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Need to teach the judicial branch in a hurry? In this lesson, students learn the basics of our judicial system, including the functions of the trial court, the Court of Appeals,…
Students discover that states have their own governments and powers separate from the federal government. They learn what those powers are, how they’re different from the federal…
Where do laws come from? This lesson teaches students about the sources, types, and unique systems of law that exist in the United States. Students learn about sources of law from…
In One Big Party, students learn about the role of political parties in the United States and the influence parties have in our political system, including the role of third…
Prepare students for persuasive writing by introducing them to the concept of making an argument. Students discover there’s a difference between “arguing” and making an argument in…
Students meet Ben Brewer and find out what happened the day he decided to wear his favorite band t-shirt to school in violation of a new dress code rule. Students read a summary of…
In order to build arguments for their essays, students examine evidence about whether band t-shirts were disruptive at Ben’s school. Students think critically to filter out…
Students begin to organize their arguments and evidence both for and against the rule banning band t-shirts. Students learn the necessity of clear organization, generate main and…
Students meet “Yabbut Rabbit” and learn how to flesh out the support for their arguments by developing counterargument. Using the technique they learn in this lesson, students add…
As a precursor to writing a rough draft, students learn that you can’t ignore evidence for the other side of an argument. Students learn how to use complex sentences to minimize…
Students learn the purpose of appellate-level courts and how those courts operate differently from the trial courts most people are familiar with from watching television. By…
What does it mean to interpret the Constitution? Why is interpretation necessary? Who gets to do it? In this WebQuest, students explore the answers to these questions and more.…
Our Judicial Branch has a big job! Do you think you have what it takes to be a judge and get the job done? Please note that the content on external webpages frequently changes. We…
Do you know who represents you in the federal, state and local government? Do you know how to get in touch with them?
Why does the U.S. government have three “branches”? What are these branches, and how do they interact? In this WebQuest, you’ll dig deep to find out the role each branch plays and…
Magna Carta, Montesquieu, the Mayflower, and more! Follow this WebQuest through history to the events, people, and documents that inspired the writers of the Constitution.
From how judges are selected to their job security, the Constitution put in place interesting protections to ensure that our third branch of government could rule impartially. In this WebQuest, students explore what it means to have an independent judiciary.
Do you know how many representatives your state has in the U.S. House of Representatives? Do you know how that number is determined or if it's ever changed? Don't worry, you're about to find out!
What does it mean to vote by mail? Let students see what a mail-in ballot process is like, and discover the advantages and disadvantages of all-mail elections.
What does it take for a bill to become a law? In this WebQuest, students will learn that the process is not easy as they follow the history of the landmark legislation that…
Lesson Plan
WebQuest
