A deep dive into Article VI, which acts as the "glue" of the Constitution, holding together the new United States through a shared commitment to the Constitution's principles. In this video, Kim discusses Article VI with scholars Michael Ramsey and Kermit Roosevelt.
Material Type: Lesson
Enumerated and implied powers of the US federal government with a focus on the Commerce Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause of the US Constitution.
Material Type: Lesson
Classifying different roles for members of Congress.
Material Type: Lesson
A deep dive into Article III of the Constitution, which establishes the judicial branch of the government, including the Supreme Court. In this video, Kim discusses Article III with scholars Richard Garnett and Jeffrey Rosen.
Material Type: Lesson
In the United States mail service often fueled the transportation industry to expand and innovate allowing more people to be connected, and ushered in an era of faster communication.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
An introduction to the Articles of Confederation and its weaknesses. Shays' Rebellion was one of the catalysts for the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Material Type: Lesson
Gerrymandering and its history.
Material Type: Lesson
What affirmative action is in the United States and major legal cases and initiatives surrounding it. Coverage of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, Grutter v. Bollinger, and Proposition 209 in California.
Material Type: Lesson
A deep dive into the First Amendment, which guarantees US citizens freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly. In this video, Kim discusses the First Amendment with scholars Erwin Chemerinsky and Michael McConnell.
Material Type: Lesson
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution are known as the "Bill of Rights." These amendments protect individual liberties and limit the power of the federal government.
Material Type: Lesson
In 1787, the Framers of the US Constitution came together to create a stronger central government. In this video, Kim discusses how the Framers compromised over the plan for the legislative branch of government, combining the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan to form the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Material Type: Lesson
provides information about the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, Ford's Theatre, the Franklin Roosevelt Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and more.
Material Type: Reading
Divided government and gridlock in the United States.
Material Type: Lesson
What the "bully pulpit" is and how the State of the Union and mass media has enhanced the president's ability to directly influence opinion. Reagan footage from Reagan Presidential Library.
Material Type: Lesson
Congressional oversight over the executive branch through committee hearings and power of the purse.
Material Type: Lesson
In The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander explores complex questions about the criminal justice system and the history of race and racial justice in the United States.
Material Type: Lesson
Models of voting behavior: party-line voting, rational choice, retrospective voting and prospective voting.
Material Type: Lesson
Introduction to the federal bureaucracy.
Material Type: Lesson
Earth Day Schools is a network of over 5,000 schools around the world that are working to build environmental literacy and civic engagement skills in the next generation. By signing up, your school will be added to the map and you will gain access to stories, resources, contest opportunities, tips, and ideas for Earth Day, and more. We would also love to share your amazing projects to inspire our network. Sign up as an Earth Day School to join the movement and send us your stories at education@earthday.org
Material Type: Interactive
This course contains five projects that are organized around the following question: “What is the proper role of government in a democracy?” Each project involves political simulations through which students take on roles that help contextualize the content required by the new College Board course framework. Founders' Intent Elections Supreme Court Congress Government in Action Openly licensed PDF unit plans of all the above units are available at this Sprocket Lucas Education Research Platform (scroll to bottom of web page). Alternately, educators may sign up for free access to the online AP U.S. Government and Politics course that includes additional instructional supports: https://sprocket.lucasedresearch.org/users/sprocket_access
Material Type: Full Course
