All the words (and definitions) you need to be AP exam-ready!

What if I told you that you could be a happier, more effective teacher in just two months with only five minutes of practice each school day? It’s easier than you think. The ability to flourish  is not something you are either born with or without. Instead, flourishing is a skill - one that you can nourish and grow with practice. Research has found that people can build the skills to help them flourish if they sprinkle a simple five-minutes of practice throughout their work day.

At the begging of each school year I set my intention of the year. At the beginning of each school day I set my intention for the day. Use this free intention setting worksheet to get the most out of each day teaching.

• Federalism is the division of powers between national and sub-national (state, local) governments. 

• The government is in action all around you all the time! But which government? After all, federalism allows for local, state, and national government. Take ten minutes to find examples of government action in your life.

Whether it’s apples and oranges; the presidency and congress; or liberals and conservatives - comparison is a great skill to have. In this activity students learn about the Federalists and Anti-Federalists then compare them with our comparison chart. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it does make better, so open our FREE branches of government Review and start comparing! KEY included!

Whether it’s apples and oranges; the presidency and congress; or liberals and conservatives - comparison is a great skill to have. In this activity students learn about the Federalists and Anti-Federalists then compare them with our comparison chart. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it does make better, so open our FREE Federalists v. Anti-Federalists Review and start comparing! KEY included!

This great Google slideshow explores the state of nature and the social contract and explains how the Framers of the Constitution tried to create a government that was not too strong, not too weak, but just right - with fabulous images of beagles and dinosaurs to educate and engage your students!

A great icebreaker to get your students up and moving and meeting their new classmates on the first day of class. Set a timer for ten minutes and see who can fill in the most blanks as they learn about their classmates.

The preamble is sort of like a trailer for the U.S. Constitution. The Preamble doesn’t have the force of law that the Constitution does, nor does it outline governmental powers or individual rights, but it tells you why we have a Constitution and gives you a preview of what that Constitution will do. The Preamble to the Constitution is a 52 word paragraph that outlines the five most basic jobs of a government. Take a deep dive with this timely lesson.

This lesson was made with care! Your students can learn about the crazy idea called separation of powers!

Go ahead and admit it: all winter break you’ve been thinking about how to teach every American high school students’ favorite topic - the discharge petition. Today’s free lesson on the Discharge Petition has a current event backgrounder, reading comprehension quiz and key, graphic of the legislative process, and some discharge petition inspo!

Since the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791 we have only amended the Constitution 17 times. Amending the Constitution is difficult! It only takes 13 states to stop an amendment. This simulation let’s you and your students amend the Constitution in class!

Make every day Constitution Day!

Use this great lesson to help your students understand the making of the Constitution. This lesson includes:

• U.S. Constitution Breakdown Chart and key

• Constitution Scavenger Hunt

• Constitutional Solutions to the Articles’ Problems and Key

• Federalists v. Anti-Federalists Comparison and Key

• Differences Between Federalists and Anti-Federalists Chart

• Making Claims Workshop Part 2

• Constitutional Solutions to Weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation Fact Sheet

• Federalists or Anti-Federalists Check In - with explanations

How you end class is just as important as how you start it, so end class on a high note! When there are just a few minutes left in class, assign your exit ticket. Project our free daily visual lesson and have students complete one of the activities outlined in the chart below. Students can work alone, or collaborate in small teams; Writing their names and responses on index cards. Each of these activities below can be done quickly to bring closure to a great day of learning!

Whether it’s apples and oranges; the presidency and congress; or liberals and conservatives - comparison is a great skill to have. In this activity students learn about two landmark Supreme Court cases and then compare them with our comparison chart. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it does make better, so open our FREE Foundational Documents Review and start comparing! KEY included!

What images best represent the United States?

Think carefully about the United States, use our catalog of over 30 images, a camera, and the web to create your own collage of images that best represent the U.S. and arrange them into a google doc, collage, any other online platform, or on paper! Once you have assembled your images, make a claim about how the images you included represent the U.S. Remember, the United States is many things, and your collage may represent many various ideas and values - even contradictory ones.

Whether it’s apples and oranges; the presidency and congress; or liberals and conservatives - comparison is a great skill to have. In this activity students learn about two landmark Supreme Court cases and then compare them with our comparison chart. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it does make better, so open our FREE SCOTUS Cases Review and start comparing!

Light a spark in your classroom with over 200 mind-bending questions. Challenge, delight, & excite with critical, curious, creative questions. Begin each class with a dose of wonder and exercise your students’ critical thinking, curiosity, and creativity muscles. Write the question on the board, project it onto a screen, copy it for your students, or read it aloud and let students explore the question first in writing, then with teams or with the entire class. Especially vexing questions can lead to extended classroom discussion, outside research & writing.