Students learn the basics about the federal budget-what services the federal government provides and how it collects money for those services, various types of fiscal policy and other information through a short PowerPoint discussion. Next, students are appointed to a special Presidential commission to "tackle the deficit," deciding whether to raise taxes, cut spending, or a combination of both. Finally, students defend their commission's plans at a mock press conference.

Students will explore the personalities of the Revolutionary War's Patriots and Loyalists by participating in a character role play. The lesson will culminate with students researching and writing a character sketch of a key Revolutionary figure of their choice and participating in a Colonial Town Hall & Debate.

In this activity, students in American History: Founding Principles, Civics, and Economics courses will break into teams and act as a Board of Elections, working together to plan, organize, conduct and monitor their school's First Vote election. Students will first learn about what actual state and county Boards of Elections do, and will then think through the various components of an election as they work together to determine their school's own election procedures. While this activity is not required when conducting the First Vote election simulation, it is an excellent way to encourage student ownership of and interest in the project. (If multiple classes/sections of American History: Founding Principles, Civics, and Economics will be completing this activity, teachers should first coordinate how the final election design plan will be selected.)

In this lesson, students will examine the concept of Manifest Destiny as it relates to the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition through discussion, reading, and the examination of artwork and maps. Students will demonstrate their understanding of this content in a creative writing assignment in which they assume the persona of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and/or a Native American and create inferred journal entries.

This presentation is a supplemental resource to the lesson "Manifest Destiny and the Lewis and Clark Expedition." In the lesson, students will examine the concept of Manifest Destiny as it relates to the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition through discussion, reading, and the examination of artwork and maps. Students will demonstrate their understanding of this content in a creative writing assignment in which they assume the persona of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and/or a Native American and create inferred journal entries.

Students consider the implications of the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment by learning about the landmark Supreme Court case Marsh v. Chambers.

Often when studying the Revolutionary War, we forget to acknowledge the important roles Africans and African Americans played, whether in fighting for either side of the war, or fighting for their own rights to freedom. Without including their pieces of the puzzle, the history we learn is incomplete. In this lesson, students will learn how Blacks were contributing to colonial society, making active choices to survive their bondage and striving to shape and control their own lives amidst the Patriots? struggle for political freedom.

In this lesson, students will explore what it means to be an active, engaged citizen by sharing moments from their own lives. Students will then explore a tumultuous period of southern history, the Jim Crow Era, when it took numerous active, engaged citizens and community members to fight against the inequality and injustice of southern laws. This lesson will culminate with students teaching classmates about an historical figure representative of an active, engaged citizen by creating a “living” museum exhibit. (Teacher Note: The “living” museum activity can be used with any historical time period or theme throughout your curriculum.)

Students will gain an understanding of the structure of the North Carolina General Court of Justice. Through creation of a candidate, a poster, and other optional activities, students will learn about the organization and responsibilities of courts and court officials in North Carolina.

Students will explore the reasons North Carolina Constitution of 1776 needed reform, noting the changes to the NC Constitution that were made in the Constitutional Convention of 1835. Students will then apply what they have learned by assuming the role of North Carolina Governor David L. Swain and delivering a persuasive speech to the NC legislature on why the 1835 Constitutional Convention is necessary.

In this lesson, students explore the different regions of North Carolina and how the topography of the region affected economic, social, and political development by completing one of the projects options included.

Students will learn about America's first gold rush, which took place in North Carolina in the early 1800s. They will then utilize their understanding of the gold rush and its affect on North Carolina by completing a creative writing assignment.

Students will explore the various nicknames that North Carolina has been given throughout history, focusing on the nickname given to it during the early 1800s: the Rip Van Winkle state. Students will listen to the legend of Rip Van Winkle and then discuss the story.

In this lesson, students gain an understanding of North Carolina Native Americans, their way of life and their culture by assuming the role of an archeologist and recreating an artifact that would have been used by Native populations in the pre-colonial period.

In this lesson, students will learn about the position of North Carolina’s governor, his/her roles and responsibilities, and the relevance he/she has to each North Carolinian. Students will explore the skills and qualifications necessary to be governor by assuming the role of North Carolina’s governor and problem solving various real‐life scenarios. Finally, students will create a commercial or poster as part of a public awareness campaign to inform North Carolinians about the office of the governor and its relevance to every citizen.

In this lesson, students will learn about North Carolina’s Tuscarora War (its causes, its effects, and the people involved) through examination of art, participation in a negotiation activity, and class discussion.

Little known about our state’s history is the brave confrontation North Carolina’s Lumbee staged to protest a KKK rally near Maxton, NC on the night of January 18, 1958. In this lesson, students learn about North Carolina’s Lumbee and their heroic resistance to hatred and bigotry on this night, known as “The Battle of Hayes Pond.” Students will explore the night’s events as well as design an active citizenship award to honor the Lumbee for their vigilance in fighting for their rights.

In this lesson, students will learn about North Carolina’s Regulators, an association formed by backcountry residents to fight government corruption and extortion. Through a Power Point presentation, class and partner discussion, creative writing activities, imaginative scenarios, and the examination of primary sources, students will learn about the civil disobedience practiced by North Carolina’s working class in the late 1700s, as well as the colonial government’s response.