Curated OER
Chicago Tribune vs. US (1942): When Does Freedom of the Press Go Too Far?
Young scholars define freedom of the press in peace and war time. As a class, they identify the need for the public to be informed, but discuss where the line should be drawn to protect national security. They develop their arguments...
Internal Revenue Service
Fairness in Taxes: How Taxes Affect Us
Learners are able to compare the effects of the following, using income as a measure of ability to pay: a progressive tax, a regressive tas, and a proportional tax. They explain how a mixture of regressive and progressive taxes could...
School Improvement in Maryland
United States Foreign Policy
Policies of United States government which promote or fail to promote relationships with other countries—national defense, arms control, security of other nations, trade, human rights, economic sanctions, foreign aid, etc.—come under...
Curated OER
"Hard Times Come Again No More" : Letters From Arkansas Families in the Great Depression
Through this series of terrific lesson plans, pupils learn about the extent of poverty in the state of Arkansas during the Great Depression. They read documents from the period which describe how hard times were, view an online photo...
Curated OER
Thinking About Hate
This lesson starts out with a guided discussion about the statement "Birds fly in the sky; airplanes fly in the sky; therefore, airplanes are birds" and goes on to cover logical fallacies and reliable sources, relating these to the topic...
Curated OER
Eighteenth-Century Slave Codes
Students explore slavery by reviewing the written laws intended to keep African Americans subservient. In this U.S. slavery lesson, students analyze a time-line of the history of African Americans. Students discuss the patterns of the...
Curated OER
It's About You
Students explore the U.S. Census and come to understand more about it. In this census lesson, students build reading confidence, explain who is counted in the census, and recognize the connection between census information and community...
Curated OER
Steps In Selecting A President
Students follow a flowchart that describes the process of electing the American president and vice-president. They create a flowchart that explains some aspect of the US government.
Curated OER
Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce
Eleventh graders explore the life of Chief Joseph and Nez Perce. For this US History lesson, 11th graders analyze paintings and photos detailing the flight of Nez Perce. Students create a narrative newspaper article based on their...
Curated OER
Portraits of Power: American Presidents
Ninth graders explore the presidency of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. In this US History instructional activity, 9th graders examine the life of Abraham Lincoln. students write an essay describing the presidency and the...
Curated OER
Press Freedom Versus Military Censorship
Eleventh graders explore the term terrorism. In this US History activity, 11th graders participate in a press release on terrorism.
Curated OER
President for a Day
Students explore the duties of the US President. In this history lesson plan, students use research to gain information about presidents. Students utilize various forms of research, pictures, library books, textbooks, newspaper,...
Curated OER
The Alien and Sedition Acts: Defining American Freedom
Eleventh graders explore the purpose of the Alien and Sedition Acts. In this US History lesson, 11th graders analyze primary source documents. Students write an essay using writing prompts.
Curated OER
The Nez Perce and the Dawes Act
Eleventh graders explore westward expansion in the United States. In this US History instructional activity, 11th graders watch the epic struggle of the Nez Perce. Students evaluate how a variety of Americans viewed Nez Perce through a...
Curated OER
Criminal or Hero
Fifth graders explore the origins of slavery. In this US History lesson, 5th graders create a map of the United States that shows where slavery existed. Students examine the life of a Northern slave through the use of a video.
Curated OER
Civil War and Reconstruction
Fourth graders investigate the Civil War by researching the state of Virginia. In this US History instructional activity, 4th graders identify Abraham Lincoln, James Chestnut and Fort Sumter, and discuss their roles in the start of the...
Curated OER
State Government Debt in Utah: Rapid Growth in Recent Years
Students examine growth of debt in Utah state government from 1991 to present, compare general obligation debt and revenue debt incurred by state, identify four primary methods used by governments to finance projects, and complete...
Curated OER
ESOL Government and Community Resources
Students view pictures of government official and identify each by name and
title. They compare these U. S. officials with those in the students' native
countries then write a sentence about each of the officials.
Curated OER
ADULT ESOL LESSON PLAN--Level 5--Telephone Communication
Students, after reviewing/defining an extensive list of vocabulary terms on the board, examine/identify a variety of resources found in telephone directories (maps, government agencies, coupons, customer guide section, emergency numbers,...
PBS
President Theodore Roosevelt: Foreign Policy Statesman or Bully?
Can a negative perception of a president's foreign policy harm his or her historical legacy? A project that winds the clock back to the date of Theodore Roosevelt's death puts students at the editorial desk of a fictional newspaper....
PBS
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
What rights are guaranteed to students? Do they align with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was approved by the United Nations in 1948? Middle and high schoolers present persuasive arguments about the rights they believe...
Curated OER
Sandra Day O'Connor: Always Supreme
Demystify America's governing system through a legendary role model and a fabulous website.
Bill of Rights Institute
The Declaration of Independence
Take classes on an in-depth tour of the Declaration of Independence. An informative resource effectively scaffolds learning by providing warm-up and wrap-up activities. It also includes a variety of handouts for individuals to complete,...
Bill of Rights Institute
Celebrate Constitution Day
September 17 is a great day to focus on the US Constitution for on this day in 1787, the Constitution was signed. Through a series of activities, high schoolers get a chance to look closely at this famous document and the rights and...