All Men Are Created Equal

The post-Revolutionary Period of 1781-1787, also known as the Critical Period, is the focus of a series of lessons that prompt class members to examine primary source documents that reveal the instability of the period of the Articles of...

An incredibly detailed and focused resource, this cross-curricular unit uses text dependent questions, primary sources, and close reading to help readers interpret and analyze the content and structure of Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg...

"The Gettysburg Address" is the basis of a series of activities that not only model for learners how to conduct a close reading of a text, but also how a close reading can help them comprehend a difficult text. The detailed, step-by-step...

Has equality always existed as an unalienable right in the United States? Use this activity to chronicle the history and progression of equality in major documents and speeches throughout American history. The graphic organizer asks...

In an engaging activity on universal and unalienable rights, learners work in groups to establish a democratic nation and determine what principles they want to protect to ensure a democratic society. They conduct a "rights auction" in...

If you've never heard of the Equal Rights Amendment, it's probably because there isn't one in the United States Constitution. Delve into the contentious history behind the ERA, its founders and supporters, and reasons for its political...

All animals are comrades in a thorough unit plan for George Orwell's Animal Farm. With reading comprehension questions, research project ideas, resources for building prior knowledge about the Russian Revolution, and many ways to extend...

Know your rights! A social studies resource features lecture notes and review questions that focus on rights guaranteed to American citizens by Constitutional amendments. Additionally, it connects modern-day issues and court cases to the...

Who was George Washington? What were the events and principles that formed his character and made him the man he was? To gain insight into this amazing individual, pupils examine multiple primary source materials, from his childhood...

"Promises Denied," the second lesson in a unit that asks learners to consider the responsibilities individuals have to uphold human rights, looks at documents that illustrate the difficulty the US has had trying to live up to the ideals...