Teachers | iCivics

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Civic Action and Change

Students learn the basic steps of civic action and what it takes to make change, following the "I AM" model (Inform, Act, Maintain). Along the way, they explore the change-making examples of four key…
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Lesson Plan

Rule of Law

This skit-driven lesson explores the six factors that make up the rule of law and how they protect individual rights and freedoms in our day to day lives. Students then connect the rule of law to…
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Lesson Plan

Propaganda: What's the Message?

Examine the seven forms of propaganda found in advertising and politics. Discover the persuasive methods behind the messaging we see every day and gain skills to effectively identify and counter them…
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Lesson Plan

Win the White House Extension Pack

Make your students’ game play more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for Win the White House. This easy-to-use Extension Pack helps you give context and…
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Lesson Plan

The State Governor

In this lesson, students discover the roles and responsibilities of a governor. Through a reading and board game, students identify the source of a governor's power and how that power is best used in…
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Lesson Plan

Civil War & Reconstruction

The Civil War and Reconstruction Era brought about the end of slavery and the expansion of civil rights to African Americans through the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. Compare the Northern and…
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Lesson Plan

Jim Crow

Use primary documents and images to discover the ways state and local governments restricted the newly gained freedoms of African Americans after the Civil War. Compare, contrast, and analyze post-…
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Lesson Plan

The Road to Civil Rights

Discover the people, groups, and events behind the Civil Rights Movement. Learn about means of non-violent protest, opposition to the movement, and identify how it took all three branches of the…
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John Locke Mini-lesson

Introduce students to the ideas and writings of John Locke that influenced the likes of Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers.
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Rousseau Mini-lesson

Explore the ideas of Enlightenment thinker, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. His writings on natural and social freedom, the social contract, and democracy shaped the American system of government in a variety…
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Lesson Plan

Diplomacy

Students grasp the nuances of diplomacy through this interactive lesson. They are called to decide which diplomacy tools work best in different situations. Students will develop an understanding of…
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Lesson Plan

Conflict and Cooperation

Countries often work together to solve problems and fall into conflict when problems cannot be resolved. After learning about motivations and conditions that lead to action (or inaction), students…
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Lesson Plan

International Influence

Economic, cultural, and military influence are all critical in developing spheres of influence. Students explore international authority by following a Cold War case study, which will encourage…
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Lesson Plan

International Organizations

Students compare the basic structure of several different international organizations before categorizing their work. Students also examine the local and global impact of international organizations.
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Lesson Plan

James Bond in a Honda: Trial Simulation Lesson

Students participate in a scripted fictional trial based on a real case in which the producers of James Bond films sued Honda for creating an ad that looked way too much like a James Bond movie. Got…
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Lesson Plan

Trial Court "Go Fish"

iCivics presents a judicial variation of the classic card game "Go Fish!" that features the various trial court jobs. Students use a write-on courtroom game board and play with cards that show the…
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Lesson Plan

Separation of Powers: What's for Lunch?

Students find out how the checks and balances of the three branches of government work. Through the process of creating a healthy school lunch menu, students role-play each branch’s responsibility in…
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Lesson Plan

Judicial Branch in a Flash!

Need to teach the judicial branch in a hurry? In this lesson, students learn the basics of our judicial system, including the functions of the trial court, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court…
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Lesson Plan

Appellate Courts: Let's Take It Up

Students learn the purpose of appellate-level courts and how those courts operate differently from the trial courts most people are familiar with from watching television. By following the case of a…
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