In this lesson students will read a pro and con speech about real voting rights legislation (the Freedom to Vote Act) being discussed in the United States Senate. Students will summarize the speeches, consider their arguments, and use them to enhance their own knowledge on election policy.
Being a Senator: Election Reform
In this lesson, students will have an opportunity to learn about what it means to be a United States senator. Students will research real United States senators, consider their various interests, and make decisions about how their senator would vote on real issues facing the country.
Climate Policy Research
Students will take part in a jig-saw style activity where they will research a climate policy proposal, gain a deep understanding of their group’s policy, present their policy to the rest of the class, and finish with a short debrief to cement their learning on various climate policies.
Debate and Discussion: Climate and Energy Policy
In this lesson students will examine a pro and con speech about real legislation (the Green New Deal) being discussed in the United States Senate. Students will summarize the speeches, consider their arguments, and use them to enhance their own knowledge of environmental policy.
Climate and Energy Policy Proposals
Students will consider potential policies the United States could implement to combat climate change. Students will watch a short video to gain background knowledge, then examine a list of proposed policies from a real resolution discussed in the Senate, and work in groups to determine which policies are the best.
Should the United States Ban TikTok to Preserve National Security?
In this mini simulation, students step into the shoes of the National Security Council to decide if the United States should impose a ban on TikTok to safeguard citizens’ data and the country’s security. Students will learn about the ways that private businesses can intersect with national security and the opportunities and limitations for government regulation of digital technologies.
How Did the Cold War Stay Cold?
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union amassed tens of thousands of nuclear weapons—enough firepower to annihilate each other many times over. In this video, learn how rivalries between the world’s superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, avoided turning into nuclear war.
How Did the United States Become a Global Power?
With the world’s largest economy, hundreds of overseas military bases, and leadership positions in various international institutions, the United States is an undeniable global power. But this was not always the case. In this multimedia resource, learn how domestic expansion and three wars—the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II—transformed the United States’ standing in the world.
What Kinds of Governments Exist?
How governments interpret, prioritize, and grapple with pillars of modern society—for instance, security, freedom, and prosperity—determines the kinds of policies they enact. In this multimedia resource, explore the differences between democracies and autocracies, communism and capitalism, and right and left leaning ideologies.
What Is the National Security Council?
The National Security Council is a group of top advisors tasked with providing guidance on foreign policy matters and implementing the president’s decisions. Learn how the president’s advisors protect U.S. national security and help with foreign policy decision-making and coordination across the executive branch.