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It can be hard to determine what is a reliable source and what’s fake news. In this lesson, students learn the importance of avoiding clickbait.
In this lesson, students learn to use reputable news sources to investigate social media posts about the executive branch.
In this lesson, students learn to use reputable sources to investigate social media posts about the legislative branch.
Governments often use the media to shape public perception and bolster their authority. In this lesson, students learn the difference between state-controlled and…
Appearances can be deceiving, especially online, and our notions about URLs are often unfounded. In this lesson, students learn the truth about what URLs can and cannot tell them…
News Flash! The ruling is in! Misinformation about the courts can have serious consequences. In this lesson, students learn strategies for investigating social media posts.…
In today’s digital age, it’s essential to be a critical consumer of online information. So, how can you spot problematic content? Fact-checking websites are a great tool for…
Searching online? Wikipedia is often a top result, but should you trust it? In this lesson, students learn about how Wikipedia works and the site’s processes for preventing…
In this lesson, students evaluate hypothetical candidates by establishing and applying their own criteria for selecting public officials.
Look into the ideas and writings of the Italian thinker and politician, Niccoló Machiavelli (1429-1527).
Use this document as a Step-by-Step for all of the mini-lessons found in the Influence Library. It provides overall learning objectives, how to use the mini-lessons in your…
The Enlightenment was a period of time, starting around 1715, when people developed new ideas about human existence, including people's basic rights and the purpose of government.…
Introduce students to the ideas and writings of John Locke that influenced the likes of Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers.
Meet the Baron de Montesquieu, one of the great thinkers of the 18th century. He spent a lot of time thinking about how governments should be created and maintained. These ideas…
Explore the ideas of Enlightenment thinker, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. His writings on natural and social freedom, the social contract, and democracy shaped the American system of…
We've heard a lot about the role the Founding Fathers played in the early United States, but what role did our Founding Mothers play? Discover the contributions of women in the…
"The First American", Benjamin Franklin, is the only Founding Father that signed all three major documents that founded the United States of America: the Declaration of…
Check out George Mason's role in the founding of the U.S. Even though he never served as a president and refused to sign the Constitution, Mason's work in Virginia and with the…
Review the variety of roles that George Washington played in America's early years. From commanding the Continental Army, to presiding over the Constitutional Convention, to…
Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States, but he played many political roles throughout our nation’s history. His political life influenced the country in many…
Lesson Plan
