United States History I and II, the Colonial Period to the Present, Electives

 Topic: Origins of the American Revolution and the Constitution

 Topic: History of the Constitution and the Early Republic

  • iCivics game Race to Ratify and Extension Pack lessons, play a role in the debate over ratification of the Constitution

  • Democratic Knowledge Project - Portrait of a Tyrant, a six-episode online adventure game (in pilot version) co-developed by the Democratic Knowledge Project and Amplify, Inc. for students to learn about the Declaration of Independence, its historical context, and contemporary relevance.

Topic: Social, Political, and Religious Change

Topic: The Bill of Rights / Amendments to the Constitution

  • iCivics game Do I Have a Right? and Extension Pack lessons, on the Bill of Rights and other amendments; includes Spanish version and supports for English Language Learners

  • Reimagining Migration - Wong Kim Ark, a Chinese American, who was detained after returning to the US from a trip to China, used the 14th amendment to win the right of birthright citizenship.

Topic: Elections

  • iCivics game Win the White House and Extension Pack lessons; run your own presidential campaign; includes Spanish version and supports for English Language Learners

  • iCivics game Cast Your Vote, and Extension Pack lessons, on local elections; includes Spanish version and supports for English Language Learners

  • League of Women Voters of Massachusetts - Teen Voting Rights Challenge student video contest, open to all Massachusetts high school students: Create a 30-second video giving your opinion on the question “ Should 16-year-olds have the right to vote?”

  • #HistoriansGuideto2020 - Collection of resources on the 2020 national election. Curated by the Washington Post, includes student-view.

  • Generation Citizen - Election Resources - This curated set of election-related lesson plans and resources to helps educators and caregivers learn and teach about the history of our democracy, voting rights, election fundamentals, political representation, voter registration, poll workers, and debates.

  • Democratic Knowledge Project  - Elections Module Provides lessons and other resources to teach concepts about elections.

Topic: Branches of Government / Checks and Balances

  • iCivics game Branches of Power and Extension Pack lessons, to learn about all three branches of government; includes Spanish version and supports for English Language Learners

  • iCivics game Executive Command and Extension Pack lessons; take on the role of President

  • iCivics WebQuest Three Branches: Laws in Action, follow a law from start to finish; students conduct their own research using the questions, pre-vetted websites and guiding tools provided

  • iCivics WebQuest Three Branches: Checks and Balances; students conduct their own research using the questions, pre-vetted websites and guiding tools provided.

  • iCivics WebQuest Being President, the role and responsibilities of the President; students conduct their own research using the questions, pre-vetted websites and guiding tools provided

Topic: Local Government / Civic Participation

  • iCivics game Cast Your Vote and Extension Pack lessons, on local elections; includes Spanish version and supports for English Language Learners

  • iCivics game Responsibility Launcher and Extension Pack lessons, on civic duties and responsibilities

  • iCivics WebQuest Civic Heroism, on civic duties and acts of civic courage; students conduct their own research using questions, pre-vetted websites and guiding tools provided

  • iCivics WebQuest Who Represents Me?, investigate who represents you at the local, state and federal level; students conduct their own research using the questions, pre-vetted websites and guiding tools provided.

Topic: Global Citizenship 

Topic: The Civil War and Reconstruction: Causes and Consequences

Topic: Reconstruction

Topic: Race and Membership

Topic: Civil Rights Movement

Topic: Immigration / Migration

Topic: News and Media Literacy

Topic: Current Events

Topic: Common Good

Topic: AP Courses

Topic: Civics Projects / Action Civics

  • Education Development Center - Supporting Readiness through Vital Civic Empowerment (SRVCE) - Free civics curriculum blends inquiry-based civic learning, media literacy education, and exploration of public service careers to prepare students to be active citizens and thrive in the workforce.

  • Facing History and Ourselves - From Reflection to Action: A Choosing to Participate Toolkit, with readings and activities designed to support student-led civic action projects at middle and high school levels

  • Generation Citizen - Democracy Doesn’t Pause, lesson plans and family activities to create change in the community

  • Generation Citizen - Take Action: Lobby a Legislator: If you're leading a virtual classroom, we have developed a lesson you can teach to connect this moment to civic action. As your students engage in their reflections about everything happening around them through this lesson, please encourage them to post their thoughts and experiences using the hashtags in the plan, and be sure to @generationcitizen on Instagram and @gencitizen on Twitter, in order to connect with other young people sharing their voice across the country.

  • Generation Citizen - Family Activity: If you're providing families with materials for distance learning, we have developed an activity that students and their families can engage with. Encourage families and students to post their experience and reflections on Instagram and Twitter!

  • Generation Citizen - Beyond the Ballot: Provides strategies for teachers and parents to take civic action in the community. A 2-lesson curriculum draws students’ attention to their local governments, systems and services, students gain appreciation for the potential power of their actions at the local level. Students will work together to choose an issue in their community, and then seek out a local elected official to address it.

  • Generation Citizen - Government Guide lesson: Students work to create a government guide with relevant information for their state, county, and municipal government.

  • Generation Citizen - Kick Start Action Civics: Bring the classroom to life for your students by learning how to teach Action Civics through this online course.

  • CIRCLE Data Tool offers a unique way to explore the relationships between voting and other forms of civic participation, and some of the conditions that shape such engagement. It features more than 40 unique indicators and includes data at the national, state, congressional district, and county levels. The classroom companion illustrates examples for teachers from many disciplines to use the data in inquiries and other projects.

  • Education Development Center Law & Justice Program includes innovative curriculum and research-based professional development, designed to empower students to think critically, develop solutions, and take civic action. Many of the curriculum activities can be adapted for distance learning. Students can explore COVID-19 legislation using the project and activities in Foundations in Law, Unit 2: The Legal System in Action. And Foundations in Criminal Justice, Unit 1: There Ought to Be a Law! provides a great opportunity for students to consider community, state, and federal actions such as quarantines, lockdowns, and restaurant closures in the context of community safety.

  • Constitutional Rights Foundation - Civic Action Projects Student Discussions Students can discuss issues with other student leaders from across the U.S. 

  • Reimagining Migration - Somos Mas Americanos: Music and Civic Action This lesson explores the music of Los Tigres del Notre to explore how music can shape the way we think about ourselves, our civic identities, our histories?

  • Reimagining Migration - Quinceaneras at the Capitol is a lesson exploring the strategic civic choices made by 15, 15 year olds who sought to bring attention to what they saw as  anti-immigrant legislation in Texas.

  • Reimagining Migration - When does poetry become civic action? This mini unit exploring Emma Lazarus's The New Colossus ends with a call to action for young people to write their own civic poetry.

Topic: American Identity/Art History

Topic: Science Literacy

  • National Science Foundation Infectious Diseases: provides engaging and scientifically accurate instructional materials aimed at deepening high school students’ understanding of infectious diseases, enhancing their skills in seeking additional information to make informed decisions, and influencing their behaviors in response to an epidemic. Following an overarching storyline of the Ebola epidemic and measles outbreak, as well as emerging material on COVID-19, the resources are organized into four modules that can be used in sequence or individually. 

Multiple Topics/Instructional Strategies