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Decisions, Decisions - New York Times
Grades
8 to 12
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Explore the many factors involved in the recent sentencing of Zacarias Moussaoui. This lesson plan asks students to examine statements made by families of 9/11 victims, read and discuss...more
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Explore the many factors involved in the recent sentencing of Zacarias Moussaoui. This lesson plan asks students to examine statements made by families of 9/11 victims, read and discuss an article about the suspected terrorist, and explore the mitigating factors that contributed to the jurors' final decision. Finally, students must prepare mock statements that might have been made by defense or prosecuting attorneys during the sentencing hearing. Aligned to standards.
In the Classroom
Though a little out of date for a current events class, this would be a great lesson for use in a US government class or US history. Be sure to save the site as a favorite for easy retrieval later on! For differentiation, peruse the article before-hand, creating a list of words that students may have trouble with or may not be familiar with. Create a follow-along for the article, defining those words selected to help students as they read. This will allow lower achieving readers to be able to process the information more efficiently and with more comprehension.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Iran's Nuclear Work - BBC
Grades
9 to 12
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This BBC article outlines some of the many issues involved in the international reactions to Iran's insistence on its right to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program. The story also...more
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This BBC article outlines some of the many issues involved in the international reactions to Iran's insistence on its right to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program. The story also offers a guide to the uranium enrichment process and why Iran's mastery of the "nuclear fuel cycle" could raise international concerns.
tag(s): energy (130), iran (8), nuclear energy (19)
In the Classroom
While the details of this story may be beyond the scope of a classroom discussion, try using it as a "mini-case" on the balance between international cooperation and the individual rights of nations. How do governments manage these conflicts at the international, national, and local levels?Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Grading on a Curve - New York Times
Grades
6 to 12
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Just how effective are the six key issues of President Bush's domestic agenda? This lesson gives students a chance to assume the role of political analyst as they critically examine...more
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Just how effective are the six key issues of President Bush's domestic agenda? This lesson gives students a chance to assume the role of political analyst as they critically examine the Bush administration. The goal is to create a report card addressing the efficacy of selected domestic topics. Includes suggestions for interdisciplinary activities and projects. Aligned to standards.
tag(s): foreign policy (12), presidents (122)
In the Classroom
Though a bit outdated for a current events class, this would be a great lesson in a US government class looking at the Presidency of George H.W. Bush. Save this lesson as a favorite on your desktop to allow for easy retrieval later on - though be sure to look closely at the lesson and make sure that students have learned enough of the contextual information to be able to make sense of the article. For differentiation, peruse the article before-hand, creating a list of words that students may have trouble with or may not be familiar with. Create a follow-along for the article, defining those words selected to help students as they read. This will allow lower achieving readers to be able to process the information more efficiently and with more comprehension.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Avian Influenza: What You Should Know - U.S. Centers for Disease Control
Grades
6 to 12
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The CDC's home page for information on "bird flu" (avian influenza) offers a variety of content written at an adult level, including basic fact sheets, current outbreak updates, etc....more
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The CDC's home page for information on "bird flu" (avian influenza) offers a variety of content written at an adult level, including basic fact sheets, current outbreak updates, etc. Used selectively, this information offers an authoritative look at the evolution of this new disease and the international response to its spread.
tag(s): diseases (67)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an introduction to the avian flu during the seemingly always present flu-season. Have students explore the site in cooperative learning group with the intentions of finding three things that they can do to prevent themselves from getting the flu, or what the government is doing to prevent a spread. Have students create a short presentation with the information, making online posters that summarizes their findings. Use an online poster creator, such as Padlet (reviewed here). This would be great in a Health class, or in a government class studying government responses during crises or the impact of globalization.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Pandemic Flu - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Grades
9 to 12
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It's in the news everyday: Countries are struggling to develop strategies for combating what could be the world's next pandemic influenza outbreak. This U.S. government Web site from...more
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It's in the news everyday: Countries are struggling to develop strategies for combating what could be the world's next pandemic influenza outbreak. This U.S. government Web site from the Department of Health and Human Services provides factual information on the avian flu and the current national strategy for handling it. Includes U.S. and international surveillance reports, current research activities, and potential economic impacts.
In the Classroom
hare this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have cooperative learning groups create multimedia presentations (focusing on causes, the flu itself, how it spreads, how to better protect themselves, etc.). Have groups create commercials about their topic, and complete additional research. Video the commercials and share them on a site such as Teachers.TV reviewed here.. Provide this link on your class website for students to share with their parents.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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GOV.com - GOV.com
Grades
9 to 12
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Need an honest, unbiased resource on government news and policy? Tap into this site that delivers verifiable information on everything from FBI press releases, to travel warnings, to...more
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Need an honest, unbiased resource on government news and policy? Tap into this site that delivers verifiable information on everything from FBI press releases, to travel warnings, to White House statements. No media editing, opinion, or commentary provided! Let your students add that!
In the Classroom
Enrich a current events discussion with this resource. Compare what is heard and seen by students in the media with the facts that appear on this site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cover Art: The Time Magazine Collection - National Portrait Gallery
Grades
9 to 12
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This impressive collection of magazine cover art represents some of the world's most compelling personalities and some of Time's most memorable art work. You'll find portraits of queens,...more
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This impressive collection of magazine cover art represents some of the world's most compelling personalities and some of Time's most memorable art work. You'll find portraits of queens, presidents, popes, athletes, and entertainers - the famous as well as the infamous. Each portrait is accompanied by brief biographical information and sound clips.
tag(s): famous people (21), news (229)
In the Classroom
This site would be useful in a Art History or US government class studying the impact of the media on politics. Have students explore the site on the interactive whiteboard, allowing them to be hands on with the material - avoid being the Vanna White of the board! As students are navigating the site, focus their attention on how many presidents and political figures are featured - as evidenced on the link entitled "Most Featured Person." This could lead into a great discussion of how exposure can affect politicians, as well as the difference between good and bad press.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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New Sense, Inc. vs. Fish Till U Drop - EconEdLink
Grades
9 to 12
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Here's an economics lesson for high school students that explores the rights of individuals versus the obligations of government to preserve and protect natural resources. The site...more
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Here's an economics lesson for high school students that explores the rights of individuals versus the obligations of government to preserve and protect natural resources. The site presents opposing economic theories and asks students to evaluate the merits of each as they apply to a hypothetical example. While written as an economics lesson, this example could also work as part of a government class. Aligned to national standards.
tag(s): natural resources (38), resources (88)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this free lesson plan about the economics of natural resources. Be sure to save the site as a favorite on your classroom computer to allow for easy retrieval later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Records Pertaining to John G. Roberts - National Archives
Grades
9 to 12
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This collection of records of the professional career of John Roberts offers an interesting, if daunting, primary resource for examining the Supreme Court nominee's past decisions....more
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This collection of records of the professional career of John Roberts offers an interesting, if daunting, primary resource for examining the Supreme Court nominee's past decisions. AP history or government students may find this one a useful research tool.
tag(s): supreme court (27)
In the Classroom
Too often in the upper levels students have extreme problems interpreting and comprehending decisions and memorandums written by Congress of the Supreme Court. Use this site to help students get accustomed and assimilated to the language and writing style commonly used in Judicial writings. And activity such as this would be useful before interpreting important court decisions such as Plessy v. Ferguson or Brown v Board of Education. Open the site on the interactive whiteboard or projector, and open one of the memorandums written by Judge Roberts. Analyze with students each of the seperate sections or paragraph to give them familiarity. Teachers can leave it at this, or have students practice writing their own memorandums after wards, using one of his as an example.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Watergate Revisited - Washington Post
Grades
7 to 12
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The unmasking of "deep throat," the shadowy informant in the Watergate saga, has prompted a new wave of interest in the sandal that changed American government forever. This retrospective...more
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The unmasking of "deep throat," the shadowy informant in the Watergate saga, has prompted a new wave of interest in the sandal that changed American government forever. This retrospective from the Washington Post provides not only a current summary, but a review of the original coverage, from the newspaper that broke the story.
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. Have students explore the site with the intentions of creating a summary of the most important events. Have cooperative learning groups create online books using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Students can write the book from the perspective of Nixon or Deep throat...a great way to introduce the topic in a non-lecture format.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cross-Curricular Math - KQED and WBGH
Grades
9 to 12
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These two thought-provoking lesson plans challenge high school students to analyze relevant issues related to population growth and the depletion of oil reserves. Using math skills,...more
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These two thought-provoking lesson plans challenge high school students to analyze relevant issues related to population growth and the depletion of oil reserves. Using math skills, students must calculate when oil reserves in various countries will run out, project the percentage of increase in world and U.S. oil demand between now and the year 2020, graph and analyze population data over a period of years for a city in Brazil, and participate in related discussion questions. Links to national standards are provided.
tag(s): population (48), problem solving (225)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free and interactive lesson plans hosted on this site! This is a great way to incorporate various subjects in a history or government class to connect various principles and make it more interesting at the same time.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Painless Guide to the Branches of Government: Judicial Branch - United Learning
Grades
5 to 8
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This ten minute video gives a brief historical overview of legislative and executive responsibilities. Display full screen for projection in the classroom or use with headphones in...more
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This ten minute video gives a brief historical overview of legislative and executive responsibilities. Display full screen for projection in the classroom or use with headphones in the computer lab.
tag(s): courts (19), supreme court (27)
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FBI Kids
Grades
2 to 5
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Pick your grade level and take a virtual field trip through the FBI with this interactive site that provides an excellent overview of the organization and its many functions. Students...more
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Pick your grade level and take a virtual field trip through the FBI with this interactive site that provides an excellent overview of the organization and its many functions. Students can learn about fingerprinting, DNA analysis, polygraph tests, and much more. Each informational segment is followed by a printable review game. The links to Safety Tips, Working Dogs, and Games are also worth exploring.
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a lesson on the government and how they enforce the laws. Introduce the site over the interactive whiteboard before allowing cooperative learning groups to participate in the online field trip. To summarize the topic, or to give groups who finish first something to do, let students play the games available after the field trip. Though they may not be rich in content, they do provide a review and respite for students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Dietary Guidelines for Americans - Department of Health and Human Services
Grades
9 to 12
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Access this site to download the government's dietary guidelines. Also includes a printable brochure summarizing the Guidelines, a consolidated list of key nutritional recommendations,...more
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Access this site to download the government's dietary guidelines. Also includes a printable brochure summarizing the Guidelines, a consolidated list of key nutritional recommendations, and related links that could be useful for health class research projects.
In the Classroom
Health teachers will appreciate these resources concerning dietary guidelines and healthy eating choices. Use the information here to provide students with quality information, as a resource for a research project or paper.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Day In Pictures - Reuters
Grades
4 to 12
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Reuters' new photo service offers several image collections, including a review of every week and month. Users will need to scroll down the page a bit to find it, but ...more
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Reuters' new photo service offers several image collections, including a review of every week and month. Users will need to scroll down the page a bit to find it, but the images are striking, covering a wide variety of issues and events.
tag(s): news (229)
In the Classroom
Use these images as writing prompts in an English or government classroom focused on providing real-world examples. Post an image on the interactive whiteboard or projector and have students respond to the image by a specific written format, or to the content presented in the picture. This is a great way to provide a face to the content being learned in a government class, or to help students stretch their imaginations with new prompts in an English class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Scrooge for Mayor
Grades
8 to 12
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This Web Quest engages students in examining the complexities of Victorian society through the eyes of Ebenezer Scrooge. Having developed a new attitude after visitations from the three...more
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This Web Quest engages students in examining the complexities of Victorian society through the eyes of Ebenezer Scrooge. Having developed a new attitude after visitations from the three spirits, Scrooge is ready to change the world by running for mayor of London. Students - working as campaign managers - must help Ebenezer develop campaign points and outline strategies to woo the public into accepting his ideas for social reform. Aspects of Victorian life described in A Christmas Carol, form the basis for this activity, although it could easily be adapted to any of his other novels.
tag(s): christmas (37), dickens (8), england (50), holidays (167), victorian (16)
In the Classroom
This would actually be a great resource for a government class working right before the holidays! During a unit on campaigns, use this activity as a way for students to think outside of the box in applying their lessons. This could even be used alongside a language arts classroom studying "A Christmas Carol," to ensure all students are up to snuff on Scrooge's character. This is a fun way to look at political campaigns with an interdisciplinary focus.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Reach of War - New York Times
Grades
8 to 12
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Students and teachers in search of broadly-based information on the Iraq conflict and its implications will do well here. The Times has an advantage in having regular, first-hand reporting...more
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Students and teachers in search of broadly-based information on the Iraq conflict and its implications will do well here. The Times has an advantage in having regular, first-hand reporting that goes beyond headlines and photos to examine issues and atitudes.
tag(s): iraq (27)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a resource during a unit on current events in the Iraqi political spectrum. Students can use this as a source for a current events report during the unit or for additional research for a project or paper. This would be a great resource for a government or World history course.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Choice 2004 - PBS Frontline
Grades
8 to 12
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Differences between the two presidential candidates are highlighted in this site that examines their lives, experiences, and world views. Dozens of interviews with colleagues, family,...more
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Differences between the two presidential candidates are highlighted in this site that examines their lives, experiences, and world views. Dozens of interviews with colleagues, family, and adversaries are included, along with a chronology of each man's life. Portions of the companion television special can be viewed online.
Although this resource was created for the 2004 Presidential election, the background information, interviews, and links are valuable for teaching about elections in general and for comparing elections as part of U.S. history.
Although this resource was created for the 2004 Presidential election, the background information, interviews, and links are valuable for teaching about elections in general and for comparing elections as part of U.S. history.
tag(s): elections (80)
In the Classroom
Government teachers teaching about the past few election OR attempting to provide examples of the two party system will appreciate this site. The site has information about Bush & Kerry's political beliefs that can be easily compared to show the differences between the two parties. As a class, compare with a tool such as Venn Diagram on the Interactive Whiteboard or projector. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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U.S. Electoral College
Grades
8 to 12
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Most students are a bit fuzzy on the role the Electoral College plays in choosing our president every four years. This site answers many questions in an easy to understand ...more
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Most students are a bit fuzzy on the role the Electoral College plays in choosing our president every four years. This site answers many questions in an easy to understand format. The history behind the system is discussed along with the particulars of its function. An overview of the intricacies of the 2000 election is also provided. This is strictly an informational resource - no bells or whistles - so use your creativity to build a lesson around it.
In the Classroom
While we're aware this is a public domain site with the reputation of being a bit unreliable, the images on this site would be an excellent resource for government teachers teaching about the Electoral College and its history. Use these images in a lecture or PowerPoint slide to help clarify how the electoral college has functioned in the past.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Humor's Edge: Cartoons by Ann Telnaes - Library of Congress
Grades
9 to 12
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This site features the Pulitzer Prize-winning talent of Ann Telnaes, a contemporary political cartoonist who accurately depicts the drama and news of the day with clarity and wit. Use...more
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This site features the Pulitzer Prize-winning talent of Ann Telnaes, a contemporary political cartoonist who accurately depicts the drama and news of the day with clarity and wit. Use these online examples from Library of Congress exhibit to introduce current political issues or challenge your students to design their own political cartoons.
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to discuss the role political cartoons can play in US government. Select a few of Telnaes's images, displaying them over the projector. Have a class discussion about the images, discussing perspectives, effects and what is being portrayed by the cartoons. This is a great way to discover how humor can affect opinions, and dissect how it is done.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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