Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The State of the Union Address

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students discuss and fill out a worksheet after viewing the State of the Union Address that the president makes every year.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cold War: Anti-Communism at Home

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders take a closer look at the Red Scare. In this Cold War lesson, 11th graders read the provided literature about anti-communism in the United States and then respond to the provided discussion questions that accompany the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Glorious Revolution, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students relate the Glorious Revolution, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution through web based research and scenarios.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I'm Tellin'!: Kids Bringing Folktales Alive

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Pupils participate in a reading instructional activity that works on social and academic skills. They increase reading comprehension with direct instruction with the group reading of a folktale. Then students research their own stories...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does the Supreme Court Affect Teens?: A Survey of Court Cases

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students read and restate the Ten Amendements of the Bill of Rights. They analyze Supreme Court cases using the Bill of Rights. Students make predictions about how the Supreme Court might have deicided each case. They evaluate how the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

George Washington and the Rule of Law

For Teachers 8th - 12th
students compare The rule of law with the rule of men and consider life under each of these types of governments.In this government instructional activity, students read a primary source to examine the importance of the rule of law.They...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Read All About It! Supreme Court Case Makes Headlines!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are assigned a landmark Supreme Court case to research. They construct a one-page newsletter on the case which include a summary of the case, two pictures and a short biography on one of the justices on the Court at that time.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The New Republic

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Learners research the Federalists and Anti-federalists. In the lesson on state legislature, students use primary sources to create a brochure and write an essay that illustrates federalist and anti-federalists viewpoints.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sow the Seeds of Victory! Posters from the Food Administration During World War I

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars engage in a class analysis of posters, responding to each of the worksheet questions. They identify the similarities and differences between the posters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rosa Parks

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students complete a variety of written and discussion activities regarding Rosa Parks and the Alabama bus boycott and how they changed an accepted way of life in America.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Democracy, A Basic Element In Our Society

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the concept of freedom with the context of the First Amendment. They research and take notes looking for the connections between democracy and freedom. They complete a writing assessment that includes naming all of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

the Rights of Detainees At Guantanamo Bay

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the legal issues involved in the case of the detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay and surrounding the existence of the base itself. They explain the clash between civil liberties and national security during wartime.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planning a Railroad

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students use a topographical map to plan a route from Doknner Summit to Truckee, then compare it to the route selected by Theodore Judah.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Affidavit and Flyers from the Chinese Boycott Case

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars divide into small groups and study one of the three union flyers. Groups share their findings with the whole class and clarify unfamiliar vocabulary terms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Treaties: Students Explore the Lives of Yakama People Before and After Treaties

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Learners examine the impact of treaties on the Yakama nation. They discover the importance of land and how they felt when their land was taken away. They role-play the positions of both the Yakama and citizens of the United States.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Franchise and Elections

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students examine the American election process. In this elections lesson, students use Internet sources to respond to 13 questions about election terminology.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Memorandum of a Conference with President Eisenhower after Sputnik

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers document and list excerpts from a document that shows how calmly officials reacted to the launching of Sputnik. They research contemporary magazines and newspaper articles of the day as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration and American Life on African-Americans

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students examine how human migration started in Africa, and draw maps of Africa and place the names of the countries and capitals on the maps. They write essays on how Africans came to America.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Make the Rules

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore the nature of rules and see how they help in the formation and operation of organizations. Working in small groups, students create their own charter for a new club
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gov. Reubin Askew's Stand on Busing And Integration in Florida Schools

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners research a straw vote placed on a Florida ballet in 1972 that asked if voters were in favor of prohibiting forced busing to further desegregation. They read primary documents, complete a worksheet and participate in class...
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Leadership: u.s. History

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson and activity looks at leadership in U.S. history focussing on presidents, past and present, to determine what makes a good leader. Questions for discussion and class activity guidelines included.
Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Preparing for the Oath: u.s. History and Civics for Citizenship

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian Institution, is a great site for citizens and those learning to become citizens alike. Review the fifteen themes that deal with U.S. history and civics,...
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Writing in u.s. History: The Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Explore why the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution and its enduring impact on defining our rights. In this interactive lesson from WGBH, students develop a written argument in response to the question "How does the Bill of...
Website
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: The Constitution

For Students 3rd - 8th
Ben's Guide is a fun way to present U.S. Government to students grades K-12. This site presents a brief history of the Constitution. Links to related sites are available.