National Social Studies Standards Archives

18 resources available

Handout

The Significance of Juneteenth in American History

This middle school lesson plan is designed to accompany the film “Juneteenth” and focuses on the themes of freedom and citizenship. Students will explore the events that led up to the issuance of General Order #3, while considering the relationship between freedom and citizenship, and why Juneteenth is significant for all Americans.

Handout

Juneteenth: The Work and Promise of Freedom

This middle school lesson plan is designed to accompany the film “Juneteenth” and focuses on the themes of freedom – personal, economic, social, and political freedom – and self-determination. Students will examine how African American people worked to win freedom, how some Americans tried to take that freedom away, and how citizens can protect freedom today. Students will also identify the promise of Juneteenth and consider if that promise has been achieved.

Handout

Language of Deception

Critical Thinking
This lesson examines the ways in which terms that pack an emotional punch can add power to a statement – and also ways in which emotive meanings can be used to mislead, either by doing the reader’s thinking for him or by blinding her to the real nature of the issue.

Handout

U.S. Generals…Support the Draft

Critical Thinking
This lesson examines an anti-war advertisement sponsored by Americans Against Escalation in Iraq asserting that military officials plan to continue the war in Iraq for an additional 10 years and that that plan will require reinstating the draft.

Handout

The Credibility Challenge

Critical Thinking
This lesson offers students background and practice in determining authority on the Internet – how to tell whether an author has expertise or not, and whether you’re getting the straight story.

Handout

The Battle of the Experts

Critical Thinking
In their effort to get to facts that are as objective as possible, students will examine the differences between primary and secondary sources, check the track records of different sources, and practice looking for broad consensus from a range of disinterested experts.

Handout

Pump It

Critical Thinking
In this lesson, students will: Examine an ad from John McCain claiming that ending a ban on offshore drilling would have an effect on current gasoline prices. Research the offshore drilling process and explore the connections between drilling for oil and current gasoline prices. Assess whether McCain is correct to link the ban on offshore drilling with high gas prices.

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PETA Pressure

Critical Thinking
Some manipulators focus their attentions on teenagers. In this lesson, students will learn to spot their tactics and why they should be skeptical about them.

Handout

Olly Olly Oxen Free!

Critical Thinking
Students will explore the meaning of the term “sanctuary city” and determine for themselves whether New York City ought to be designated a sanctuary city.

Handout

Oil Exaggerations

Critical Thinking
President Barack Obama has said that “we import more oil today than ever before” – but do we? How can you find out? In this lesson, students will weigh Obama’s superlative claim against the facts.

Handout

Monty Python and the Quest for the Perfect Fallacy

Critical Thinking
This lesson will focus on 10 fallacies that represent the most common types of mistakes in reasoning, using Monty Python and popular culture to make the lesson relatable.

Handout

Made in the U.S.A.

Critical Thinking
Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards wanted to stop U.S. companies from moving jobs offshore, and a group called Working 4 Working Americans ran an ad in support of his plan. But the story the ad tells doesn’t quite give the whole picture. In this lesson, students will examine the facts behind this potentially misleading ad.

Handout

Health Care Hooey

Critical Thinking
This lesson comes in a basic version, for classrooms without internet access and/or students at the 8th-9th grade level, and a more advanced version, which does require internet access and is aimed at students at higher grade levels.

Handout

Everything You Know is Wrong 2: Beliefs and Behavior

Critical Thinking
This is the second of two lessons focusing on the instincts and habits of mind that keep us from thinking logically. This time around, we will focus on how people reconcile their beliefs with the world around them, even when the evidence doesn’t seem to agree with those beliefs.

Handout

Everything You Know Is Wrong 1: Us and Them

Critical Thinking
In this lesson, students explore some of the irrational ways in which humans think, and learn to recognize and overcome the habits of mind that can get in the way of good reasoning.

Handout

Combating the Culture of Corruption

Critical Thinking
In this lesson, students will: Examine an e-mail from the Democratic National Committee that attacks John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, for looking the other way during a bribery and corruption scandal. Research McCain’s role as head of the Indian Affairs Committee and explore the history of the investigation into the scandal. Assess whether or not the DNC’s e-mail accurately describes McCain’s actions regarding the scandal.

Handout

Building a Better Argument

Critical Thinking
In this lesson, students will learn to create good arguments by getting a handle on the basic structure. The lesson will provide useful tips for picking out premises and conclusions and for analyzing the effectiveness of arguments.

Handout

Background Beliefs

Critical Thinking
In this lesson, students will learn to distinguish between the two different types of background beliefs: beliefs about matters of fact and about values.