Teachers | iCivics

Card View
List View

Lesson Plan

William Blackstone: Mini-Lesson

Discover how William Blackstone and his Commentaries on the Laws of England influenced America’s founders, founding documents, and legal system.
View
Lesson Plan

Slave States, Free States

The debate over slavery ultimately helped drive the United States into civil war, but before it did, there were decades of careful balance between slaves states and free states. In this lesson,…
View
Lesson Plan

This Land is Your Land

What ocean is off the east coast? Who is our southern neighbor? What are the U.S. territories? Can you draw the Rocky Mountains on a map? In this lesson, students answer these questions and more as…
View
Lesson Plan

The Federalist Debate (HS)

Discover the debate that surrounded the Constitution before it became the law of the land. Excerpts from Federalist 84 and Anti-Federalist 46 offer insight into both sides of the debate while…
View
Lesson Plan

Constitutional Principles (HS)

View the Constitution from the perspective of its foundational principles. Consider the Founders' intentions and the Constitution itself as you discover how the constitutional principles are critical…
View
Lesson Plan

No Bill of Rights, No Deal (HS)

Jump into the big debate over the Bill of Rights, and see how the Federalists and Anti-Federalists battled over the fate of the U.S. Constitution. Where did the idea come from? How did they decided…
View
Lesson Plan

Six Roles of the President (Infographic)

From Commander-in-Chief to Chief Executive—keep track of the many roles of the president with this printable infographic for your classroom!Love this infographic? Explore all of our free election…
View
Lesson Plan

Supreme Court Nominations

This lesson plan teaches the fundamentals of Supreme Court Justice nominations and helps students understand the politics behind the nominations. It challenges students to cut through the politics…
View
Lesson Plan

Lesson 3: Bias

Strip the fear out of bias by showing students how to notice the word choices and framing that show up when bias is present in a news story. Students learn about methods journalists use to produce…
View
Lesson Plan

Mini-Lesson B: Satire

Satirical news stories, like political cartoons, are meant to poke fun—not trick people. Help your students learn to spot satire and understand both the joke and the purpose of this news-related…
View
Lesson Plan

Mini-lesson: Midterm Elections (HS)

Students learn about midterm elections, their role as a referendum on the presidency, and how a shift in party control impacts the legislative and executive branches. Page two of this Media Moment…
View
Lesson Plan

You Be the Judge (Simulation)

What does a Supreme Court justice really do? How do they make their decisions? What better way to find out than by trying it yourself!Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this…
View
Lesson Plan

Judicial Review

If Marbury was right, then why didn't he get the writ? Find out how the Supreme Court got the power to decide what is constitutional, and what the Court can do with that power.
View
Lesson Plan

Trial Court (Simulation)

Did Cellar breach the contract? Or was there no contract to begin with? Let students decide in this scripted trial simulation.Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's…
View
Lesson Plan

Impeachment and Conviction (Infographic)

Impeachment really is only half the story! Follow the processes and powers of impeachment in this easy to follow printable infographic.
View
Lesson Plan

Double Take: The Dual Court System

Does your state court system feel oddly similar to our federal one? Chances are it does, but there may still be some differences. In this lesson, students learn how our country came to have a dual…
View
Lesson Plan

Trial and Appeal (Infographic)

Most cases start and end in trial court, but what if there's an error? Show students how a case works its way up in this printable poster for your classroom!
View
Lesson Plan

County Contributions (Infographic)

Meet the departments doing the important jobs that make your county work!
View
Lesson Plan

A Movement in the Right Direction (Infographic)

How did women win the right to vote? Explore how the women's suffrage movement spread across the United States beginning in the late 1800s. Use this infographic to show students how two different…
View
Lesson Plan

Plug Into Power with the U.S. Census (Infographic)

Every 10 years the U.S. government circulates a census. Make sure your students know how to make it count with this printable poster infographic!
View