth Century Reform Movements: Women's Rights
It's hard to imagine a world where women were marginalized from the seats of power. Yet, there are women today who remember what it was like to not be allowed to vote. Using a DBQ of images and other primary sources, such as political...
Center for History Education
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: Is Anyone to be Punished for This?
The stories of bodies falling to the pavement and girls dying in their seats echo to the present day. The New York City Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire—which killed 147 people, mostly young women and girls—galvanized the labor movement...
Newseum
Persuasion Portfolios
After class members brainstorm a list of current social and political issues, groups each select a different topic from the list to research. Teams create a portfolio of at least 10 examples of stories about their issue, stories that...
Penguin Books
A Teacher's Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of William Shakespeare's Henry IV Part I
Henry IV, Part 1 is the focus of a teaching guide that introduces readers to an important time in British history. The guide provides historical background information, explores the play's many political and familial themes, and offers...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: Leadership and a Global Stage
Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is, among other things, the study of a ruler's ambitions. Young scholars watch videos, read articles, and keep a Commonplace Book while studying the play. At the end of Act III, pupils stage the play that...
Curated OER
Harry Potter: Upper Grades Activity
Students interpret symbols and metaphors from Harry Potter that refer to real-life political and social issues.
Curated OER
Analyzing Election Cartoons
Students are introduced to the history of political cartoons and examine both historical and modern examples. They analyze a cartoon that expresses an opinion about a current event different than their own and develop an original cartoon...
Curated OER
Political Legends and Map Symbols
Students identify the legend and map symbols. In this map skills lesson, students use a world map to find various locations using a map key.
Curated OER
The Way Editorial Cartoons Work
Twelfth graders interpret visual language found in political cartoons.
Curated OER
The National Pastime
Students examine the impact baseball had politically and culturally upon the nation and the world from 1940-1950. Students study about, discuss, and take notes about historically significant events and baseball players' contributions...
Curated OER
Native American Stereotypes
Eleventh graders examine Native American stereotypes. For this Native American history lesson, 11th graders complete an activity about generalizations as they analyze the provided political cartoons regarding the portrayal of Native...
Curated OER
Election 2005: Campaign Issues
Students take a closer look at the election of 2005. In this British politics lesson, students listen to a lecture about the 2005 campaign and active citizenship. Students then create collages and news boards about the...
Curated OER
Playing it Safe
Students explore the importance of an election and act as political advisers for an upcoming election. Students create platforms for various candidates, by writing a letter to their candidate with suggestions for winning the election.
Curated OER
Not Your Average Joe
Students explore Al Gore's choice of Senator Joseph Lieberman as his presidential running mate. They investigate other political figures who are in the religious, racial, ethnic and gender minority in the United States.
Curated OER
Moving Toward Modern America (1919-1929)
Eighth graders study the politics and culture of the 1920's and write a report about some aspect of that era. They also create a Power Point presentation based on the 1920's lifestyle.
Curated OER
McCarthysim
Eleventh graders explore and analyze the impact of the Cold War at home and how the fear of communism and nuclear war affected American life throughout the Cold War. They study what role Senator Joseph McCarthy played on American fears...
Curated OER
The Solid South Switcharoo
Young scholars examine primary sources. In this lesson on political parties, students view historic documents, speeches, and photos to trace the rise and fall of particular political parties. Young scholars will be looking at the success...