School Improvement in Maryland
Political Systems: Advantages and Disadvantages
Every political system has advantages and disadvantages. To gain an understanding of these differences, groups investigate the political system of another country—oligarchy, monarchy, dictatorship, parliamentary—and prepare a...
North Carolina Consortium for Middle East Studies
Missing Pieces of the Puzzle: African Americans in Revolutionary Times
What's missing from most studies of the American Revolutionary War is information about the role African Americans played in the conflict. To correct this oversight, middle schoolers research groups like the Black Loyalists and Black...
National Endowment for the Humanities
What Happens in the White House?
Young historians complete a unit of lessons on the functions of the White House. They conduct Internet research, develop a list of activities that take place at the White House, and create a chronological timeline of events at the White...
Facing History and Ourselves
Laws and the National Community
When it comes to the law, is justice always served? Teach scholars about how law sometimes enables prejudice of entire groups of people with a unit on World War II that includes a warm-up activity, analysis of primary sources,...
Curated OER
Discovering Democracy in Canada: Federal Perspectives
Tenth graders research one aspect of government. They teach their peers co-operatively about the key elements of Democracy in Canada at the Federal Level by giving group presentations.
Curated OER
Ensuring Democracy in Iraq
Students explore what democracy means and how it can be spread to Iraq. They create strategies to ensure elections are fair. Students discuss the importance of fair voting conditions and the features of a democracy.
PBS
Journalism in War Time: What Does the Public Need to Know?
A viewing of the documentary War Feels Like War, launches an exploration of the importance of accurate and comprehensive war reporting. Groups investigate various news agencies and assess the factors that influence their stories. A...
Curated OER
What is Communism?
Eleventh graders explore Communism. They explore Communism's roots in economics and discuss the spread of Communism in the Eastern Hemisphere. They evaluate a Communistic and a Capitalistic society. Students reflect upon the positives...
Curated OER
What is a Puppy Mill?
Students consider community and legislative efforts to stop puppy mills. In this animal welfare lesson, students discuss the needs of pets and determine how puppy mills do not meet the needs of animals. Students research animal cruelty...
Curated OER
Complex Systems: The Development of Democracy in Iraq
Students study Iraq as an example of a developing democracy and learn if the many qualities needed to be a democracy exist there. They make a list of all the characteristics of democracy. Students analyze their research into a chart.
Curated OER
Democracy in the Middle East
Students explain that President Bush's foreign policy to promote democracy is a departure from the Cold War policy of containment, and examine the reasons this policy has been proposed at this time.
Curated OER
Plants -- What Are Their Parts and Functions?
Students identify the parts of a flowering plant and their functions. They describe its life cycle as well. They compare the parts of the plant to the roles that are needed in a democracy.
Deliberating in a Democracy
Marriage and the State
What defines marriage in society? Scholars investigate the moral and legal arguments of what defines marriage. They analyze different marriage traditions and social customs around the world along with Supreme Court decisions. Individuals...
Read Works
American Government Preamble to the United States Constitution
Observe Constitution Day with a worksheet that delves deep into the who, what, why, when, where, and how of the U.S. Constitution. Scholars read a short informational text then answer 10 questions—short answer and multiple choice.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
270 Votes to Win: The Electoral College in the United States
What exactly is the Electoral College and how does it work? The lesson plan is part of a larger series on government that explains what the Electoral College is and how it helps determine an election winner. Academics participate in...
DocsTeach
Election of 1800
The 2020 election is not the only unpredictable one in history. The Election of 1800 highlighted an unforeseen event in a presidential election. The activity reviews documents from the elections and what happened when the electoral...
Classroom Law Project
What do cartoonists see in this election?
Cartoons from the 2008 Presidential election provide the text for a lesson designed to help learners understand how political cartoonists use persuasive techniques to present a point of view.
DocsTeach
The School Lunch Program and the Federal Government
The school lunch program is rooted in the struggles of the Great Depression and is still assisting families today. Academics research documents and images relating to the creation of the school lunch program. Scholars use a worksheet to...
Beverly Hills High School
Dawn of the Revolution to The Reign of Terror
What was France like before the Revolution? Set the scene for the French Revolution with an informative PowerPoint presentation that covers the political, economic, and social divisions that led the people to revolt.
Curated OER
Truth, War and Consequences
Young scholars explore their understanding of democracy, while comparing their concept of democracy with other students. They also research the possibility of democracy in Iraq.
Curated OER
Understanding What Makes a Good News Story
Students explore the news sources at their school in order to write stories that reflect what's going on in all communities and to identify what makes a good story. In this news writing lesson, students journal about what makes a good...
Facing History and Ourselves
Citizen Watchdogs and the News
To conclude their case study of media coverage of the shooting of Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer, class members consider the role of citizen watchdogs in a democratic society, develop strategies for combating...
Curated OER
What Are Our Common Values?
Students make a poster. For this values lesson, students read the Preamble to the Constitution and discuss the core democratic values that are found there and in the Declaration of Independence. Students are each assigned a core...
Curated OER
Gandhi's Swaraj: Power to the People
Sixth graders discover what a swaraj is. In this world history lesson, 6th graders create a Venn Diagram comparing Gandhi's swaraj to American's democracy.