Primary Source Lesson Activities

Constitutional Foundations:

• Declaration of Independence and John Locke

• Constitutional Principles and The Federalist Papers

• Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Arguments: Structured Academic Controversy

• Federalist and Anti-Federalist Children's Book Project

Political Behavior:

• Tocqueville's Democracy in America (Reflections on American political culture)

• Political Preferences in the 2016 Election

• Political Cartoon Analysis on Voter Turnout

Political Parties, Interest Groups, Campaigning, Media:

• Sourcing Political Advertisements: 2004 Presidential Campaign- Student Worksheet

  • Use above worksheet with the 2004 advertisements on The Living Room Candidate website.

• Political Cartoon Analysis on Election Trends

• Political Cartoon Analysis on Interest Groups: Political Cartoons

• Political Cartoon Analysis on Interest Groups: Student Worksheet

• Interest Group Tactics: The Fight for Japanese American Reparations: Lesson Plan and Handouts

Congress:

• Demographic Profile of the 114th Congress

• Political Cartoon Analysis on Congressional Gridlock

• Congressional Leadership Emerging from Heart Mountain Lesson Plan

President:

• Federalist No. 70: Jigsaw Activity Capture Sheet

• Federalist No. 70: Jigsaw Activity Reading

• War Powers Act and the 2020 Air Strike on Iran: Article and Questions

Bureaucracy:

• Political Cartoon Analysis on Bureaucracy

• 2019 Federal Government Shutdown: Article and Questions

• COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout: Article and Handout

Judiciary:

• Federalist No. 78: Jigsaw Activity Capture Sheet

• Federalist No. 78: Jigsaw Activity Reading

• Judicial Appointment/Confirmation Process Political Cartoon Activity

Public Policy:

• Federal Budget Breakdown in 2017

• Economic Theories and Coronavirus 2020: Concept Application Practice

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights:

• Bill of Rights Emoji Assignment

• Mapp v. Ohio: Video Guide and SCOTUS Comparison Practice