Fifth graders contrast and compare ancient Greece to the U.S.A.  For this Greek History lesson, 5th graders investigate the buildings and designs of ancient Greece, as well as their democracy and government.  Students answer...

Students study the role of the U.S. Congress in American government as described in the Constitution. In this U.S. government instructional activity, students watch an overhead about 'public criticisms' in the legislative process and...

Students compare and contrast plans for government. In this government systems lesson, students compare and contrast the U.S. Constitution to the constitutions of selected countries using the provided checklist as a guide. Students...

Students interpret the Second Amendment. In this U.S. Constitution instructional activity, students examine the right to bear arms as they compare 2 Michigan Supreme Court cases and discuss their personal interpretations of the amendment.

Students go to the computer lab to engage in this thoughtful lesson on our national symbols. Students access the internet, and solve an on-line puzzle of a national symbol of freedom. The symbols are the Eagle, The Statue of Liberty, The...

Fourth graders investigate the Civil War by researching the state of Virginia.  For this US History lesson, 4th graders identify Abraham Lincoln, James Chestnut and Fort Sumter, and discuss their roles in the start of the Civil...

Students discover civic responsibility and the purpose of town meetings.  In this U.S. Government lesson, students investigate how the government is involved with almost every decision made in a city, no matter how big or small....

Students research data on Jamestown settlers in order to learn about the daily life and events in the colony. In this investigative history lesson, students work in groups to analyze the results of the Jamestown census. Students take...

Learners explore the Bill of Rights. For this U.S. Constitution lesson, students participate in classroom debate regarding the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. Learners then vote for the amendments they would like to ratify.

Learners investigate the Colonial Era by completing a template on their computers.  In this U.S. History lesson plan, students discuss the differences between primary and secondary sources and identify several different sources as...

Learners explore the lives and contributions of the many black Americans who are honored on U.S. commemorative postage stamps, make a presentation that synthesizes information about a historical figure and time, and write a persuasive...

Students examine the political situation in Haiti. They share their opinions on the role the United States should play in foreign governments. They identify the causes of the turmoil in the country as well.

Young scholars discover a sense of community by examining Post Office murals located in cities and small towns throughout the United States. They explore the significance of the murals by contacting and communicating with local...

Students discuss their pets and read about pets that have lived in the White House. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a vocabulary activity and pet survey, then the students read the news article and...

Students explore how people viewed George Washington in the 19th Century.  In this U.S. History lesson, students create a timeline of events during the Civil War, including government and court decisions.  Following this...

Young scholars investigate the history of patriotic music and practice singing the tunes with classmates.  In this U.S. History lesson plan, students examine lyrics of the traditional song "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and discuss the...

Young scholars investigate the history of civil rights by viewing historical photographs.  In this U.S. history lesson, students discuss why Black Soldiers fought for their rights by joining the Union Army in the 1800's.  Young...

Students explore the Underground Railroad.  In this U.S. history and technology lesson, students research an assigned topic related to the Underground Railroad, such as "abolitionist," "conductor," or "station houses." ...

Second graders discover the positive effects Martin Luther King, Jr. had on society. In this U.S. history lesson, 2nd graders investigate racial tensions from sixty to seventy years ago and view a video about MLK, Jr. Students discuss...

Students explore U.S. History by reading biographical text in class. For this Benjamin Franklin instructional activity, students read about the famous American's first job and the transition he underwent from printing to politics....

Students explore Colonial papermaking.  In this Colonial America U.S. history lesson, students analyze two poems written in the 1690s about the Rittenhouse paper mill to learn about papermaking.  Students produce their own...

Learners research the culture of the Native Americans.  For this U.S. History lesson, students are given the major geological areas where the Indians lived prior to the arrival of the Europeans, then they create a notebook that...

Students analyze how the Bill of Rights affected people.  In this U.S. History lesson, students research specific Amendments then prepare an oral report and visual presentation on one amendment to share with the class.

Students examine the Social Security Act of 1935. For this U.S. history lesson, students research primary sources in order to prepare for a mock debate of the act prior to it becoming legislation.