Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

The 1828 Campaign of Andrew Jackson: Territorial Expansion and the Shift of Power

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars make connections between changes in voting participation and the election of 1828, and describe regional factors evidenced by the voting results of the election of 1828.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Debating Our Destiny

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students participate in debates related to the history of the United States. In groups, they research their opinion on the purpose of debates and how a debater's posture affect the outcome of the debates. They identify the political...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The President's Cabinet: Choosing the Right Person for the Job

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Young scholars examine the Federal Confirmation Process for filling cabinet members by completing a confirmation process flow chart. They research the process, and participate in a mock Confirmation Process.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electing a president

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students create a list of characteristics of a president and reach consensus about the most important qualities.  In this electing a President lesson, students work in groups to choose the most important traits of a president and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Old Electoral College Try

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine defining issues in the race for the White House and evaluate important issues in several of the swing states. They create and administer a poll in their community and make predictions by analyzing the data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

THE FEDERAL CONFIRMATION PROCESS: CHOOSING THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers analyze the process whereby presidential appointees are confirmed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Electoral College

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners read and complete an assignment debating whether the Electoral College should be replaced.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CANDIDATE COMPARISON

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students identify the names of major contemporary political parties. They explain why a person might choose to vote for one candidate for President of the United States over another candidate. They identify the two major political...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lincoln and Photography: A Closer Look

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students compare and contrast the Lincoln portraits using a Venn diagram and included analysis tool. In this presidential photography lesson, students write a journal entry and a letter as if they were Abraham Lincoln. Lastly students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hindsight is 20-20Presidential First 100 DaysPresentation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this American history lesson, students research the first 100 days of several American Presidents. Young scholars use their...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Constitution Worksheet

For Students 8th - 12th
In this U.S. Constitution worksheet, students respond to 63 short answer questions about Articles I-VII of the American plan for government.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Songs of the Times: American Concerns in 19th Century Campaigns

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Learners examine campaign songs from the 1840, 1848, and 1860 elections to explore the campaign strategies of 19th century political parties.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Preserving Democracy in Canada

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students discover the challenges that democracy in Canada faces today as they research Federal elections.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating Hate: The Power of Words

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Pupils explore why authors choose to use hate words in literature. In this power of words lesson, students complete group participation, journal entries, and written assignments to investigate the use of inflammatory...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

California Primary 2000

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the open primary system and the candidates that appeared on the ballot in California's Presidential Primary in 2000. A variety of issues and sites are explored and form the focus of this lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taking Them On Faith?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore, examine and study about the role of religion in presidential campaigns and elections by reading and discussing the article, "God" 08: Whose, and How Much, Will Voters Accept?" They research a variety of presidents...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Voter

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the constitutional amendments and major federal laws that have shaped suffrage in the United States.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Assessing Public Opinion Polls and Building Them

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the role of public opinion polls in America. In this public opinion polls lesson, students discover the steps of analyzing poles before they create and conduct their own polls.
Handout
ProCon

President Ronald Reagan

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
At 69 years old, Ronald Reagan was the oldest man ever to be elected president in the United States. After reviewing a thorough history of Reagan's presidency, pupils read the main pro and con arguments to determine if he was a good...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Fill-In : March Events in the News

For Students 6th - 8th
What happened on March 13, 1868? What happened on March 21, 1965? Eager readers fill in the missing historical event occurring on one day in March from 1862 - 1995. There are 31 events each occurring on a different day in March. This is...
PPT
Curated OER

The Brief American Pageant: The Politics of Boom and Bust

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Prior to 1929, the Roaring Twenties were a great time to be alive and to spend money. These slides would be a good transition into a unit on the Great Depression. It presents five images about the political and financial context of the...
PPT
Curated OER

The Brief American Pageant: The Furnace of the Civil War

For Teachers 8th - 11th
The eyes of an American History teacher (or Civil War buff) will open wide with this series of maps, which detail the campaigns and battles of the Civil War. Meant to supplement chapter 21 of The American Pageant, this presentation would...
PPT
Curated OER

The Brief American Pageant: The Great West and the Agriculture Revolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What comes to mind when you think of the 1860's - other than the Civil War? Paired with The American Pageant textbook (or not), this series of images completes a lecture on the mid-19th century. Cattle trails, Indian wars, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newspaper Fact Treasure Hunt

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students explore the newspaper. In this research lesson, students search for answers within the newspaper. Students collaborate with classmates to find the answers.