This resource will provide students with a unique, and engaging way to learn about the Bill of Rights. In a critical reading activity, students will explore and understand the historical background of which each constitutional right came to exist. The provided reading is an easy to read, attention-grabbing resource. The second part of this lesson involves having students delve deeper into their analysis of each constitutional right by doing the following: 1)defining each amendment in their own words, 2) summarizing the historical background of why /how each amendment came to exist, 3) creating an illustration that depicts the meaning of each constitutional right. Materials: • Bill of Rights Reading (6 pages) • Handout: Analyzing Bill of Rights (T chart) • Handout: The Value of Rights

This lesson involves having students critically examine the legacy of Christopher Columbus and its’ traditional narrative offered in children’s books and school textbooks. Through the analysis of primary sources, students will re-examine the way in which the Columbus story has and continues to be portrayed in mainstream literature. Students will delve further by analyzing the implications of this portrayal. This lesson will encourage students to become ‘critical readers’ in comparing primary and secondary sources of information, and in doing so, will also prompt students to explore and understand the subtle ways in which stereotypes can be formed and perpetuated in society. The provided 44 slide Power Point and the student handout that accompanies the presentation is interactive, visual, and highly engaging. A Venn diagram activity, and a debate at the conclusion of this lesson can both serve as a form of assessments. This lesson includes: • 44-slide Power Point • Detailed Lesson Plan • Printable Handouts: 1) Handout #1- Power-Point Questions 2) Handout #2- Howard Zinn Chapter I 3) Handout #3- Secondary textbook version 4) Handout #4- Debate Role Play 5) Handout #5- Venn Diagram

This lesson will have students critically explore a contentious current event issue involving the cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. The lesson will invite students to examine the context and controversy that surrounds the two cases, although emphasis will be placed on the Eric Garner case. A thought-provoking power-point presentation & accompanying handouts will prompt students to analyze a variety of news resources; all of which frame the issue in a particular way, and offer different explanations as to the underlying causal factors in Garner’s death. This lesson includes: • One 21-slide Power-Point • Detailed Lesson Plan • Printable Handouts: 1) Handout #1- Analyzing Controversy & the Criminal Justice System 2) Handout #2- Analyzing Sources 3) Handout #3- Current Events: America’s Criminal Justice System

This resource will have students critically explore the main factors that led to the American Civil War in an interactive and fun way! This comprehensive 63 slide Power-Point is full of primary sources; embedded with engaging sound effects, hip hop music & video clips that will encourage students to delve deeper into their analysis of what factors caused the Civil War. Problem solving, prediction, debate, and higher analytical skills are fostered throughout the presentation. Hands-on activities takes place at the conclusion of the lesson in which students are to demonstrate their knowledge in a 1) time-line game, and 2) timeline- project. Time frame for lesson: • 8-10 class periods (60 min) Materials: • One 63 slide Power-Point • Detailed Lesson Plan • Printable Handouts: 1) HANDOUT #1- The Road to the Civil War 2) HANDOUT #2- Civil War Map 3) HANDOUT #3- Film Questions 4) HANDOUT #4- Timeline Activity/Competition 5) HANDOUT #5- Civil War Timeline Project Instructions 6) HANDOUT #6- Civil War Timeline Project Information 7) Poster Project Grading Rubrics