Street Law
The Challenge of Selecting an Ideal Supreme Court Nominee
Nearly every president has had the opportunity to name a nominee to the United States Supreme Court. But what makes someone an ideal candidate to become a Supreme Court justice? High schoolers test their prior knowledge about the...
Facing History and Ourselves
Confirmation and Other Biases
As the investigation into the reporting of the events in Ferguson, Missouri, continues, class members consider how bias influences perception, how the tendency is to collect evidence that supports preconceived notions. The big idea...
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Recipe for an Inaugural Address
An inaugural address represents the first moments of a new beginning. Using John F. Kennedy's speech as a model for guided practice, groups examine the ingredients of an inaugural address. Individuals then repeat the analysis...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Campaign Echoes
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about the 2008 Presidential campaign and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Primary Targets
In this current events activity, students analyze a political cartoon about primary elections and respond to 3 short answer questions.
PBS
The Big Picture-Economic Security in the Country and your Community
High schoolers explore economic security at the local and national level during the time period preceding the 2008 presidential election. They fill out surveys on their thoughts and concerns regarding the US economy, and watch...
Curated OER
TV ATTACK ADS AND THE VOTER
Students read about the history of negative political advertisements in U.S. elections. In this politics lesson, students view several ads for opposing candidates and analyze and discuss the content. Students write scripts for candidates...
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: The Eisenhower Era
Starting with the election results of Eisenhower over Stevenson in 1952, this presentation features additional maps about the elections of 1956 and 1960, with electoral votes by state. Additional slides detail the Far East (Vietnam,...
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: Drifting Toward Disunion
A series of maps take viewers through the Antebellum period in American history. Focusing on the elections of Buchanan and Lincoln, as well as the Southern opposition to secession, the slideshow would make a good companion to a lecture...
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: The War to End Wars
While World War I was more of a link of the chain of events in the early 20th century, its historical reputation as "the war to end all wars" has carried through the decades since. This series of slides, though short, shows the major...
Curated OER
The Jackson Inauguration: King Mob or Champion of Democracy?
Students examine and describe Andrew Jackson's 1828 inauguration, identify ways Jackson's election signaled important changes in American political landscape, discuss how Jackson embodied political culture of his era, and compare...
Curated OER
The Great Depression and New Deal
Elementary pupils are introduced to the Great Depression as a critical period of hardship in United States history. They engage in collaborative assignments researching the Dust Bowl, the New Deal, US presidents, and presidential libraries.
School Improvement in Maryland
Demographic Investigation
What are the factors that influence voting patterns? How do these factors influence government funding? Is participation the squeaky wheel gets the grease? Class members interpret graphs and analyze trends to determine what...
Curated OER
President Warren Harding
In this US history worksheet, students read a biography about President Warren Harding and answer 10 true and false questions.
Curated OER
The Geography of the United States
Full of bright maps and interesting information, this presentation details U.S. Geography. Slides include basic facts about size, regions, topography, and demographics, as well as fascinating trivia about the United States, including...
Curated OER
he Inauguration and the Media
Students read, review, and write about the presidential inauguration as it appears in the media. They use local local and national newspapers to gain information about the inauguration. Students develop their own editorial on the...
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Shadow of War
Very briefly detailing the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt, this slideshow consists of two maps, the first of which shows the election results in 1940, and the second of which indicates the main flow of Lend-Lease Aid. An instructor...
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad
Many various pieces of information about the Wilson administration adorn these slides. For instance, a map with 1912 election results, a chart detailing the organization of holding companies, and another map outlining U.S. presence in...
ProCon
Voting Machines
Does technology always mean advancement? Scholars take a close look at the use of voting machines. Does using a machine make voting more effective? Readers consider the advantages and disadvantages of the current voting process. They...
Curated OER
The War of 1812
A good addition to a unit on the War of 1812, this slideshow details causes, specific battles, political contexts, and several campaigns of the war. Maps and pictures with broad topics allow teachers to bring their own discussion topics...
Curated OER
Magnetic Polls
Students explore the New Hampshire primaries and the polling process by analyzing polling information, examining the effects of polls, and creating graphs that represent polling data.
Curated OER
Campaign 2004: Classroom Electorate
Students role play as political analysts first forecasting the electoral college vote in a presidential election and then, following the results of the actual count. They study the role of swing states, and why political participation is...
Curated OER
The U.S. Recognition of the State of Israel
Students research the political aspects of the U.S. position in the Middle East, considering, for example, Truman's position in view of the 1948 presidential election. They examine a telegram sent by the Secretary of State, George C....
Curated OER
My Country, My Country: To Vote or Not to Vote
Students view a film about elections in Iraq. They examine the story of a doctor and his decisions to vote. They work together to complete a worksheet about voter turnout.