Constitutional Rights Foundation
Refugees From Vietnam and Cambodia
The United States may have pulled its troops from the Vietnam War in 1973, but the conflict was far from over for the citizens living in Asia at the time. An informative resource lets learners know about the wave of over 220,000...
Curated OER
From Tinker to Fraser: Freedom of Speech in Public Schools
The Tinker and Fraser cases were taken the Supreme Court on the basis of the 1st Amendment right to Freedom of Speech. Learners discuss each case, the First AMendment, complete handouts, and conduct a role play activity. Handouts are...
Curated OER
Do We Still Need the Electoral College?
One of the most confusing aspects of any presidential election year is the role of the Electoral College. Learners read a bit about how the Electoral College works and then they hold a mock election in their classroom. They'll redraw a...
Curated OER
US & Iroquois Constitution Parallels
Young scholars engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concepts related to comparing the United States and Iroquois Indians while focusing upon the foundations of the ruling documents like the US Constitution. They conduct research...
Curated OER
Presidents and the Constitution: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and the Barbary Pirates
Pupils explore the Barbary Pirates of the Mediterranean. In this American history lesson, students read a narrative regarding the conflict between the Barbary Pirates and the United States under the leadership of Washington, Adams,...
Curated OER
The U.S. Constitution: Practical Application of the Amendments
Pupils create their own HyperStudio cards which include scanned images of at least one member (designated reader) of each group. They add the text of a predetermined amendment. The designated reader then reads the selected amendment.
Curated OER
Trade Between The US and Japan
Learners engage in a lesson plan that involves the trade relationship between the US and Japan. They research to find the history and facts concerning the current trends.
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The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan: Student Worksheet
These guided reading questions accompany several websites on the development of the US Constitution. While some of the links have changed, they are still accessible. History or government classes benefit from reading primary source...
Anti-Defamation League
Women's Suffrage, Racism, and Intersectionality
The Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to vote—as long as they were white. High schoolers read articles and essays about racism in the suffrage movement and consider how intersectionality played a role in the movement. Scholars...
Curated OER
Documents and Symbols and American Freedom
Students complete a unit of lessons on the documents, symbols, and famous people involved in the founding of the U.S. government. They create a personal bill of rights, write a found poem, design a flag, conduct research, and role-play...
Curated OER
President Who? Forgotten Founders and Their Capitols
Students explore the beginning of the United Colonies that were formed in 1774. In this history lesson, students discuss the Articles of Confederation and then answer questions about the events surrounding the development of the...
Curated OER
Research Project
Students fill out a form which asked the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHY about the person they were assigned to research, they gather their information from different web sites on Lightspan and Yahooligans. They create a HyperStudio and...
Facing History and Ourselves
The Importance of a Free Press
"Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;. . ." Why is this guarantee of free speech and a free press the First Amendment to the US Constitution? Why are these rights so essential to a...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Refugees from the Caribbean: Cuban and Haitian “Boat People”
Should refugees fleeing poverty be allowed the same entrance into the United States as those fleeing persecution? High schoolers read about US foreign policy in the late 20th century regarding refugees from Cuba and Haiti, and engage in...
Curated OER
September 11-How Do You Feel?: Terrorism, US History
Students have the opportunity to express their feelings and discuss their perceptions of the events of September 11, 2001. This could also be adapted to other crisis and disasters.
Curated OER
Essentials of the US Constitution
Students determine how the content of the U.S. Government enables the U.S. Government to function. They examine the roles and functions of the three branches of government and how the separation of powers and checks and balances affect...
Curated OER
Fighting for Democracy, Fighting for Me
Ninth graders investigate specific individuals involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom and working backward to stories from World War II. In this US History lesson plan, 9th graders read documents that depict the conflicts faced by...
Curated OER
Benjamin Franklin Timeline
In this US history activity, learners fill in a time-line with information about Benjamin Franklin's life. They begin with Franklin's birth in 1706 and fill in 8 more events in the Patriot's life.
Curated OER
Press Freedom Versus Military Censorship
Eleventh graders explore the term terrorism. In this US History lesson, 11th graders participate in a press release on terrorism.
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 plan, 11th graders analyze primary source documents. Students write an essay using writing prompts.
Curated OER
Constitution
Fifth graders explore the importance of the Constitution. They read and discuss the meaning of each section. In groups, 5th graders create posters explaining an assigned part of the constitution. Using the internet, students research and...
Curated OER
A Constitution for Alaska
Pupils read sections cited from the Governing Alaska unit. They discuss factors that made Alaskans push for statehood. They view video A Constitution for Alaska.
Curated OER
Frontier Justice
High schoolers make an investigation into the Constitution of 1819, Article IV, Section II, gave the Governor of Alabama the power to grant reprieves and pardons in all criminal and penal cases, except those of treason and impeachment,...
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....