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Civics Renewal Network - The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the Univ of Pennsylvania
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): branches of government (64), constitution (89), democracy (20), elections (83), electoral college (22), media literacy (105), politics (114), supreme court (27)
In the Classroom
Include the Civics Renewal Network with your other resources for teaching civics content. Include activities on this site as part of self-guided lessons created using Microsoft PowerPoint Online, reviewed here, or add to classroom lessons created with NearPod, reviewed here. Extend student learning by asking them to become creators using a digital storytelling tool such as Elementari, reviewed here. Elementari includes features that bring students' stories to life, such as animations, font choices, and drag-and-drop text.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Under Advisement: Ohio Supreme Court Cases On Demand - The Supreme Court of Ohio & The Ohio Judicial System
Grades
9 to 12In the Classroom
Although this site is aligned to Ohio Learning Standards, it is useful for any classroom studying civil and criminal cases. Download the free materials to use when learning about branches of government. Before completing the lessons within each of the cases, introduce the topic to students and ask them to predict the outcome using a simple polling tool like Poll Everywhere, reviewed here. As students become familiar with the Ohio court system, ask them to research the courts in your state and compare them using a Venn Diagram tool like the one found at Class Tools, reviewed here. Consider asking a local attorney or judge to visit your classroom to discuss the specifics of each case and how the law is interpreted within the state courts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Eagle Eye Citizen - Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): branches of government (64), civil rights (200), congress (39), elections (83), immigrants (33), inquiry (24), presidents (131), primary sources (118), Research (84), womens suffrage (46)
In the Classroom
Share activities from this site to introduce civics and government lessons; be sure to point out links with additional resources included after problem-solving activities. Share a link to this site on your class website for students to use at home. Replace written notes and help students organize information using a mind mapping tool like Coggle, reviewed here. Use Coggle to create and share colorful diagrams with included text and images. As students continue through the unit, have them enhance their learning by including their diagram on a website sharing their knowledge of civics concepts or discussing the historical event studied. Webnode, reviewed here, is a free website creator offering premade templates and easy to use tools. Transform student learning at the next level and ask them to create a book for younger students to teach them about the event studied using Book Creator, reviewed here. For example, when learning about the three branches of government ask students to create a digital book explaining the functions of the three branches. Book Creator allows you to include videos, images, audio recordings, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Poster My Wall - 250 Mills LCC
Grades
4 to 12In the Classroom
Have students create posters to demonstrate understanding. After an assigned reading, have them create a poster to explain the text. Have students email their finished product to you as an informal assessment. Create a quick presentation of the best posters to share with the class when discussing the reading the next day. Offer posters as one of several options for students to share what they know with you and their peers. Of course, you will want to require proper credit for any images students use in their posters. Use student-made posters to reinforce class rules at the start of the year or to visually display concepts such as branches of government or story elements.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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West Virginia Legislative Information Kids' Page - West Virginia Legislature
Grades
2 to 5tag(s): branches of government (64), states (122)
In the Classroom
Print and use pages from the website to share with students. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here) to create a visual comparison of your state's legislative process with that of West Virginia.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Annenberg Classroom - NPR/NY Times
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): character education (77), civil rights (200), ecology (101), radio (20), women (140)
In the Classroom
Use this site to help students explore the branches of government in action as they address a "hot topic." Have groups of students listen to real broadcasts and analyze the issues as examples of the constitutional concepts you are studying. Make this link available from your teacher web page while studying the Constitution, the branches of government, and many other social studies topics. Use your interactive whiteboard or projection screen to share a video or audio clip to spark discussion on an issue or activate your lesson. Then, divide your class into teams and have a class debate about the issue. Have students prepare a pro/con wiki using links to the primary sources to support their position or create their own podcast commentaries with support for their opinions.Comments
Too many resources to even summarize. I can't wait to share this resource. CONSTITUTION ON SEPT. 17.Patricia, NJ, Grades: 6 - 12
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American Presidents Related Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): holidays (178), presidents (131)
In the Classroom
Use these resources to connect Presidents' Day to your curriculum in almost any subject or select one or two ideas to highlight along with your regular lessons. This collection would also be useful during a unit on the three branches of government, specifically investigating the Executive branch.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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iCivics - iCivics Inc.
Grades
5 to 10tag(s): bill of rights (28), branches of government (64), congress (39), constitution (89), courts (20), democracy (20), elections (83), game based learning (181), presidents (131), supreme court (27)
In the Classroom
As you study the Constitution or U.S. government, have students participate in the activities, stopping to write blog entries as their legal character discussing the results they have achieved in court or in their role within other interactive simulations. Students can work individually or with a partner. Be sure to demonstrate the activities on an interactive whiteboard or projector so students understand how they work. Another option is to enhance student learning and modify classroom technology use by having students create a multimedia guide to one of the constitutional rights learned in the games. Use a tool such as Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to make an interactive poster or infographic on each right. If your class is remote learning, try using Zoom, reviewed here, or another video conferencing tool, to demonstrate or introduce your class to iCivics and the individual activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Spy Kids - CIA
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): branches of government (64)
In the Classroom
Include this site when studying the three branches of government as a concrete example of one thing the Executive Branch does. Students could explore it on a "scavenger hunt" to learn answers to questions you pose, or the whole class could visit on a projector to learn about what the CIA does. If you ask students to research different government agancies, this would be a great reference site for them to use. When reading the "Who We Are and What We Do" article try using Read Ahead, reviewed here, as a guided reading activity.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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NewsHour Extra Lesson Plan: Checks and Balances in Supreme Court Nominations - PBS
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): supreme court (27)
In the Classroom
There is a really nice "balance of powers" exercise that goes way beyond a simple discussion of the Supreme Court. Students look at all three branches of government and determine which branch has power in a variety of contemporary situations. This lesson plan is good as a stand-alone, but also provides a lot of jumping off places for further discussion and adaptation. Use a projector, as the plan suggests, to share the short video clips, available in several formats.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 8tag(s): courts (20), supreme court (27)
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Supreme Court Historical Society
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): constitution (89), supreme court (27)
In the Classroom
This would be a great resource in a civics or government class. Open the site on the interactive whiteboard and tour students through the make-up of the court today. Each Judge has his own separate biography that can also be explored to demonstrate the political alliances of the court. Assign cooperative learning groups different judges to research, with the intent of presenting the material to the class. Try something new, like a podcast! Use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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