ProCon
President Bill Clinton
Was Bill Clinton a good president? Scholars set out to answer the question as they prepare for a class debate on the topic. They watch videos, review pros and cons, and read facts about the process of becoming a United States president....
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War Making: Executive and Legislative Powers
Students examine executive and legislative powers. In this federal powers lesson, students determine who has the power to wage war in the U.S. government. Students analyze the Constitution and research historical precedents regarding...
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The Articles of Confederation
The purpose of this lesson is to assist students in discovering the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the foundation for creation of the United States Constitution. Students will investigate the events leading up to the...
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President Who? Forgotten Founders and Their Capitols
Students explore the beginning of the United Colonies that were formed in 1774. In this history instructional activity, students discuss the Articles of Confederation and then answer questions about the events surrounding the...
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The Judicial Branch
In this U.S. branches of government activity, students respond to 5 fill in the blank questions regarding the powers of the judicial branch of government.
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American Indian Tribal Sovereignty
Seventh graders examine the relationship among the governments of the sovereign American Indian Nations in Utah, the State of Utah, and the U.S. They list the objectives of the Office of Indian Affairs and examine their purpose.
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Understanding The Preamble
Students explore the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution. In this government lesson, students write a preamble to encourage cooperation in their classroom as they study the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution.
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Alaska's Current Issues
Young scholars work in small groups to brainstorm a list of issues in Alaska. As a class, they discuss their concerns. Students place their issues in two lists, those that are in the domain of the local and state governments, and those...
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Due Process of Law and the Jim Crow Era
Students analyze eight case studies of Supreme Court decisions regarding due process of law and their impact on American society in the early 20th century. They digest that although the 14th amendment was intended to give federal rights...
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Lesson Plan: The Car Chase Scence
Students investigate how to be informed when buying a car. In this research skills lesson, students use the Federal Citizen Information Center Website to find information they need to complete an activity featuring all of the costs of...
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Treaties - Grade 8
Eighth graders examine treaties pertaining to Canadian natives. In this Canadian history lesson, 8th graders watch "Frist Nations: The Unbroken Circle," and then discuss the negotiations that took place between the Nisga'a people and the...
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Geography and Artifacts of Mexico
Students review the structure of government in Mexico and discuss how it is different than the United States. Using artifacts, they must label and identify the city or state in which the artifact originated. They use the artifact clues...
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Seeking Civil Rights
Learners explore the impact of the Plessy v. Ferguson case. In this social justice lesson, students examine the case, Jim Crow laws, and non-violent forms of protest. Learners write essays to persuade the government regarding unjust laws.
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Uniform Blues
Fourth graders explore what the U.S. Constitution is and why it is important, the purpose of the state constitution, and its relationship to the U.S. Constitution and the similarities and differences among federal, state and local...
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State Report Card
Twelfth graders evaluate their own state on how well the government protects their citizens from specific health issues. In groups, they list the environmental health concerns regarding water, air, toxic waste and radiation. They...
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How Did That Get There?
Learners evaluate the role of government in addressing land use and other environmental issues. They analyze the powers, responsibilities, and limitations of elected and appointed officials in the national legislative, executive, and...
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Who's Town is This, Anyway?
Fifth graders work in cooperative groups to simulate a town government as they consider an important change in their community growth. They analyze a real problem in the community and then determine their goals to fix it and make a...
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Maintaining Employment ESOL
Students discuss how Payroll deductions are used to pay for a variety of government services andncompany benefits. They practice reading a pay stub and writing amounts of money.
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The Constitution: Drafting a More Perfect Union
Learners analyze an unknown primary source document to determine its origin. In this Constitution lesson, students read primary source documents and contrast and compare the evolution of the drafts of the Constitution. Learners analyze...
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The Need for Laws
Students consider the presence of authority in their lives. In this law lesson, students compare forgotten laws that function in their lives to forgotten instructions in making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
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Out of the City and Into the Soup
High schoolers examine the issue of air pollution. They read and analyze an article, evaluate the responses of state and federal officials to the problem, conduct Internet research, and write a letter to their senator and congressman.
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Native American Sovereignty
Students analyze the meaning of Indian Sovereignty. They describe the authority of Indian governments as sovereign nations, and explain the importance of the Marshal Trilogy of Supreme Court cases between 1821-1832. They examine the...
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Social Studies: Debating Aid to Micronesia
Students simulate a debate about continued U.S. aid to the Federated States of Micronesia. In two large groups, they research the history of Micronesia and how it was affected by colonization and trusteeship. After the debate, students...
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Firstgov for Kids
Students examine kids.gov, FirstGov for Kids website, which provides links to both Federal kids sites and sites from other organizations. They complete a worksheet by finding answers at the website.