Browse lesson plans

1869: A report on schools in North Carolina

In this lesson, students look at a report on the status of education in North Carolina in 1869 and discuss the reasons given then for why the Governor and Legislature should support educating North Carolina's children. They are provided an opportunity to compare and contrast the 1869 document against their own ideas about the civic duty to attend school through age sixteen and its relative value to the state and the country.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Victoria Schaefer.

Branching out into politics: The structure of federal and state government

In CareerStart lessons: Grade eight, page 6.4

In this lesson plan for grade eight, students learn how the three branches of the U.S. government work together to accomplish their goals at the federal and state level.

Format: lesson plan

By Andrea Stewart, Keisha Gabriel, and Patty Grant.

Does my vote count? Teaching the electoral college

In Election 2008, page 4.4

Students will learn about the electoral process and its history through reading, research, and discussion. They will then convene a constitutional convention to debate altering this process.

Format: lesson plan (grade 10 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By David Walbert.

The five parts of the Fifth

This lesson will focus on the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution and its intent to provide due process to citizens. Students will engage in writing, discussion, cooperative learning, art, and theatrical activities in gaining an understanding of the Amendment and its concepts.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–10 Social Studies)

By Keith Leary.

Goodbye, Bill Of Rights!

Students will enact a scene demonstrating life without one of the first ten amendments. Students will be put into groups of three or four and assigned a specific amendment to research.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–10 Social Studies)

By Greg Simmons.

"I Declare, I believe this document May Flower!"

The learner will apply ideas of self-government as expressed in America's founding documents. To be used with/for SLD and other exceptional students.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–10 English Language Arts)

By Gary Peterson.

Send me to Congress

Students learn about the qualifications for and job descriptions of members of the U.S.Senate or the U.S.House of Representatives by designing and creating a campaign brochure. Students apply their knowledge of these requirements by "selling" their candidate to the general public.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 Social Studies)

By Tim Raines.

There's more out there than just Democrats and Republicans!

Students will use the internet to research minority political parties and interest groups. Students will create a PowerPoint presentation (or other type of presentation), write a paper, and create a commercial advertisement for their group using a propaganda technique.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 Social Studies)

By Abby Stotsenberg.

Resources on the web

American Experience

Over 75 features that accompany the PBS series The American Experience, that document people and events that shaped United States history. Find video, audio, maps, images, and other resources that explore Presidents, Biographies, War and Politics,... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: PBS

The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden

Incorporates presidential artifacts with informative articles that address many common and uncommon aspects of the ever-changing American presidency. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History

The American Revolution - Lighting Freedom's Flame

Students can explore the Revolutionary War period through stories, a timeline of events, biographies of the key players, and much more. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: National Park Service

Balancing three branches at once: Our system of checks and balances

This page contains four EDSITEment lessons in which students use primary source documents to investigate how the three branches of the American government can check each other. By the end of these lessons, not only will students be able to name the three... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Social Studies)

Provided by: EDSITEment

Beyond the Fire: Teen Experiences of War

The film Beyond the Fire introduces the real-life stories of 15 teenagers, now living in the U.S., who have survived war in seven war zones. These stories tell of loss, hope, fear, strength and despair—and most of all, resilience. At this... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Independent Television Service

The Bill of Rights Institute

Instructional materials, lesson plans, and professional development programs are offered on this site which helps educators teach students about the founding documents of the United States and their principles. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: The Bill of Rights Institute

British National Archives

The British National Archives website is full of records and guidelines for conducting research and has a component specifically for school use. There are guides for using records and conducting research, including the electronic databases. There are topics... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: National Archives of England, Wales and the United Kingdom

C-SPAN Classroom Resources

Lesson plans include video clips, discussion questions, and booknotes for selected units. Some plans, such as the Checks and Balances lesson plan, contain a Fun Fact, Capitol Question (with link to the answer), Learn More, and Review Quiz, in addition to... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: C-SPAN

Carnegie Council

A clean, easy to navigate site that acts as the “Voice for Ethics in International Policy”. This site offers articles, podcasts, events and programs. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Celebrating Constitution Day

Provides a lesson plan and material from a variety of electronic CQ Press sources to help instructors and students observe Constitution Day. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: CQ Press

Children's BBC Newsround

A United Kingdom news website with articles about events, arts and science that will be useful to anyone interested in what's happening in the world. Browse thematic picturecollections, play a game, participate in an online opinion poll, or just catch up... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: BBC News

CongressLink

Provides information about the current Congress, about the Congress as an institution, and resources for teachers to help teach about the Congress. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: The Dirksen Congressional Center