Students examine the transcripts of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates and create a platform for each candidate in the 1858 Senate race. They utilize the candidates' arguments to explore the historical and political impact.

Eleventh graders explore their own beliefs about the qualities that make someone qualified to sit on the Supreme Court.  In this American Government lesson, 11th graders write about and debate the ethnic, religious, and gender...

Students investigate President Abraham Lincoln's use of the U.S. Constitution and its importance to the Civil War. In this US history lesson, students read text about President Lincoln and the US Constitution. Students examine the...

In this current events instructional activity, students analyze a political cartoon about the 2008 Presidential election and respond to 3 talking point questions.

In this current events worksheet, students analyze caricatures of Barak Obama through the years and respond to 3 talking point questions.

In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read an article about 19th century American presidents. They answer ten multiple choice questions about the article. Each question asks students to identify one of four presidents; Van...

Students use both electronic and traditional resources to research information about U.S. Constitution, answer questions pertaining to Congress and the Presidency, and design HyperStudio presentation to display answers to research...

Students examine the 2004 Presidential election between George W. Bush and John Kerry. Using a variety of primary source documents, they discover where the candidates stood on the issues. In groups, they create a tableau in which they...

Students explore American elections and terms in office. In this U.S. government instructional activity, students respond to questions about voting rights. Students  then write position papers on the existence of the...

Pupils engage in a lesson which facilitates their learning about the history of the American presidency. They create their own lessons based on C-SPAN's American Presidents Timeline poster.

In this current events learning exercise, students analyze a political cartoon about Barak Obama and respond to 3 talking point questions.

Students research background, personal interests, family history, and positions on current issues of the leading presidential and vice presidential candidates. They create unbiased presentations aimed at informing voters about...

Bring global awareness into the classroom. Young politically minded learners read an article about the ban on arms sales to China and discuss political concerns about this issue. They research other embargos on foreign trade and use a...

Learners color code a map of the United States and label the amount of Electoral votes each state has. In this Electoral College lesson plan, students conduct a vote of their own.

Working with a partner, middle and high schoolers complete a variety of activities associated with types of guns. They list different phrases and connotations that include the word "gun" in them.

In this early American history instructional activity, students create posters that feature the branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution. Students also research founding ideals of the nation and use Venn diagrams to...

Learners examine presidential powers. In this checks and balances activity, students identify the constitutional and informal restraints of the president and consider the reasons for the limitations.

Pupils use game simulation software to increase their reading comprehension. They work in teams to determine whether statements are fact or opinion. They complete a Fact/Opinion Scavenger Hunt. They simulate that they are part of the...

In this preposition worksheet, students complete 10 sentences using prepositions from a word bank at the top of the page. They can use a word more than once.

Students, after reviewing/examining a lengthy list of vocabulary terms, explore and identify government officials, especially the current United States President. They view a variety of pictures with government officials on them and...

In this legislative bill worksheet, students draft a bill for voting on in a mock House of Representatives session that can be signed into law by the acting president.

Eleventh graders define conscription, jingoes and jingoism. They relate the chronological order of documents to the events of the specified time period, then describe the preparedness program as presented by President Wilson.

Students research Senator Joseph McCarthy's February 9, 1950 speech, given at Wheeling, West Virginia, in which he claimed more than 200 State Department employees were members of the Communist Party.

In this reading comprehension activity, students read a text about the presidential election in 2000. Students fill in 10 blanks, choosing from 4 words for each that will make the text make sense.