Mini-Lesson: Pardon Power (HS)
Lesson Plan
This Media Moment Mini-lesson teaches about presidential pardons, commutations, and the limitations on these powers. By looking at a popular meme appearing in…
Overview
This Media Moment Mini-lesson teaches about presidential pardons, commutations, and the limitations on these powers. By looking at a popular meme appearing in June 2018 about former President Barack Obama’s pardons, students learn about fact-checking websites and how to conduct an independent web search to verify a claim. The activity walks students through the process of fact-checking a claim of choice.
Grade Levels
- 9-12
Learning Objectives
- Identify the source of the president’s pardon power and its limitations
- Explain why presidents grant pardons
- Define commutation
- Analyze false claims
- Use a variety of strategies to verify information and/or images