Democracy & Citizenship

Re-examining the Revolution

Background Reading PDF. By Ray Raphael. 7 pages.
Based on his book Founding Myths, Raphael critiques the textbook portrayal of the American Revolution. The textbooks say that “a few special people forged American freedom” which “misrepresents, and even contradicts, the spirit of the American Revolution.”

Democracy & Citizenship, Education, Individuals in US History, Laws & Citizen Rights

Constitution Role Play: Whose “More Perfect Union”? and The Constitutional Convention: Who Really Won?

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 23 pages.
A role play on the issues involved with the framing of the Constitution.

Democracy & Citizenship, Individuals in US History, Laws & Citizen Rights, Racism & Racial Identity, Slavery, Social Class

Rethinking the U.S. Constitutional Convention: A Role Play

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bob Peterson. 14 pages.
A role play on the Constitutional Convention which brings to life the social forces active during and immediately following the American Revolution with focus on two key topics: suffrage and slavery. An elementary school adapation of the Constitution Role Play by Bill Bigelow.

Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights, Native American, Slavery, Women's History

The Cherokee/Seminole Removal Role Play

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 10 pages.
Role play on the Cherokee-Seminole removal or Trail of Tears.

Democracy & Citizenship, Native American, Racism & Racial Identity

Seneca Falls, 1848: Women Organize for Equality

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 17 pages.
A role play allows students to examine issues of race and class when exploring both the accomplishments and limitations of the Seneca Falls Convention.

Civil Rights Movements, Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights, Women's History

A War to Free the Slaves?

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 7 pages.
Students examine excerpts from Lincoln’s first inaugural address, the rarely mentioned original Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution that Lincoln promised to sign, and the Emancipation Proclamation to explore some of the myths about the Civil War.

African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Individuals in US History, Racism & Racial Identity, Slavery

The Draft Riot Mystery

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 9 pages.
Students are invited to solve a mystery, using historical clues, about the real story of the Draft Riots.

Democracy & Citizenship, Immigration, Racism & Racial Identity, Slavery, Social Class, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

One Country! One Language! One Flag!

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 3 pages.
Discussion questions and teaching ideas for examining the history of the Pledge of Allegiance and the political milieu in which it was written.

Democracy & Citizenship, Education, Immigration

Testing, Tracking, and Toeing the Line: A Role Play on the Origins of the Modern High School

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 13 pages.
A role play on the origins of the modern high school.

Democracy & Citizenship, Education, Immigration, Racism & Racial Identity, Social Class

A Lesson on the Japanese American Internment

Teaching Activity PDF. By Mark Sweeting. 4 pages.

Asian American, Democracy & Citizenship, Education, Laws & Citizen Rights, Racism & Racial Identity, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements