Students, in groups, explore the dynamics between hippies and authority figures and create a T-chart outlining the concerns and arguments of both sides.

If called, would you go? Should the US government have the power to impose a draft during any war? The Selective Service Act of 1917 (aka the Conscription Act of 1917) authorized the drafting of men into the military for only the...

Middle schoolers explore the history of the African-American troops that served during the American Civil War. After reading primary source documents that detail the controversies about permitting freemen and former slaves to serve,...

Fourth graders study authority and power as its used in government. In this government lesson plan, 4th graders define power and authority. Students then read different scenarios of authority and power examples in people as well as...

Students study an erosion problem which existed on the school playground from as many points of view as possible. The ultimate aim is to suggest and encourage implementation of a plan to prevent further damage to the playground.

First graders simulate that they have been stranded on a desert island. They are not going to be rescued and they have to figure out who is in charge, form a government, and how many levels of leadership there needs to be.

Students use the internet to read research to find out what other communities are doing to solve the problem of underage drinking. They interview local experts and law enforcement. As a class, they debate the pros and cons of different...

First graders participate in a role play about laws and rules where they portray an authority figure, or portray someone who has to obey the law. In this sociology and law lesson plan, 1st graders discuss the purpose of laws and rules....

Students view a painting as a document to find out about the Indian Treaty Councils.  In this artist's perspective lesson, students study the conflicts as shown in various pictures.  Students answer questions about what they...

Fifth graders examine threat to all people (particularly the Jews) resulting from the imposition of Nazi authority, and appreciate the courage exhibited by ordinary people acting out of conscience.

High schoolers gain an appreciation for Greek drama through study of a play by Sophocles. They explore the cultural and historical context of Greek drama and its role in Greek society. Students write a report after seeing the play...

Students study the manhunt for, John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln. In this activity about a president, students write and role-play they are announcers who are informing the world of the...

Explore nutrition and healthy eating habits with a study on youth obesity. Learners watch a PBS documentary on the obesity epidemic which discusses government programs aimed at healthier choices, as well as more localized efforts. Kids...

Students compare and contrast democracies around the world after reading a New York Times article. They create posters and participate in a "democracy roundtable" in which they discuss two democracies.

Did you know that honey bees dance to communicate information? Do you know why bees use hexagons to build their hives? The Honeybee Man, Brilliant Bees, and Show me the Honey provide background information on how honey bees communicate....

Students examine the history of the Populist Party as it relates to its reforms and economic plight. In this Populism and the People's Party lesson, students explore why farmers experienced financial difficulty at the end of the century....

Incorporate a research project into your study of Shakespeare and the Renaissance Period. Class members assume the role of an apprentice seeking membership in one of the various guilds that existed during the Renaissance period....

Robert Coles’ The Story of Ruby Bridges forms the basis of this powerful cross-curricular study of civic education and civic responsibility. Class members consider how the book presents authority, responsibility, justice, and privacy.....

The Nashua River serves as the focal point of an investigation of the treatment of and care for natural resources. A reading of A River Rand Wild: An Environmental History by Lynne Cherry, launches the study and class members consider...

Students examine how different countries deal with juvenile offenders. Using the internet, they research what offenses are punishable by death and how the laws protect students. They interview local authorities and discuss possible...

Students consider the presence of authority in their lives. In this law lesson, students compare forgotten laws that function in their lives to forgotten instructions in making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Students, through discussion, internet and video resources, study the history of Northern Ireland and the religious segregation between Catholics and Protestants. They evaluate the current political situation and predict what the future...

High schoolers study the Age of Revolutions. In this Latin America lesson, students consider how democratic revolutions around the world led to imperialism in Latin America. 

Students participate in a series of experiments to determine how acid rain contributes to the deterioration of buildings and monuments. Using common building materials, students compare the noticeable short-term affects of distilled...