Learners write about goals, responsibility, and persistence, and listen to President Obama's speech. In this President Obama instructional activity students create concept webs, listen with a purpose, and list the challenges of our...

Students listen to President Obama's speech, and discuss its meaning. In this President Obama lesson students learn about the president, about how to deliver a speech, and the ways they can make a difference. They create posters, write...

Emanuel Leutze's painting Washington Crossing the Delaware. Alexander Gardner's photograph of Abraham Lincoln. What do these works of art tell us about the character of these American Presidents? After examining the techniques the...

High schoolers practice their public speaking skills. In this interdisciplinary lesson, students study speeches delivered by Lincoln, Wilson, F. Roosevelt, and Kennedy. High schoolers write the text Obama's inaugural...

Using the Jigsaw protocol, scholars study chunks of text from a speech given by former US presidents following a devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. As they read the speech in small groups, they build background knowledge and share...

Every president of the United States must be a natural-born citizen, but the definition of natural-born is not as straightforward as it seems. Secondary scholars examine two points of view surrounding the constitutional requirement...

Eleventh graders explore the process of inauguration in the United States.  Students describe the symbolic and political significance of the ceremony of the inauguration of the President of the United States.  Students role...

For many people, Barack Obama's presidency was the next step in Martin Luther King, Jr's dream of America's future. Explore the dreams of Americans past and present, as well as the young Americans in your class, with a set of activities...

Who were the candidates in the 2008 US Presidential election and where did they stand on important issues? Use a resource that offers an opportunity to go back in time and examine candidates and issues involved in that election year.

Learners watch a video about Barack Obama and problems he faces as the president. In this president lesson plan, students write their own list and then compile a class list of problems and discuss them.

Students examine U.S. foreign policy concerning the 2011 Egyptian uprising. In this current events lesson, students discuss the uprising in Egypt and examine news reports related to it. Students then discuss their feelings about the...

Students explore ethical issues. In this human rights lesson, students read articles and documents related to torture used in government investigations and if medical ethical guidelines were adhered to. Students respond to discussion...

Students use a news article about the celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial to answer questions about Abraham Lincoln and the celebration. In this current events and US history activity based on a news article, students participate in...

Students read about the relationship the United States has with the United Kingdom as it relates to countries in the world being peaceful allies with each other.  In this U.S. and United Kingdom lesson, students complete a table...

Students participate in team-building activities. In this class identity lesson, students participate in activities and discussion that are intended to improve relationships between students.

High schoolers examine the War on Terror. In this national security lesson, students read articles about the War on Terror and President Obama's foreign policy. High schoolers respond to discussion questions and debate the...

Junior high and high school learners study infrastructure and its relationship to the current economy. They review handouts, watch a PBS clip, and review case studies in order to answer provided questions and role play over...

Students examine the American presidential election process. For this presidential election lesson, students discover details regarding the campaigns of McCain and Obama in the 2008 election. Students create timelines that feature the...

Eleventh graders explore the the major phases of the electoral process for president.  In this US Government lesson, 11th graders compare and contrast the delegate system of nomination and the electoral college. 

What better way to have a class learn about get out the vote campaigns than by having them create one themselves? After introducing get out the vote efforts and why they exist through videos, articles, and discussion questions, the...

Students explore an international terror alert originating in Yemen.  In this lesson, students read an article that explains a terror alert in Britain, then complete several activities that reinforce the reading, including a...

Students explore current events by analyzing a news article in class. In this school ban lesson, students read a story about a high school in London that has banned physical contact between all students. Students answer study questions...

Ninth graders examine the dress of diplomats. In this American Government activity, 9th graders read an article and answer guided questions. Students participate in a quiz on the reading.

Ninth graders examine the problems that exist in Haiti after the earthquake. In this disaster recovery lesson, 9th graders read an article and answer guided questions. Students create a presentation about the international rescue in...