Prior to this lesson learners engage in the Arcadia Earth app’s Keep the Great Lakes GREAT section to build their understanding of the Great Lakes and its importance to all animals that call this area home, including humans. Next learners explore food chains with a hands-on activity, Linking the Chain. Students then synthesize what they know about the Great Lakes, food chains and how human behaviors can affect both.

Estimated time required: 1 class period.

Technology required for this lesson: Tablet or Smartphone.

Explore how civil liberties are protected under the Bill of Rights. Through a study of foundational documents like the Constitution and key Supreme Court cases like Barron v. Baltimore, New York Times v. The United States, and Roe v. Wade, learn about the ongoing debate about the scope and reach of the Bill of Rights. The episode covers issues like state's rights, the complexity of freedom of speech, due process of law, clear and probable danger, and libel. [14:04]

Learn about important civil right movements in American history. Through a study of foundational documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, students learn about the fight for equal rights by different groups throughout history. [14:26]

Explore the history and practice of American Federalism in this episode from Founding Principles: American Governance in Action. Students watch video, study and analyze primary source documents like The Federalist Papers, and craft an argumentative essay addressing the positive and negative aspects of Federalism. [12:16]

Through a study of foundational documents like the Federalist Papers (#10, #37, and #85), students learn about the most important principles at the core of American democracy. The episode covers the separation of powers, checks and balances, public participation, public policy, public opinion, political gridlock, the role of status quo, and the difference between a republic and a pure democracy. [11:27]

Learn about the details of lawmaking- how it works and how it sometimes doesn't work. Students watch video, examine the lawmaking process and pay special attention to recent Congressional filibusters. [12:56]

Explore the wide spectrum of political participation. Through a study of foundational documents like the Federalist Papers, students learn about the various ways to participate in government beyond running for office and voting in an election. The episode covers political mandates, factions, pluralism, lobbyists, political action committees, and much more. [12:14]

Explore how government policy is implemented and how government agencies are involved in many aspects of our daily life. Through a study of foundational documents like the Constitution and the Supreme Court case Massachusetts v. EPA, students learn about the complex world of bureaucracy and the role of each branch of government in overseeing government agencies. The episode includes a summary of the spoils system, civil service, regulations, statutes, congressional oversight committees, executive orders, and judicial review. [15:18]

Explore the importance of public opinion in shaping national politics. Through a study of foundational documents like The Federalist Papers and the overlap between policy and popular beliefs, students learn about polling design and how random sampling, survey reliability, margins of error, and data analysis guide our understanding of public opinion. [12:19]

Explore the history and importance of the separation of powers in this episode from Founding Principles: American Governance in Action. Through a study of foundational documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, and The Federalist Papers, students learn how the separation of powers became a key principle in the shaping of American government and politics. [13:00]

Learn about the Electoral Process. Students watch video, study, and analyze how senators, representatives, and the president of the United States are elected. [15:04]

Explore the intersection between media and politics. Through a study of foundational documents like the Constitution, specifically the 1st Amendment, students learn about the evolution of media, the impact of political ads on policy, bias in the media, and the effects of media framing, priming, and agenda setting in the shaping of American government and politics. [11:59]

Explore the history and responsibilities of the presidency. Students watch video, learn about the rules and responsibilities of the presidency, and craft an argumentative essay answering the question: Is the president the most powerful leader in the free world? [12:38]

This paper looks at the various working roles played by Metis in the nineteenth century - as fur traders, free traders, guides and scouts. It includes discussion questions and a bibliography.

This lesson is focused on analyzing the anti-slavery movement and David Ruggles’ impact shaping our understanding of slavery and race. Students will explore texts such as "The Disappointed Abolitionists", but also the first magazine-like publication owned and edited by a Black man in this country, "The Mirror of Liberty". To further evaluate perspective, students study a Black Future with the story of "Appolition". They will then develop and present a group concept for a speculative statue of an abolitionist of the future, reflecting on the significance of symbols and elements in shaping our understanding of historical events and their lasting impact.

Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: Augmented Reality, Internet Connectivity, Laptop/Desktop, Smartphone, Tablet, Tablet or Smartphone.

This lesson plan, students will analyze a photo of Seneca Village and the excavation report to determine the central ideas and information about the village. They participate in a collaborative discussion about the connections between the text Color(ed) Theory by Ananda Williams, Seneca Village, and gentrification. They also research a local Black enclave and present their findings. As an extension, they speculate about the future of enclaves.

Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: Augmented Reality, Internet Connectivity, Laptop/Desktop, Smartphone, Tablet, Tablet or Smartphone.

A video about Gabriel Dumont, a teacher's guide for Grades 3-5 and some illustrations can be found here.

Lesson 6 is an introduction to George Clinton, a prominent figure in funk music and Afrofuturism. It consists of three activities: a 5-minute engagement activity where students watch clips about George Clinton, a 15-minute exploration activity where students examine artifacts related to him, and a 5-minute wrap-up activity where students discuss their takeaways and similarities between George Clinton and Sun Ra. The next lesson will focus on exploring George Clinton's music and the landing of the Mothership.

Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.

Technology required for this lesson: Augmented Reality, Internet Connectivity, Laptop/Desktop, Smartphone, Tablet, Tablet or Smartphone.

The Cherokees had an important decision to make. Should they maintain their own culture resisting that of the white man, or should they give up their ways and adopt those of white settlers?

Kibera, a poor community, in Nairobi, was a blank spot on the map until recently. This video from Penn State Public Broadcasting’s Geospatial Revolution shows how geospatial technology enabled residents to map resources to help their community.