Lesson Plan
Teaching Tolerance

The True History of Voting Rights

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Explore what voting rights really are in an intriguing lesson that explores the history of American voting. The resource examines the timeline of voting rights in the United States with group discussions, hands-on-activities, and...
Lesson Plan
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Meta-Study: Political Brains

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Are there differences in the brains of liberals and conservatives? That is the question young political scientists are challenged to answer. Class members examine studies, consider how the results are presented, and how the studies were...
Lesson Plan
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Constitutional Rights Foundation

Slavery and the Electoral College

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How did slavery mold the creation of the US Constitution? The final lesson plan in the series focuses on how slavery impacted the creation of the Electoral College. Academics learn how the Electoral College was created because Southern...
Lesson Plan
C-SPAN

Polling and Public Opinion

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Polls are ubiquitous in American politics, but just how reliable and equal are they? A video-driven resource helps learners discuss the question by examining what pollsters and pundits say. Extension activities involve evaluating the...
Lesson Plan
Jane Addams Project

Woman Suffrage

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Suffragettes, suffragists, and anti-suffragists. A two-day, richly detailed lesson plan has young historians investigate the twentieth-century suffrage movement. Groups examine primary and secondary source materials about Jane Addams and...
Lesson Plan
C-SPAN

Political Polarization

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Dive into the political breach with pupils and explore the reasons for political polarization. Using clips from C-SPAN that include discussions from reporters and scholars, class members consider what is causing the political fault lines...
Lesson Plan
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Caucus 101

Caucus History and Iowa’s “First in the Nation” Status

For Teachers 7th - 12th
What is a caucus? Why is Iowa's first? Why did Iowa shift to the caucus format? After researching these basic questions, class members debate the question of whether or not Iowa should maintain its "first in the nation" status for caucuses.
Lesson Plan
West Virginia Department of Education

A State of Convenience: The Creation of West Virginia

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Ever wondered why there is a West Virginia but not an East Virginia? The resource answers questions like this one and more as it takes an in-depth and detailed look at the history of West Virginia and how it became a state. Several...
Lesson Plan
C-SPAN

Electoral College

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Most people are surprised to learn that American democracy is not as direct as they thought. Using a package of guiding questions, charts and curated videos, learners unpack the unique American institution of the Electoral College. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Debate

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students watch tapes of televised presidential debates dating from 1960. They analyze debates and participate in mock debates.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presidential Trading Cards

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students research the Internet to collect data about the US Presidents. They use the data that they collect along with available technology to produce trading cards and brochures using keyboarding skills, text boxes, acquiring photos,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storytellers: Pearl Jam "Never Let Truth Get in the Way of a Good Story"

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students analyze the lyrics from a Pearl Jam song and examine the concept of truth in political advertising. They watch the video, "VH1 Storytellers: Pearl Jam," participate in a class discussion, conduct research, and prepare a report...
Lesson Plan
PBS

The Big Picture-Economic Security in the Country and your Community

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore economic security at the local and national level during the time period preceding the 2008 presidential election. They fill out surveys on their thoughts and concerns regarding the US economy, and watch...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TV ATTACK ADS AND THE VOTER

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read about the history of negative political advertisements in U.S. elections. In this politics lesson, students view several ads for opposing candidates and analyze and discuss the content. High schoolers write scripts...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Political Movement: Political Parties

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Learners explore politics by researching Australian government law. In this political parties instructional activity, students define the different active parties in Australia and their roles within the country. Learners complete a word...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Painting Presidential Portraits

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the duties and powers of the president.  For this American Government lesson, 11th graders research to find information on the role of the president.  Students practice reading and listening skills.  
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Citizens of the Future

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young sociologists explore how local, state, and federal governments work. This very impressive and ambitious lesson requires pupils to contact government officials who represent them and their families. They research elections, and hold...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. Constitution - Selecting the President

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students study how the electoral college works to select a U.S. President.  For this history lesson, students examine the U.S. Elector College methods then answer questions and write an essay that relate to the state where they live.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

They Have Issues

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the different campaign styles and political platforms of the nine candidates vying for the Democratic Party nomination for the 2004 presidential election. They graph and compare candidate platforms and write an essay...
Lesson Plan
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Facing History and Ourselves

Confirmation and Other Biases

For Teachers 9th - 12th
As the investigation into the reporting of the events in Ferguson, Missouri, continues, class members consider how bias influences perception, how the tendency is to collect evidence that supports preconceived notions. The big idea...
Lesson Plan
Street Law

The Challenge of Selecting an Ideal Supreme Court Nominee

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
Nearly every president has had the opportunity to name a nominee to the United States Supreme Court. But what makes someone an ideal candidate to become a Supreme Court justice? High schoolers test their prior knowledge about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: A Picture Book of Abe Lincoln (Adler)

For Teachers K - 3rd
The story of Abe Lincoln serves as the backdrop to this vocabulary-in-context activity as you read David Adler's A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln. Scholars learn these politically themed words before listening to you read the story...
Lesson Plan
Cultures of Dignity

Equity and Equality Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Equality does not equal equity and this lesson explains why. Class members compare two images--one labeled "Equality" and the other "Equity." Using the provided discussion questions, they then develop definitions that distinguish between...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing a Political Leader

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Pupils peer edit a letter.  In this editing lesson, students peer edit a letter written to a political figure by another student. Pupils discuss edits and revisions needed for improvement. This is a continuation lesson that is part...

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