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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.…
With the end of the Revolutionary War, America’s geographical size doubled… but how should new territory be added to the United States? Learn about the issues raised by this…
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…
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,…
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…
In this lesson, students get an introduction to the concept of Manifest Destiny. Even before the phrase “Manifest Destiny” was first used in 1845, many Americans believed the U.S.…
In this map-based lesson, students learn the historic importance of the Mississippi River and why the U.S. was determined to maintain access. They find out how the United States…
Introduce students to the basic structure and function of state legislatures, as well as the variety in those structures. Students will learn to identify elements of their own…
Dive into the structure and functions of the state executive branch! Students learn about the most common executive offices, their officials, and how the state executive branches…
How do states make laws? Students track the state lawmaking process as they learn about the people, organizations, and official efforts that help a bill become a law.
States have their own governments, but what powers do they have, and where does that power come from? In this lesson, students will explore the nature of state power as…
Even before the Constitution was ratified, the relationship between state and federal power was unclear. Students will learn the source of that tension and why this tug-of-war has…
State governments play many roles. Go beyond basic state government structure to examine how states use their police powers and taxation systems to further state goals, act as…
Compare and contrast the U.S. and Ohio constitutions in this hands-on lesson using excerpts from both documents. Dig into how they structure the government, address individual…
View excerpts from Ohio's original 1802 state constitution and the major changes made in the 1851 version as students learn about the history of Ohio's constitution in this unique…
The United States has 3,069 county governments acting as a bridge between state governments and the people. This lesson covers the diversity in county government structure, duties,…
What's the closest form of government to the American people? Why municipal government, of course! In this lesson, students will explore the varied functions and structures of…
How does Washington’s state constitution compare and contrast with the U.S. Constitution? Look no further for the answer! Guide your class through some basic similarities and…
Local government has lots of layers, and Washington's is no different. In this lesson, students learn the structure and function of local government in Washington and how they can…
Washington’s initiative and referendum powers let regular people participate directly in lawmaking! This lesson presents the initiative and referendum powers as tools and shows…
Lesson Plan