A Community Responds

The deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice, and the protests that followed the 2014 shootings, are the focus of a current-events activity that asks class members to brainstorm and research possible strategies to address the...

As part of a study of immigration law, class members read a summary of the Supreme Court case, Arizona v. United States. They then examine a series of examples and acting as federal court judges, must determine if the scenarios...

Eleventh graders explore the reasons for migration to California during the Gold Rush.  In this American History lesson, 11th graders read letters about the opportunities and obstacles people faced.  Students create a map of...

Eleventh graders examine the effect of the Vietnam War on California. They work together to research social movements that occured during this period and its outcomes. They also interview veterans to better understand the impact of the...

Open up, we have a search warrant! The 27th installment of a 50-part US government and politics series investigates the concept of just how the police can search people's belongings. The short video clip explores how, why, and when the...

Suggested lesson plan to be used with the P.O.V. documentary "Every Mother's Son" but may be adapted for use without. Students describe examples of police brutality and explore the larger systemic problems related to policing. They also...

Excessive or reasonable force by police? Explore this research on law enforcement and racial conflict.

Americans love to learn about their rights, especially those that protect them from the government's power to invade their privacy. Young people are especially engaged by this topic. An informative lesson explores four Supreme Court...

A diverse group of scientists recently solved the 3000 year-old case of how King Tut died. [1:39]

Students examine the balance between civil liberties and protection. In this national security lesson, students explore the Korematsu case which references the Japanese internment camps of World War II. Students draw comparisons between...