Lesson Plans
Carbon Footprints, Climate, and Civic Causes
Students make connections between environmental science and civics as a means to impact the environment and the quality of life using sources from the Library of Congress and science concepts to consider the role as civic environmentalists. Students identify how humans have influenced climate change since the Industrial Revolution and a variety of methods that…
The Scientific Method, School Shootings, and Civic Action
Students make connections between scientific method of thinking and the rights of the American democracy established by the Constitution regarding civic action. Integrating scientific thinking with civic content, students experience the connection between methods of scientific analysis and civic action. Next, students examine the history of school safety in this country, school related violence and…
Electromagnetism, Electric Communication, and Community
Students examine the science of communication and its role in building community in our country. Using the invention of the telegraph and what it meant for the unification of our nation, students look at the scientific elements of communication and the impact on people, then explore electromagnetism and electric communication by doing a hands-on activity…
Data Analysis to Drive Civic Action
Students consider civic action through primary source analysis, then examine and interpret data and use knowledge of civic life, politics, and government to discuss potential civic engagement.
Graphing Bullying Data to Create Change
Students define types of bullying through primary source analysis and use skills in of calculating percentage and graphing to examine data on bullying. Students then create a poll for the school community that would provide data on bullying in the school. As a follow up, students can implement the poll and create reports and solutions.
Stop Bullying with Data Percentages
Students use percentages to examine data on bullying while building civic skills of explaining and analyzing information and arguments. Using previous knowledge of fractions and percentages, students examine current data about bullying from the CDC. Students then create a campaign for the school community that would provide data on bullying in the school. As a…
Dolores Huerta: Inspiring Civic Responsibility
Students explore the experiences of Mexican-American farmworkers in the United States and learn about how they – especially through the leadership of Dolores Huerta and the United Farm Workers – worked with others for improvements in pay and working conditions, as well as respect for their civil rights. Students analyze primary sources that document working…
Dolores Huerta: Building Coalitions to Affect Change
Students explore the experiences of Mexican-American farmworkers in the United States and learn about how they – especially through the leadership of Dolores Huerta and the United Farm Workers – worked with others for improvements in pay and working conditions, as well as respect for their civil rights. Students analyze primary sources that document working…
Dolores Huerta: Collaborating to Affect Change
Students explore the experiences of Mexican-American farmworkers in the United States and learn about how they – especially through the leadership of Dolores Huerta and the United Farm Workers – worked with others for improvements in pay and working conditions, as well as respect for their civil rights. Students analyze primary sources that document working…
Selma & Voting Rights: Standing Up for Equality
Through inquiry into primary sources, students discover a story of citizens shaping and sustaining our democracy through civic action and will contemplate the import and impact of citizens who strive for equality. This lesson may be used prior to reading a fictional work or poem related to the civil rights movement or in conjunction with…