776 government-civics-us results | sort by:
Ken Burns in the Classroom: Thomas Jefferson - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): declaration of independence (16), jefferson (21), presidents (150)
In the Classroom
Students can use Class Tools reviewed here to create a timeline of events leading up to the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Students can use Figma reviewed here to compare and contrast Thomas Jefferson with another president.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Pop Culture - PBS Learning
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1910s (26), 1920s (25), 1960s (55), cultures (289), great depression (33), womens suffrage (64)
In the Classroom
After watching The Crash of 1929 - Primary Resources: Headlines, students can use Story Maps, reviewed here to create a cause-and-effect diagram for the Crash. Students can review the Annie Oakley series to create a digital story using Book Creator, reviewed here that includes famous Americans. Students can use Padlet, reviewed here to post questions after each video.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Science and Technology - PBS Learning
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): 1920s (25), 1940s (70), 1950s (33), 1960s (55), 1970s (30), 1980s (21), cold war (37), inventors and inventions (87), space (242), world war 1 (85)
In the Classroom
After watching "Tesla: Early Experiments with Wireless Power," students can continue to research Tesla's history by completing a timeline using Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here. After watching Sputnik's Launch Begins the Space Race | Chasing the Moon, students can use Google Drawings, reviewed here to compare and contrast the space race between the United States and Russia. Students can also research using Kiddle, reviewed here about what advancements have been made in fire safety, work conditions, and immigration since the Triangle Fire.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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PBS Learning: The American West - PBS Learning: The American West
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): railroads (17), westward expansion (42)
In the Classroom
Students can review the Annie Oakley or Transcontinental Railroad series to create a story using Book Creator, reviewed here of famous Americans. Students can use Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here to create a timeline for the transcontinental railroad. Students can also use Free Online Screen Recorder, reviewed here to create a promotional video to encourage people to use the transcontinental railroad.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Experience: War - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1960s (55), cold war (37), propaganda (9), vietnam (40), world war 1 (85), world war 2 (169)
In the Classroom
Students can use Google Drawing reviewed here to create a pros and cons chart after viewing the media gallery on U.S. Support for the Shah of Iran: Pros and Cons | Taken Hostage. After engaging in the lesson on Technology and WWI: The Transformation of Codebreaking During the Great War, students can input the technology transformation in MyLens reviewed here. Students can interview veterans and create a podcast using Spotify reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Experience: Women - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): women (186), womenchangemaker (78), womens suffrage (64)
In the Classroom
Students can complete the lesson available from PBS. Students can use Kiddle reviewed here to learn more about the time period. Students can use Book Creator reviewed here to make a book featuring famous women.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Zitkala-Sa/Gertrude Simmons Bonnin - Unladylike 2020
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): native americans (131), politics (124), women (186), womenchangemaker (78)
In the Classroom
Have students read one of Zitkala-Sa/Gertrude Simmons Bonnin's books. Students can listen to her music and use Answer Garden, reviewed here to write down words that they feel as they are listening to her music, then view their word cloud. Finally, students can create a book using Book Creator, reviewed here to create a book of Indigenous rights activists.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Washington Crossing the Delaware Painting: Mount Vernon - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
4 to 10tag(s): art history (103), presidents (150), washington (34)
In the Classroom
Show the painting without context and have students write short reactions or questions on sticky notes. Then, play the video and discuss how their initial impressions compare to what they learned. While watching the video, students can take notes on symbols in the painting (ex., the flag, Washington's posture, ice chunks) and then research what each might represent. Students find or create a modern artwork that conveys a message about unity, leadership, or patriotism, then compare it to Leutze's painting.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Experience - American Presidents - PBS Learning: American Presidents
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1980s (21), presidents (150)
In the Classroom
Students can complete the lesson that is available for each topic. Students can use the Time Graphic Timeline Tool, reviewed here to create a timeline of the president's term in office. Students can use Figma, reviewed here to compare and contrast different presidents.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Martha Hughes Cannon - Unladylike 2020
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): senate (11), women (186), womenchangemaker (78)
In the Classroom
Students can use History in Motion, reviewed here to create a timeline of other women State Senators. Students can use Kidrex reviewed here to research more about the public health work that Martha Hughes Cannon did. Finally, students can use Google Drawings reviewed here to compare and contrast Martha Hughes Cannon to another woman State Senator.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Experience: School Integration - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): 1950s (33), civil rights (219), racism (80), segregation (20)
In the Classroom
Show students historical photos from the integration era (such as the Little Rock Nine or protest scenes). Students can analyze what they observe, infer emotions, and compare them to a modern-day school setting. In small groups, have students research key events in school desegregation and create a collaborative timeline (digital, using Timelinely reviewed here, or physical) with brief descriptions and images. Have students research a current issue related to educational equity (ex., school funding, access to AP courses, or discipline disparities) and compare it to challenges faced during desegregation. Inspired by the real stories in the collection, students can create a short video using Powtoon reviewed here or digital story using Genially reviewed here that highlights a person or event from the school integration movement, using historical facts and personal reflection.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Primary Documents in American History - Library of Congress
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): 1920s (25), 20th century (169), constitution (101), noregistration (79), primary sources (125), womens suffrage (64)
In the Classroom
Engage students with primary documents by creating a HyperDoc or a Choice Board to explore. Within the external links embedded in this site is a framework from the National Archives called DocsTeach and many more links that can be converted into lesson plans. Teachers can also pair this site with the National Historic Site of Women's Rights. Using Storymap JS, reviewed here ask students to create a timeline of Women's Suffrage, to analyze photographs or summarize a subtopic of the 19th Amendment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Experience: Government - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): atomic bomb (7), bill of rights (36), branches of government (62), civics (127), coal (7), cold war (37), courts (24), presidents (150), stock market (13), vietnam (40), world war 1 (85), world war 2 (169)
In the Classroom
In small groups, have students role-play founding delegates and "reimagine" part of the Constitution for today's world, using background knowledge from the videos. After exploring a short video clip on a U.S. government topic (ex., branches of government or the Bill of Rights), students can summarize what they learned in a one-minute oral presentation or written response. Students can choose a civic issue (voting rights, checks and balances, due process) and create a short video using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here or Clipchamp, reviewed here explaining its importance, using inspiration and facts from the collection.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ken Burns Classroom: The Civil War - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): civil war (143)
In the Classroom
Use short video clips and primary sources from the collection to create a gallery walk. Students can rotate through stations featuring different individuals' perspectives (soldiers, enslaved people, nurses, etc.). Have students analyze a short segment from the documentary and identify how Ken Burns uses narration, archival images, music, and quotes. Divide students into groups to represent different historical figures or regions. Debate topics could include states' rights vs. federal authority or the causes of the war. Students can choose a real or fictional character who lived during the Civil War and write journal entries reacting to the events depicted in the documentary. Consider creating the journals digitally using Book Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Experience: Politics - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): cold war (37), kennedy (26), mccarthyism (2), politics (124), presidents (150), roosevelt (17), space (242), womens suffrage (64)
In the Classroom
After watching a short clip on a historical political event (ex., the women's suffrage movement or the emergence of political parties), have students choose 3-5 objects, quotes, or images they'd place in a time capsule to represent that moment. Have students analyze how a documentary clip presents a political issue, such as civil unrest or voting rights, focusing on tone, imagery, and historical context. They answer guided questions or write a reflection. After exploring historical movements such as women's suffrage or civil rights, students can create a plan for a modern social or political movement, including its goals, slogans, and strategies. Students research early U.S. political parties featured in the collection and compare their platforms with today's major parties. They present findings through infographics using Timeline Infographic Templates, reviewed here or Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Primary Documents in American History - Library of Congress
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): 20th century (169), bill of rights (36), constitution (101), history day (39)
In the Classroom
Engage students with primary documents by examining the 18th Amendment, as well as the links provided for the Volstead Act and the 21st Amendment. Use these resources to teach key content vocabulary words such as ratification, prohibition, amendment, and statute. Use Connections reviewed here to hook students on word games while fostering language skills and background knowledge for American law and government. Students can deepen their knowledge of these topics by creating a picture or photo timeline using ReadWriteThink reviewed here, or MyLens reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Gilded Age - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): industrialization (12)
In the Classroom
Students can complete the lesson available from PBS. Students can use Sutori reviewed here to create a timeline of the period. Students can use Figma reviewed here to compare and contrast the Gilded Age to another period in United States history.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Charlotta Spears Bass - Unladylike 2020
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): african american (121), womenchangemaker (78), womens suffrage (64)
In the Classroom
Students can use Google Keep reviewed here to take notes while watching the video. Students can use Figma reviewed here to compare Charlotta Spears Bass to another female change maker. Finally, students can use Sutori reviewed here to create a timeline of other women who became Vice Presidential candidates.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Revolutionary Choices - The American Revolution Institute
Grades
5 to 10tag(s): american revolution (87), game based learning (296), simulations (45)
In the Classroom
Begin by having students play through a short session of Revolutionary Choices. Then lead a class discussion using questions like: "What choice was the hardest to make?", " Why?", or "What surprised you about the consequences?" Have students design their own Revolutionary Choices scenario based on a lesser-known event or dilemma from the Revolutionary War. They must create a decision, 2-3 options, and realistic outcomes grounded in historical research. Assign students roles such as George Washington, a Patriot soldier, a Loyalist, or a member of the Continental Congress, and have them research and present how their historical figure would have responded to the types of decisions faced in the game.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Native Americans' Contributions to American Culture - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): native americans (131)
In the Classroom
Explore this collection featuring the fascinating impact of Native Americans. Look at each resource's "Classroom Use" section for creative ideas on weaving these materials into your lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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