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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 make direct connections between the format of an outline and the organization in an essay. Using side-by-side examples, students see how the outline translates into a…
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…
Everyone deserves to be treated equally. But how can people make sure that happens? In this inquiry-based unit, students will explain how Amendments to the Constitution attempted…
What happens when people don’t have a say in the laws? In this inquiry-based unit, students will explore how the American colonies’ resistance to laws fueled the American…
Students make choices every day! But they might not think about how their choices impact themselves and others. In this inquiry-based unit, students will be introduced to the…
What does it mean to be a good citizen? In this inquiry-based unit, students will examine how they can be civic-minded and make decisions for the common good. Then they will…
The way students respond when things are challenging can be the difference between success and failure. But it’s not easy to practice a civic virtue like perseverance. This unit…
What happens when people are giving? In this inquiry-based unit, students will learn how they can practice generosity to help others. Using historical examples, they will analyze…
Students have lots of questions! Engage their curiosity through inquiry-based learning. In this unit, students will learn to examine images of primary source artifacts. They will…
It’s never too early to be a good citizen. In this unit, students will be introduced to citizenship and leadership. Students will work together to create a classroom book on the…
The past tells us about the present! In this unit, students analyze primary images from the past and compare them to those from today. Students will have the opportunity to learn…
Traditions can be large or small. Kids may be familiar with certain traditions. This unit allows them to explore more. They will have the opportunity to identify traditions that…
Every community needs leaders. But how do we choose them, and what makes someone a good leader?
Lesson Plan
Private i Unit