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Teach about the Three Branches of the US Government

Understanding the three branches of the US government is a cornerstone of civic education, and we've put together an engaging collection of classroom resources to help your students grasp these critical concepts. From interactive activities that bring the halls of Congress to life to creative projects that demonstrate how the Supreme Court shapes our nation's laws, these materials are designed to make learning about the executive, legislative, and judicial branches both fun and memorable for students of all learning styles.

Grades 5-12

US Government and Politics - Crash Course

Discover more than fifty US government and politics videos ranging from 9 to 11 minutes long. This series of videos explores the separation of church and state, how a bill becomes law, how presidents govern, judicial review, election basics, and more.

Grades 5-12

60-Second Civics

Listen to daily 60-second podcasts to learn about the United States government and explore themes like constitutional issues related to today's headlines, presidential powers, and more. Most episodes pertain to current events topics.

Grades 10-12

The Civics Connection

The Civics Connection provides a series of lessons and classroom materials aligned to the AP Government and Politics curriculum. It features former members of Congress so that high school students can understand the issues Congress faces.

Grades K-12

What So Proudly We Hail

What So Proudly We Hail offers several interesting free civics resources and lessons based on short stories, songs, and speeches. Clicking the Curriculum link on the top menu will give you access to units like The Meaning of America.

Grades 6-12

Watch Live House of Representatives Proceedings

Visit this site to view live proceedings of the United States House of Representatives and watch as legislators discuss and vote on legislative topics. Maximize the video pane on the left side of the page for better viewing.

Grades 6-12

Education 4 Democracy - Civics

Education 4 Democracy provides videos and resources for educators who want to teach their students about democracy. The website includes lesson plans, articles, and videos on various democracy-related topics, such as civic investigation and research.

Grades 4-12

Branches of Power

Annenberg Classroom Civics Games offer an excellent selection of games about the Constitution and related topics. For one activity, you get to be the leader of the Legislative Branch. Choose three main issues and the most productive way to succeed.

Grades 8-12

United States Courts Educational Resources

Discover various educational resources and interactive lessons about the United States court system and Constitution. Click the Educational Activities link in the left menu to find lessons based on constitutional amendments.

Grades 6-12

United States Senate Floor Proceedings

The floor schedule below the video feed on this site provides information on the daily schedule of proceedings. Other information on this page shares links to congressional records with transcripts of previous Senate sessions.

Grades 5-12

That's Your Right

Learn about the Bill of Rights by playing this challenging card game and viewing related videos. Click Start to view the tutorial, choose to play single or multiplayer, and select from three different levels of difficulty.

This Week at TeachersFirst

We're excited to invite you to our next OK2Ask virtual workshop! We're also sharing a related blog post and an opportunity to apply to join our team as a part-time consultant. Read the details below.