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Featured Teaching Resources

Free Market Fundamentals infographic promotional graphic

New Infographic for the Free Market

Use this infographic to understand five fundamental principles of the free-market economy and explore how those principles can be seen in students' daily lives.

Village Square promotional graphic

Teach civic responsibility with Village Square!

Help elementary and middle school students learn about civil dialogue, fairness, representation, and decision-making with a brand new game from iCivics and Minecraft Education.

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Enter the Civic Star Challenge

Get recognized for the civic learning you inspire. Tell us how your students explored civic action, media literacy, or debate and dialogue for a chance to win $5,000.

State Government

Why Do We Have So Many Governments?
Mystery

Why Do We Have So Many Governments?

Historians study. In this lesson, students will learn about reasons that led to the formation of U.S. government. They will be able to describe how the Declaration of Independence ...

Grade levelK-5
DurationMultiple sessions
The Great State
Lesson Plan

The Great State

What do state governments do? In this overview lesson, students learn about state government structure, functions, lawmaking, and relationship with local government....

Grade level6-8
DurationOne class period
States Rule!
WebQuest

States Rule!

Every state is different… and every state is the same! How can that be? Follow this WebQuest to find out about your state, its government, and its relationship to the U.S. government!

Grade level6-8, 9-12
DurationOne class period
The Spectrum of State Election Laws (Infographic)
Infographic

The Spectrum of State Election Laws (Infographic)

Voting laws vary by state. Where do your state's laws fit on the wide spectrum of election laws across the country?

Grade level6-8, 9-12
Duration10-30 min.
What States Do (HS)
Lesson Plan

What States Do (HS)

State governments play many roles. This lesson goes beyond basic state government structure to examine how states use their police powers and taxation systems to further state goal...

Grade level9-12
DurationOne class period
Comparative Constitutions
Lesson Plan

Comparative Constitutions

If you’ve seen one constitution, have you seen them all? Compare and contrast the provisions of the U.S. Constitution alongside the state constitutions of Florida and Virginia. Fi...

Grade level6-8
DurationOne class period
The State Governor
Lesson Plan

The State Governor

In this lesson, students discover the roles and responsibilities of a governor. Through a reading and board game, the class will identify the source of a governor's power, as well ...

Grade level6-8
DurationOne class period
Counties Work
Game

Counties Work

Running a county is a lot of work! Manage things well, and try to get re-elected.

Grade level6-8, 9-12
DurationOne class period

Bill of Rights Day

You've Got Rights!
Lesson Plan

You've Got Rights!

(This lesson was formerly "Bill of Rights: You Mean I've Got Rights?") Students learn about the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and other important constitutional amendment...

Grade level6-8
DurationOne class period
No Bill of Rights, No Deal (HS)
Lesson Plan

No Bill of Rights, No Deal (HS)

In the debate over the Constitution, the Bill of Rights was a deal breaker. In this lesson, students learn why the federalists thought the Constitution didn’t need a bill of rights...

Grade level9-12
DurationMultiple sessions
Amendment Mini-Lesson
Lesson Plan

Amendment Mini-Lesson

This mini-lesson highlights some of the most critical additions to our Constitution and how those additions guarantee students' rights.

Grade level6-8, 9-12
DurationOne class period
Our Rights (Ages 6-11)
Video

Our Rights (Ages 6-11)

Rights are a big deal! Jade and Ava teach kids what a right is and how it protects citizens in this music video.

Grade levelK-5
Duration<10 min.
Do I Have a Right?
Game

Do I Have a Right?

Run a law firm and test your knowledge of constitutional rights.

Grade level6-8, 9-12
DurationOne class period
Race to Ratify
Game

Race to Ratify

Make your own history! Are you team Federalist or AntiFederalist?

Grade level6-8, 9-12
DurationOne class period
Freedoms of the First Amendment (The Constitution EXPLAINED)
Video Playlist

Freedoms of the First Amendment (The Constitution EXPLAINED)

Speech. Religion. Press. Some of the best-known freedoms are packed into one amendment. In this playlist of 3 videos, students dig deep into the First Amendment and the multiple pe...

Grade level6-8, 9-12
3 Resources
Why and How Do People Fight for Due Process Rights?
Mystery

Why and How Do People Fight for Due Process Rights?

Historians refer to past decisions. In this lesson, students will learn about three due process champions: John Peter Zenger, Fred Korematsu, and Clarence Gideon. Students will be ...

Grade levelK-5
DurationMultiple sessions

Geography

How Do We Know Who Lives in the Northeast Region?
Mystery

How Do We Know Who Lives in the Northeast Region?

Historians make comparisons. In this lesson, students learn about the U.S. Census. They engage in inquiry as they read the Constitution to figure out why the census is important to...

Grade levelK-5
DurationOne class period
Oregon Treaty (1845)
Lesson Plan

Oregon Treaty (1845)

With the Oregon Treaty, the United States added what today is the Pacific Northwest. In this mini-lesson, students learn how it happened, what tensions were involved, and how Nativ...

Grade level6-8, 9-12
DurationOne class period
Mexican Cession (1848)
Lesson Plan

Mexican Cession (1848)

The Mexican-American War ended with Mexico giving up a million acres of land to the United States. In this lesson, students learn about Americans’ drive to expand west, tensions be...

Grade level6-8, 9-12
DurationOne class period
This Land is Your Land
Lesson Plan

This Land is Your Land

What ocean is off the east coast? Who is our southern neighbor? What are the U.S. territories? Can you draw the Rocky Mountains on a map? In this lesson, students answer these ques...

Grade level6-8, 9-12
DurationOne class period
How Do Maps Help Us Understand the World?
Private i

How Do Maps Help Us Understand the World?

Maps are our guides to the world! Students will explore how maps can tell us where we are and help us get where we want to go. In this inquiry-based unit, students will learn the b...

Grade levelK-5
DurationMultiple sessions
4 Resources
Annexation of Texas (1845)
Lesson Plan

Annexation of Texas (1845)

The United States annexed Texas after years of debate. In this mini-lesson, students learn about Texas’ independence from Mexico, the role of slavery in delaying Texas’ admission, ...

Grade level6-8, 9-12
DurationOne class period
Slave States, Free States
Lesson Plan

Slave States, Free States

The debate over slavery ultimately helped drive the United States into civil war, but before it did, there were decades of careful balance between slaves states and free states. In...

Grade level6-8, 9-12
DurationOne class period
The Louisiana Purchase: Branching Out
DBQuest

The Louisiana Purchase: Branching Out

President Jefferson usually gets the credit for the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which doubled the size of the young nation. But this ignores one important actor, the U.S. Congress....

Grade level6-8, 9-12
DurationMultiple sessions

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