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Create a Goal and Discover Your "Why" - Facing History & Ourselves
Grades
6 to 12
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Help students move beyond choosing a goal to understanding why it matters with this ready-to-go reflection activity. Designed for grades 6-12, the 50-minute lesson guides students through...more
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Help students move beyond choosing a goal to understanding why it matters with this ready-to-go reflection activity. Designed for grades 6-12, the 50-minute lesson guides students through selecting a personal goal, making it specific and realistic, and repeatedly asking "why" to uncover the intrinsic motivation behind it. Students can choose goals related to positive choices, belonging and inclusion, wellness, academics, or extracurricular activities. They then consider how their goal connects with their identity and the person they hope to become and identify a small step they can take toward it. Teaching notes, discussion prompts, extension activities, and student handouts support implementation. Materials are also available through Google Drive with a free Facing History account.
tag(s): identity (49), social and emotional learning (235)
In the Classroom
Ask students to use the "Create a Goal and Find Your Why" handout to choose a personal goal for the school year and revise it until it is specific, realistic, and personally meaningful. Ask students to revisit their goals periodically throughout the semester or school year using a paper reflection log to record progress, setbacks, small wins, and a new short-term goal. Invite students to create a digital version of their "Why" poster with Canva for Education, reviewed here.
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Overcoming Obstacles - Community for Education Foundation
Grades
K to 12
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Looking for ready-to-go lessons that build practical life skills across grade levels? Overcoming Obstacles offers a free K-12 curriculum with hundreds of activity-based lessons that...more
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Looking for ready-to-go lessons that build practical life skills across grade levels? Overcoming Obstacles offers a free K-12 curriculum with hundreds of activity-based lessons that address 30+ skills, including communication, decision-making, goal setting, conflict resolution, problem-solving, respect, coping skills, career readiness, and financial management. Teachers can browse separate K-2, grades 3-5, middle school, and high school collections, then view or download individual lessons, activity sheets, complete curricula, student surveys, training materials, and translated resources. You can also customize many lessons in Google Docs, while activity sheets are available in Google Slides, PowerPoint, and PDF. The library includes translated activity sheets in more than 30 languages. You can access Core Digital Library materials without registration, but you need an account to use the site's personalized "My Overcoming Obstacles" features.
tag(s): social and emotional learning (235), communication (128), problem solving (286), empathy (81), financial literacy (91)
In the Classroom
Students can explore a life skill, such as empathy, perseverance, responsibility, or conflict resolution, through a ready-to-use lesson, then write an individual reflection connecting the skill to a situation they have experienced. Assign students to examine advertising techniques using the high school Managing Your Life materials, then have teams analyze sample advertisements for persuasive techniques and present evidence about how those techniques may influence consumer decisions. Ask students to synthesize a completed unit by creating their own review questions, then use Wordwall, reviewed here, to turn selected questions into a class review game or formative assessment.
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Bell Ringer: Claudette Colvin and the Civil Rights Movement - C-SPAN Classroom
Grades
6 to 12
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Learn about Claudette Colvin in this C-SPAN bell-ringer lesson featuring a video discussion with author Mattie Kahn. The Lesson includes a four-minute video, assignment questions, a...more
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Learn about Claudette Colvin in this C-SPAN bell-ringer lesson featuring a video discussion with author Mattie Kahn. The Lesson includes a four-minute video, assignment questions, a vocabulary list, and several links to related topics. Registration isn't required; however, creating a free account lets users bookmark and organize content.
tag(s): 1950s (36), civil rights (232), womenchangemaker (95), women (198)
In the Classroom
Use the additional resource links to support this bell-ringer activity as part of a larger lesson or unit. Extend learning by using this site as the foundation for creating a presentation using Visme Presentation Maker, reviewed here. Include the link to this bell-ringer in your prompt, and ask Visme to create a slide presentation about Claudette Colvin that includes additional information and context about her role as a change maker and civil rights proponent. Consider asking students to create short podcasts that feature women changemakers, including Claudette Colvin, using a free tool such as Adobe Podcast, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Earth Day Timeline - HISTORY.com
Grades
6 to 12
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Trace the environmental movement from the events that inspired Earth Day to its development into a worldwide observance with this chronological overview from HISTORY. Beginning with...more
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Trace the environmental movement from the events that inspired Earth Day to its development into a worldwide observance with this chronological overview from HISTORY. Beginning with Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson's birth in 1916, the timeline highlights Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire, the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, major environmental legislation, Earth Day's international expansion, the Paris climate agreement, Greta Thunberg's climate protests, and the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020. The combination of concise dated entries, photographs, related links, and a short video makes the resource useful for examining connections among environmental concerns, activism, government action, and changing public awareness. If your district blocks YouTube, you may not be able to view the videos.
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tag(s): climate (100), conservation (110), environment (248), earth day (68)
In the Classroom
Ask students to create a cause-and-effect chart connecting events such as Silent Spring, the Cuyahoga River fire, the first Earth Day, the establishment of the EPA, and subsequent environmental legislation. Have students work in pairs to investigate one event from the timeline more deeply, then create a visual timeline using Timeline Infographic Templates by Canva, reviewed here, that adds historical context to the events before and after it. Ask students to write an evidence-based response to the question, "How much difference can one public movement make?" using at least three events from the Earth Day timeline to support their argument.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching with Primary Sources Inquiry Kits - PBS Learning Media
Grades
6 to 12
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Teaching with Primary Sources Inquiry Kits contains primary sources of images, maps, audio, and video designed for students in grades 6-8 and 9-12. Each kit includes three thinking...more
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Teaching with Primary Sources Inquiry Kits contains primary sources of images, maps, audio, and video designed for students in grades 6-8 and 9-12. Each kit includes three thinking questions to guide students and web-based tools that let them analyze the historical sources. Some U.S. Inquiry Kits include Early America, A Nation Divided and Rebuilt, The United States in a Time of Crisis, and Modern America. The World History Inquiry Kits are: Growth of Civilizations, Building Empires, Collapse, Expansion, and Exploration, Geographic and Economic Change Shape the Nation, Global Crisis and Acceleration, and Globalization. In addition to the Inquiry Kits, there are Research Learning Modules for Students, ESOL Leveled Text and Thinking Questions, and a Primary Source Analysis Tool. All can be shared to Google Classroom.
tag(s): primary sources (184)
In the Classroom
Students can create timelines using Turbo Timeline Generator, reviewed here while learning about the Growth of Civilizations. Have students use Google Keep, reviewed here to take notes. Assign students to summarize their primary source by making a magazine cover using Magazine Cover Maker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Ultimate Guide to Teaching with Primary Sources - The Clever Teacher
Grades
4 to 12
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Using primary sources in your classroom? Check out the Ultimate Guide to Teaching with Primary Sources. Included in this post are the definitions of a primary source, how to teach ...more
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Using primary sources in your classroom? Check out the Ultimate Guide to Teaching with Primary Sources. Included in this post are the definitions of a primary source, how to teach using them, examples, where to find primary sources, and tips. Included in the Examples of Primary Sources are a Description of the Primary Source, Classroom Discussion Questions, and Resources for this Primary Source.
tag(s): primary sources (184)
In the Classroom
Students can use Vmaker, reviewed here to answer the discussion questions that are posted under the primary sources. Ask students to use graphic organizers from Canva for Education, reviewed here to help summarize the primary source. Have students use AhaSlides, reviewed here to create a word cloud of important facts related to the primary source.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching with Primary Sources - Thinkport
Grades
K to 12
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Teaching with Primary Sources, from Thinkport, helps educators deepen students' understanding of history by using primary sources from the Library of Congress. Resources are organized...more
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Teaching with Primary Sources, from Thinkport, helps educators deepen students' understanding of history by using primary sources from the Library of Congress. Resources are organized into three main areas: Inquiry Kits and Research Learning, Music as a Primary Source, and Civic Learning, with each section connecting teachers to additional lessons, activities, and websites. Most resources are designed for middle and high school students, although some materials and inquiry activities are appropriate for elementary learners as well.
tag(s): primary sources (184), inquiry (42), evaluating sources (61), critical thinking (194)
In the Classroom
Students can use Seesaw, reviewed here to take notes as they are doing their research. Have students create their own podcast using Adobe Podcast, reviewed here showcasing their learning. Assign students to compare and contrast primary sources in a Venn diagram using Google Drawing, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Government Anchor Charts - Teachers Pay Teachers
Grades
K to 12
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Build a ready-to-use government resource collection with this filtered Teachers Pay Teachers search featuring free anchor charts, posters, reference sheets, graphic organizers, and...more
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Build a ready-to-use government resource collection with this filtered Teachers Pay Teachers search featuring free anchor charts, posters, reference sheets, graphic organizers, and related classroom materials. The current search includes more than 40 results and lets you sort by relevance, rating, price, or date. The results cover the three branches of government, levels of government, the president's role, principles of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, civics vocabulary, and related U.S. history concepts. Materials span elementary through high school, with some resources also identified for adult or higher education. Teachers should preview individual items carefully because grade levels, formats, instructional depth, standards alignment, and quality vary by creator. Although the page filters for free resources, TPT also shows suggestions for paid resources in the results. Downloads require users to log in to TPT.
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tag(s): civics (142), branches of government (69), bill of rights (48), constitution (111), presidents (155)
In the Classroom
Students can compare the legislative, executive, and judicial branches using one of the free anchor charts, then organize similarities and differences with 2 and 3 Interactive Venn Diagrams by Class Tools, reviewed here. Ask pairs to annotate a printed anchor chart by highlighting key responsibilities, circling unfamiliar vocabulary, and adding examples from current or historical events, then have them explain one connection to the class. Assign students to compare federal, state, and local responsibilities, then plot examples of government services or civic institutions on Google My Maps, reviewed here, to create an annotated government-in-the-community map.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Civic Engagement for Students - Greater Good in Education
Grades
4 to 12
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Help students see civic engagement as more than voting or learning about government with this research-based overview from Greater Good in Education. The resource defines civic engagement...more
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Help students see civic engagement as more than voting or learning about government with this research-based overview from Greater Good in Education. The resource defines civic engagement as taking action to improve communities and shape the future through volunteering, advocacy, and community projects. It links civic participation to social responsibility, empathy, teamwork, fairness, civility, community awareness, and the belief that one's voice matters. Teachers can also explore a large collection of related practices for different grade levels and time commitments, including activities on collaborative problem solving, bridging differences, speaking up against prejudice, community listening, climate awareness, and civic empowerment. This page also summarizes research connecting civic engagement with resilience, well-being, school engagement, connectedness, and positive youth development.
In the Classroom
Most activities and ideas on the site work for middle and high school; however, you can adapt them for upper elementary students. Have students identify a school or community issue they care about, research who it affects and why, and create a realistic action plan that includes at least one way young people can contribute. Invite pairs to investigate a community problem and organize possible causes, stakeholders, and solutions on Padlet, reviewed here, before combining ideas into a class civic-action board. Have students research a person who improved a community or advocated for change and create a biography or concept card with Trading Card Creator, reviewed here, emphasizing the person's actions, goals, and impact.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Immigration and Citizenship - Bill of Rights Institute
Grades
8 to 12
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Give students historical context for one of the most enduring civic debates in the United States with this three-lesson curriculum on immigration and citizenship. The sequence moves...more
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Give students historical context for one of the most enduring civic debates in the United States with this three-lesson curriculum on immigration and citizenship. The sequence moves from the history and experiences of immigration in the United States to the development of immigration law and policy, and finally to modern immigration debates. Students examine why immigrants came to the United States, challenges they encountered, how lawmakers' views and policies changed over time, and how historical knowledge can inform present-day policy discussions. The final lesson asks students to research, write, present, and discuss immigration proposals with civility, making the collection especially useful for inquiry, evidence-based argument, and civic discussion.
tag(s): immigration (87), primary sources (184)
In the Classroom
Ask students to analyze excerpts from immigration laws and related primary sources in small groups, then create a chronological overview with the Timeline Tool by Read Write Think, reviewed here, showing major changes in U.S. immigration policy. Have students synthesize their research into a presentation explaining a proposed immigration policy and its historical context with Microsoft PowerPoint Online, reviewed here, then respond to peer questions using evidence. Ask students to complete a final reflection comparing their views before and after the unit and identifying which historical evidence most influenced or complicated their thinking.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Critical Media Literacy and Civic Learning: Interactive Explorations for Students and Teachers - Maloy, R. W., Trust, T., Butler, A., & Xu, C.
Grades
K to 12
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Critical Media Literacy and Civic Learning is an interactive, multimodal, multicultural, open-access eBook connecting key civics concepts with critical media literacy activities. The...more
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Critical Media Literacy and Civic Learning is an interactive, multimodal, multicultural, open-access eBook connecting key civics concepts with critical media literacy activities. The book includes a topic area with downloadable critical media literacy guides, each covering different components of media, including social media, advertisements, and more. The following seven topics focus on civics topics, including the foundations of the U.S. political system and the development of the U.S. government, and conclude with freedom of the press and news/media literacy. Chapters include videos, examples, additional resources, and activity suggestions. Read or listen to the book online, or download as a document or audio file. This book is also available in Spanish.
tag(s): ebooks (47), professional development (317), media literacy (140), civics (142), artificial intelligence (368)
In the Classroom
Add this to your professional book list to help you understand and teach media literacy. Consider creating a collection on Wakelet, reviewed here to curate and save professional materials for easy access. Use the teacher and student media literacy guides as part of your lessons on media literacy. Each guide includes several questions for students to discuss; add each of the questions to a column on Padlet, reviewed here to create a living document containing students' responses and links to their research.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tips for Mock Elections That Offer Real Lessons on Democracy - Education Week
Grades
5 to 12
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Turn a classroom mock election into a practical lesson about how voting actually works with this concise, two-page Education Week resource. Rather than focusing only on campaign signs...more
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Turn a classroom mock election into a practical lesson about how voting actually works with this concise, two-page Education Week resource. Rather than focusing only on campaign signs or presidential candidates, the guide encourages teachers to recreate authentic voting procedures, introduce registration and absentee ballots, explore state and local races, invite election officials into the classroom, and connect students with local voting practices. It also suggests age-appropriate alternatives for younger learners and explains how districtwide or statewide mock elections can help students examine popular and Electoral College results. A resource list points teachers toward additional materials from iCivics, Scholastic, the Teaching for Democracy Alliance, and the News Literacy Project.
tag(s): electoral college (24), elections (92), civics (142)
In the Classroom
Ask students to work in pairs to compare the popular vote and Electoral College using the 2 and 3 Interactive Venn Diagrams by Class Tools, reviewed here, then write a short explanation of how the two systems differ. Have students examine sample ballots and voter guides, sort unfamiliar election vocabulary into categories, and create a class review activity with Wordwall, reviewed here. Invite younger students to develop an age-appropriate ballot on a familiar issue such as a classroom choice, recess activity, or school policy, then conduct the election using registration lists, private voting, ballot collection, and vote counting so students practice the process described in the resource.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Bill of Rights Institute - Bill of Rights Institute
Grades
K to 12
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Bring primary sources, constitutional questions, and inquiry-based civics into the classroom with the Bill of Rights Institute's extensive collection of free, classroom-ready resources...more
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Bring primary sources, constitutional questions, and inquiry-based civics into the classroom with the Bill of Rights Institute's extensive collection of free, classroom-ready resources for elementary through high school. Teachers can browse lessons, activities, essays, primary sources, videos, podcasts, and complete curricula by grade level, topic, era, or standard. Materials cover U.S. history, government, the Constitution, civil liberties, Supreme Court cases, founding principles, civic virtues, and current issues, with many lessons encouraging document analysis, evidence-based argument, discussion, and civic action. The site also includes student-facing videos, games, contests, and current-events resources. Resources are scholar-reviewed and standards-informed, and educators can use a State Standards Alignment Tool to find materials aligned with their requirements.
tag(s): bill of rights (48), constitution (111), civics (142), primary sources (184), supreme court (37), declaration of independence (27)
In the Classroom
Have students examine several primary sources from the same historical controversy, annotate evidence for competing viewpoints, and then use Google Drawings reviewed here, to organize quotations and conclusions into a visual evidence map. Invite students to investigate how a constitutional issue developed in different locations and create an annotated map with StoryMap JS, reviewed here. Ask students to prepare evidence from Bill of Rights Institute readings for a structured whole-class debate, then use AhaSlides, reviewed here, to collect a before-and-after poll, quiz responses, or a word cloud showing how class thinking changed.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Class2Class- Discover Projects - Class2Class ApS
Grades
K to 12
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Bring the world into your classroom with Class2Class.org, a global collaboration platform where teachers can find, join, or create projects with classrooms worldwide. The Discover Projects...more
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Bring the world into your classroom with Class2Class.org, a global collaboration platform where teachers can find, join, or create projects with classrooms worldwide. The Discover Projects area includes searchable opportunities organized by student age, language, starting month, and project status, with activities ranging from cultural exchanges and storytelling to debates, sustainability investigations, Model UN, and problem-solving around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Projects commonly ask students to research, discuss, compare perspectives, collaborate with international peers, and create products such as videos, profiles, reports, infographics, displays, or presentations. Teachers can also use ready-to-use activities and lesson plans rather than building an international project from scratch. The platform is free for teachers and students, and teachers create and manage student accounts.
tag(s): Project Based Learning (32), collaboration (146), problem solving (286)
In the Classroom
Have students synthesize what they learned from an international exchange by creating a short podcast with Adobe Podcast, reviewed here, explaining how another culture's perspective changed or expanded their thinking. Invite students to exchange interviews or personal stories with a partner classroom, then turn their findings into a digital story with Book Creator, reviewed here, combining text, images, and reflections. Assign small groups a global issue represented in one of the Class2Class projects and have them prepare evidence-based positions for a live or recorded debate, using the exchange with international classmates to challenge assumptions and strengthen arguments.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching Critical Thinking - Annenberg Classroom
Grades
8 to 12
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Give students practical ways to question claims, recognize faulty reasoning, evaluate sources, and construct stronger arguments with this collection of ready-to-use critical-thinking...more
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Give students practical ways to question claims, recognize faulty reasoning, evaluate sources, and construct stronger arguments with this collection of ready-to-use critical-thinking lessons. Topics include premises and conclusions, background beliefs, emotionally loaded language, source credibility, bias, logical fallacies, political advertising, misleading statistics, and fact-checking. Each lesson includes background information, objectives, instructions, classroom exercises, printable student and teacher handouts, key terms, and standards connections. Several activities use political or commercial advertisements and historical election examples, so teachers should preview materials for relevance and context. Some lessons include YouTube clips and other external videos. If your district blocks YouTube, the video(s) may not be viewable.
tag(s): media literacy (140), evaluating sources (61), bias (38), logic (174), critical thinking (194)
In the Classroom
Assign small groups a political or commercial advertisement to analyze for emotional language, omitted information, source credibility, and logical fallacies, then have each group create an annotated image using Phrase.it, reviewed here, which allows students to add speech bubbles to uploaded images. Ask students to rewrite a weak or fallacious argument as a logically sound persuasive paragraph, then exchange drafts for peer feedback focused on evidence, reasoning, and counterclaims. Have students create a collaborative review game in Wayground, formerly Quizizz, reviewed here, to practice identifying misleading language, faulty reasoning, source bias, and argument structure.
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Mock Election - iCivics Education
Grades
6 to 12
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Give students firsthand experience with the election process through this three-day classroom simulation from iCivics. Building on skills from the related Electoral Process lesson,...more
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Give students firsthand experience with the election process through this three-day classroom simulation from iCivics. Building on skills from the related Electoral Process lesson, students move from party formation through campaigning and voting as they simulate a national election in their own classroom. The ready-to-go materials include a lesson overview plus separate handouts and worksheets for each of the three days, making the activity easy to divide into manageable class sessions. The Share My Lesson page provides four downloadable PDF files along with a link to the original iCivics resource. To download the files, you must log in to Share My Lesson.
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In the Classroom
Invite candidates or campaign teams to create brief campaign presentations with Adobe Creative Cloud Express, reviewed here. Ask pairs to examine campaign claims and sort them into categories such as evidence-based arguments, opinions, promises, and persuasive techniques, then discuss which approaches are most convincing to voters. Have students conduct a pre-election and post-election opinion poll with Google Forms, reviewed here, then compare the results to determine whether campaigning changed voters' preferences.
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Annenberg Classroom Lesson Plans - Annenberg Classroom
Grades
6 to 12
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Build a civics or U.S. government lesson around ready-to-use materials from this searchable Annenberg Classroom collection. The archive includes more than 70 lesson plans covering constitutional...more
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Build a civics or U.S. government lesson around ready-to-use materials from this searchable Annenberg Classroom collection. The archive includes more than 70 lesson plans covering constitutional principles, Supreme Court cases, civil rights, the branches of government, federalism, lawmaking, media literacy, source evaluation, logical fallacies, and other critical-thinking skills. Many lessons accompany Annenberg Classroom documentaries and provide background information, learning objectives, discussion prompts, primary-source work, research tasks, assessments, and extension activities. Recent entries are labeled for middle or high school, while some individual guides reach upper-elementary learners. Teachers should check each lesson's grade designation, timing, required technology, and potentially sensitive legal or historical content before use.
tag(s): world war 2 (168), womens suffrage (65), presidents (155), Juneteenth (33), critical thinking (194), media literacy (140), primary sources (184), branches of government (69), bill of rights (48), civics (142), supreme court (37), constitution (111)
In the Classroom
Assign small groups different Supreme Court cases and have them create a case comparison presentation with AhaSlides, reviewed here, identifying the constitutional question, ruling, reasoning, and lasting impact. Have students arrange amendments, court decisions, laws, and historical events on Padlet, reviewed here, using its easy and age-friendly Timeline board to show how a constitutional principle developed over time. Invite students to conduct a mock congressional hearing or Supreme Court argument in which they question witnesses, cite constitutional evidence, and defend a final position.
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Landmark Supreme Court Cases - Annenberg Classroom
Grades
6 to 12
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Bring constitutional law to life through a collection of documentaries and conversations centered on major Supreme Court decisions. Students can explore cases involving equal protection,...more
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Bring constitutional law to life through a collection of documentaries and conversations centered on major Supreme Court decisions. Students can explore cases involving equal protection, school segregation, free speech, freedom of the press, search and seizure, voting rights, criminal procedure, federalism, presidential power, judicial independence, and wartime civil liberties. Featured cases include Brown v. Board of Education, Miranda v. Arizona, Mapp v. Ohio, Korematsu v. United States, New York Times v. United States, McCulloch v. Maryland, and Yick Wo v. Hopkins. Many films combine historical footage with commentary from Supreme Court justices, constitutional scholars, attorneys, plaintiffs, and students. The collection works well for case-study units, amendment review, evidence-based discussion, and comparisons of how constitutional interpretation changes over time. Teachers should preview selections involving racism, incarceration, war, capital punishment, antisemitism, or other sensitive topics before sharing them with students.
tag(s): supreme court (37), civil rights (232), constitution (111), freedom of speech (17), segregation (22)
In the Classroom
Assign small groups different cases involving the same constitutional right, then have them create a comparison presentation in Adobe Express for Education, reviewed here. Ask students to compare two decisions with the 2 and 3 Interactive Venn Diagrams by Class Tools, reviewed here, identifying shared principles, different facts, competing rights, and contrasting outcomes. Have students conduct a moot-court hearing in which attorneys present arguments, justices ask questions, and each student writes a majority or dissenting opinion supported by constitutional language and precedent.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Annenberg Guide to the United States Constitution - Annenberg Classroom
Grades
6 to 12
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Place the Constitution's original language beside a student-friendly explanation with this interactive reference guide from Annenberg Classroom. The resource moves from the Preamble...more
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Place the Constitution's original language beside a student-friendly explanation with this interactive reference guide from Annenberg Classroom. The resource moves from the Preamble through all seven articles and 27 amendments, presenting each section as "The Text" and "What It Means." Explanations clarify the document's language, historical context, governmental structure, individual rights, and connections to court decisions. Teachers can use the guide as a focused reference during civics lessons, while students can navigate directly to a particular article or amendment for close reading, research, or case analysis. The guide is part of a larger free collection that includes constitutional videos, games, timelines, downloadable books, and glossaries.
tag(s): constitution (111), bill of rights (48), primary sources (184), civics (142)
In the Classroom
Have students read one section of the Constitution and its "What It Means" explanation, then rewrite the section in their own words without changing its legal meaning. Ask student pairs to annotate the Preamble by matching each stated goal with a historical or present-day example of government action. Use Google Forms reviewed here, for an exit assessment in which students interpret an unfamiliar constitutional passage, identify the relevant principle, and support their explanation with textual evidence.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching the Constitution - Annenberg Classroom
Grades
6 to 12
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Find a constitutional topic and move directly to a collection of supporting classroom materials with this organized teaching guide from Annenberg Classroom. Resources are grouped by...more
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Find a constitutional topic and move directly to a collection of supporting classroom materials with this organized teaching guide from Annenberg Classroom. Resources are grouped by the Constitution's articles, branches of government, amendments, and landmark Supreme Court cases, making it easy to connect a unit or current issue to relevant videos, lesson plans, games, and timelines. Topics include separation of powers, federalism, the legislative process, presidential authority, judicial independence, the Bill of Rights, freedom of speech and the press, due process, voting rights, equal protection, and other constitutional principles. Many videos provide historical footage and commentary from legal scholars, Supreme Court justices, attorneys, and people connected to significant cases. The broader site also offers an interactive Constitution guide that pairs the original text with plain-language explanations. Materials are free and primarily intended for middle and high school civics instruction.
tag(s): constitution (111), bill of rights (48), freedom of speech (17), primary sources (184), supreme court (37)
In the Classroom
Invite students to research a landmark case and create a person or concept card with Trading Card Creator, reviewed here, summarizing the parties, constitutional question, ruling, and long-term significance. Ask students to compare two constitutional rights with the 2 and 3 Interactive Venn Diagrams by Class Tools, reviewed here, identifying their origins, limits, landmark cases, and continuing debates. Have students stage a mock Supreme Court conference in which justices question opposing attorneys, discuss relevant constitutional language, and write a majority or dissenting opinion supported by precedent.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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