Fish Traps Roundtable

What does the government do, exactly? Scholars investigate the many roles government plays in the everyday lives of Americans. The short video clip leads to open discussion of the functions of government and politics in the United States. 

From the birth of the New Deal during the Great Depression to today's debate on Social Security, the government has had its hand in social reform. Should the government take care of, and pay for, every social issue in the nation?...

Who is responsible for protecting the environment, and who should pay when it is damaged? The role of government and private industry is complicated. A role-play simulation prompts individuals to decide how to protect a fictitious town...

Seward's Folly or brilliant strategic move? Class members investigate primary source documents from each country to determine the rationales behind the sale and purchase of Alaska, and then stage a debate.

Make connections with past history and current events with this critical thinking exercise. Kids read background information relating to Alaska's statehood as well as information on oil drilling and Alaska's economy. They put it all...

A fun and interesting teacher describes the three branches of the US government. His lecture style and ability to explain with good examples could be a really big help to older students needing a tutorial or extra support in...

Why do scholars go to school? Is it due to self-interest and wanting more for themselves? Adam Smith's concept of competition spearheads the third lesson of a 21-part economic series from Econ Lowdown. Scholars investigate how...

A chapter taken from the U.S. State Department's "Outline of U.S. Government," that focuses on the foundation of American representative democracy. Provides comparison with other democracies, along with the essential role of the U.S....

A simulation gives scholars a personal look at what goes into forming a government. Each of them is assigned 1 of 4 tribes which make up Borka, a hypothetical country. The tribe distribution is based on the percentage of people in each....

This single link includes six New York Times articles for learners to read. Each article relates to the Chinese culture, government, school system, or economics in some way. Each also includes a set of comprehension questions for...