83 results
Middle school government lessons for Easel
Constitution Unit
The Constitution is so much fun to teach! Are you looking for a fresh, engaging, active Constitution unit? You've found it! The activities in this unit will not only help your students learn about the Constitution… they will bring excitement and engagement to your classroom! All of the activities included in this unit are student favorites! ** This unit was recently revised! **Contents of this unit: Pages 3-5: Articles of Confederation-Passage and Cloze ActivityPages 6-8: Creating a Constitution
Subjects:
Grades:
4th - 6th
Types:
Also included in: Constitution Bundle
John Adams, Alien and Sedition Acts, XYZ Affair
How did John Adams overcome challenges during his presidency? Students will analyze close-reading documents describing challenges faced by John Adams during his presidency and will complete document-based scaffolding questions in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Title page • Do Now: The Election of 1796 analytical thinking question• President Adams' Challenges {document-based learning activity} with scaffolding questions and activities• Document #1: The Election of
Grades:
6th - 10th
Also included in: Federalist Era George Washington John Adams UNIT BUNDLE
Judicial Branch Simulation: "No Vehicles on the Sidewalk"
"The Judicial Branch interprets the law." When I say this to my students for the first time, they all have the same blank look on their faces. My students always benefit from a simulation of what it means to "interpret a law." After completing this activity, they have a firm grasp on the importance of interpreting laws and the difficult decisions made by members of the Judicial Branch.
This packet contains 2 introduction pages and 6 scenarios in which students will help "interpret" the law.
Subjects:
Grades:
5th - 8th
Types:
Also included in: Branches of Government Bundle
Judicial Branch and Supreme Court
What are the roles and responsibilities of the highest court of the Judicial Branch? Students will research and understand the role and responsibilities of the Judicial Branch's Supreme Court, the structure of the Supreme Court, and judicial review in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Title page • Do Now: Student-centered critical thinking question - Have you ever had someone settle an argument for you? What did they do or say to settle the argument? • The Supreme
Grades:
5th - 9th
Also included in: Constitution UNIT BUNDLE
Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise
What needs to happen for people to agree? Students will research and analyze the compromises made at the Constitutional Convention in 1787; Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:Title page Do Now/Motivation/Critical Thinking opening questionDefinition of compromise & benefitsCompromise #1: The Power of the Central Government reading passage and diagramVirginia Plan reading with scaffolding questionsNew Jersey
Grades:
6th - 9th
Also included in: Articles of Confederation UNIT BUNDLE with BONUS Activities
Marbury v. Madison and the Power of Judicial Review
Why is the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison significant in American history? Students will analyze the close-reading passages and complete the fill in the blanks describing the historical background of the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison; the story, the people, the problem, and the power of Judicial Review. An engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Cover Page• Student-centered Do Now questions: - Explain the power of Judicial Review under the U.S. Constitution - Wh
Grades:
5th - 9th
Also included in: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, War Hawks, War of 1812 UNIT BUNDLE
Northwest Territory and Land Ordinance of 1785
Why did the Founders think a Constitution was necessary and how did they split up new land? Students will research and analyze the creation of the Articles of Confederation, the problems with the Articles, and how the Northwest Territory was organized using the Land Ordinance of 1785 in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Title page • Do Now: Creating the Articles of Confederation reading passage and scaffolding questions/graphic organizer• Provisions/Problems with the
Grades:
6th - 9th
Also included in: Articles of Confederation UNIT BUNDLE with BONUS Activities
Executive Branch and Powers of the President
What are the roles and responsibilities of the executive branch? Students will research and understand the structure of the executive branch, the roles, responsibilities and powers of the president, and the many "hats" the president often has to wear during his/her presidency. We use them as interactive notebooks!Included in this resource:• Title page• Do Now: Student-centered critical thinking question - What is the world's toughest job?• Structure of the executive branch diagram• The Executi
Grades:
5th - 8th
Also included in: Constitution UNIT BUNDLE
Bill of Rights Lessons and Activities for all the Amendments!
This resource includes one page for each of the first ten Amendments to the Bill of Rights, with a clear explanation of the bill and several critical thinking follow-up activities. I've also included a handout with Amendments 11-27 and a "Bill of Rights" vocabulary list. This is an excellent way to teach students the Bill of Rights!This product includes interactive templates with writing prompts and activities for each of the first ten amendments including the legal amendment definition. There a
Subjects:
Grades:
4th - 7th
Also included in: Government Projects, Constitution, 3 Branches of Government, BUNDLE!
Articles of Confederation
How did the Articles of Confederation govern the United States? Students will research and analyze the reasons for implementing the Articles of Confederation after the American Revolution and understand the structure, decision-making skills, money & finances, protection rights, and other powers of the Articles in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Title page • Do Now: Devising A Plan reading passage with scaffolding questions• The Articles of Confederation reading
Grades:
6th - 9th
Also included in: Articles of Confederation UNIT BUNDLE with BONUS Activities
Alexander Hamilton's Financial Plan
How did Alexander Hamilton's Financial Plan attempt to fix the economic problems of the new nation? Students will analyze Hamilton's Financial Plan to determine his plan for fixing the economic problems of the new nation in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Title page• Do Now student-centered situational question• Short close-reading Alexander Hamilton reading with critical thinking question• Hamilton's Financial Plan reading passage with vocabulary and corresponding
Grades:
6th - 9th
Also included in: Federalist Era George Washington John Adams UNIT BUNDLE
George Washington Precedents
How did President Washington set an example for other presidents to follow? Students will analyze documents to interpret and explain Washington's precedents he set as president - including a cabinet and a two-term presidency - in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Title page • Do Now student-centered situation question: When you first started school, how did you learn the rules of your classroom? How did you discover what was important and how things work in the scho
Grades:
5th - 9th
Also included in: Federalist Era George Washington John Adams UNIT BUNDLE
Shays' Rebellion
How did the new United States government struggle for power under the Articles of Confederation? Students will research and analyze the failures of the Articles of Confederation and research the details about Shays' Rebellion in this engaging lesson!Included in this resource:• Title page • Do Now: Failures of the Articles of Confederation political cartoon analysis• The Failure of the Articles of Confederation reading passage with scaffolding questions• Shays' Rebellion reading passage with que
Grades:
6th - 9th
Also included in: Articles of Confederation UNIT BUNDLE with BONUS Activities
Persuasive Essay Project, Writing About Social & Political Issues
Persuasive Writing Essays that Teach Students About Important Social and Political Issues in Our Country! With this resource I have provided a brief grade level appropriate overview of two sides of common social and political issues that many Americans are discussing. The students are then asked to create their own persuasive essay stating which side they most agree with.Perfect for distance learning as well!It is important to encourage students to “take a stand” and get involved in issues tha
Grades:
4th - 6th
Types:
Articles of Confederation Three-Fifths Compromise
How did the Founding Fathers decide about the controversial issue regarding enslaving people in the Constitution? Students will research and analyze the Three-fifths Compromise and the trading of enslaved peoples, in this analytical lesson sensitive to these issues.Included in this resource:• Title page• Do Now/Motivation/reading passage with word bank• Compromise #3: Enslavement & the 3/5ths Compromise graphic organizer• Compromise #4: The Enslavement Trade reading passage with critical th
Grades:
6th - 8th
Also included in: Articles of Confederation UNIT BUNDLE with BONUS Activities
Federalism, Delegated, Reserved, and Concurrent Powers
How does the Constitution separate the powers between the state and national governments? Students will research and understand the role of delegated, reserved, and concurrent powers granted by the principle of federalism - they will apply their knowledge in a multitude of student-centered critical thinking activities!Included in this resource:• Title page • Do Now question: Based on the quotation by a defender of the Constitution, what is the definition of federalism?• Student-centered activit
Grades:
5th - 8th
Also included in: Constitution UNIT BUNDLE
Colonial Governments Thirteen Colonies
How were the colonies governed? Students will research the different colonial governments implemented within the colonies; Charter, Proprietary, and Royal colonies; Colonial government flow chart; representative government; mercantilismIncluded in this resource:• Title page • Types of colonies graphic organizers• Colonial Government Hierarchy/Flow Chart with scaffolding questions• The English Colonies Develop Their Own Government reading with scaffolding questions• Answer key for questions and
Grades:
5th - 8th
Also included in: Thirteen Colonies UNIT BUNDLE with BONUS Activities
Election of Rutherford B. Hayes and Compromise of 1877
Students will read and answer text dependent questions about the controversial election of Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876 and the resulting Compromise of 1877 that led to the end of reconstruction. They will also use their critical thinking skills to analyze and compare and contrast political cartoons from this period in history. This material requires close reads and asks students to find the text evidence by highlighting and underlining.
Subjects:
Grades:
4th - 8th
Types:
Significance of 1st and 2nd Continental Congress and Committee of Correspondence
Students will read about the significance and key players in the 1st Continental Congress, 2nd Continental Congress, and Committee of Correspondence. They will learn about the major accomplishments of each organization and the role it played in the Revolutionary War. There is a quiz included. A labeled template for a 3 flap graphic organizer is also included that can be completed by using information from the reading material.
Subjects:
Grades:
4th - 8th
Types:
Also included in: 1st and 2nd Continental Congress and Committee of Correspondence Bundle
Geography: Who's The Boss? Comparing World Government Types (Easel Activity)
Students will have a blast with this assignment! As students put their thoughts together to decide which world government types and systems — democracy, direct democracy absolute monarchy, consituational monarchy, oligarchy, etc — work best in various scenarios, they will become familiar with how government systems work. Encourage your students to think outside the box to problem solve and to do their best! Acquiring higher-level thinking skills is a process and a skill that has to be developed
Grades:
6th - 10th
Also included in: NEW! Geography: Types of World Governments Bundle + FREE RESOURCE
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT Introduction (Grades 5-6) PRINT and EASEL
How Canada's Government Works. This resource's point of view is Canadian and is designed for Canadian students. This resource has been updated ion 10 September 2022 to reflect the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.The resource includes:- a reading text of 560 words that is written in a question and answer format describing the basic structure of the federal government of Canada. The reading level is better suited for grades 6 or even 7, but would well with a strong grade 5 class;- a comprehension
Subjects:
Grades:
4th - 6th
Types:
Also included in: CANADA’S GOVERNMENT Introduction BUNDLE Grades 5-9 PRINT and EASEL
Veteran's Day Unit for Upper Elementary Students!
Complete Veteran's Day Unit: appropriate, challenging and fun for the upper elementary grades to honor this special day. Standards based activities from creating timelines to researching specific dates and facts about particular wars, determining the meaning of military slang, responding to a passage about the Sullivan Brothers to even writing persuasive opinions about military policies, students will love the activities in this resource.Included with this resource:Military Background LessonVet
Grades:
4th - 6th
Types:
Whiskey Rebellion, Northwest Territory, Pinckney Treaty
How did President Washington deal with the challenges faced during his administration? Students will analyze close-reading documents describing challenges faced by George Washington during his presidency and complete the corresponding graphic organizer in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Title page • Do Now student-centered situational question: Analyze a quote by General Patton and answer the questions that follow• President Washington's Challenges {document-based
Grades:
6th - 10th
Also included in: Federalist Era George Washington John Adams UNIT BUNDLE
Legislative Branch
What are the roles and responsibilities of the legislative branch? Who are our representatives? Students will research and understand the structure of Congress, the roles, responsibilities, requirements, and special powers of each house, and who represents their own state/district in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Title page • Do Now: Congress - Our National Legislature reading passage with scaffolding questions• Structure of Congress diagram• Congress: A Bicamer
Grades:
6th - 9th
Also included in: Constitution UNIT BUNDLE
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