In this lesson, students read about the worldwide AIDS epidemic and the prevalence of AIDS in Africa. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will consider various options of how the U.S. could react to the AIDS crisis in Africa. Student groups will discuss the options and then role play a State Department meeting on the question of what to do.

In this activity, students will examine examples of laws from Hammurabi's Code from the ancient Babylonian civilization. In small groups, they will determine what those laws tell them about the ancient civilization.

In this lesson, students examine the major principles and economic theories provided in the book The Wealth of Nations. They will also compare Smith's "free market mechanism" with mercantalism. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will consider and discuss whether or not Adam Smith would agree with government interventions in the economy today.

In this lesson, students examine the historical development, implementation, and opposition to affirmative action, with emphasis placed on a specific Supreme Court cases. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, the class will review several affirmative action programs and make a list for each program. Then they will examine these reasons and decide whether they are "compelling" enough to be constitutional.

In this lesson, students learn about how the U.S. Supreme Court decided the affirmative action case of Fisher v. University of Texas and other similar landmark cases. Discussion questions are provided. In an associated activity, students will role play trustees of a public university charged with setting, among other things, admissions policy for the university and how affirmative action will be addressed. Each small group will report its decisons to the class for discussion.

In this lesson, students read about how many African nations stagnated under brutal rulers and government-run economies, after gaining independence from European colonial powers, and how today, many of these nations are striving to establish democratic rule and free-market economies. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students form small groups, each of which will become a committee to advise the president on what the U.S. role in Africa should be.

In this lesson, students explore the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building as a domestic act of terror. Discussion questions are provided. In an associated activity, students will prepare brief written position statements in various issues raised in the aftermath of the bombing and hold a debate on the issues.

In this lesson, students learn about the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. Discussion questions are provided. In an associated activity, students extend their understanding by studying free speech and free press issues of the 20th century. Students will look up some of these important Supreme Court cases and report back to the class.

In this lesson, students explore the controversial issue of religion (prayer, bible study, etc.) in public schools through an analysis of serveral court cases. Discussion questions are provided. In an associated activity, students will review and discuss the Supreme Court's theory that the government should remain neutral on this issue.

In this lesson, students review past mass extinctions. They will also examine current human impacts on global biodiversity and consider whether there might be another extinction event soon. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will discuss whether to support or oppose proposed rules to restrict the use of street vehicles, OHVs, and bicycles on public land.

In this lesson, students review the history of lynching in America and how the NAACP led the fight to pass a federal anti-lynching law. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students create, layout, and publish an opinion/editorial page for a 1934 newspaper on the topic of lynching.

In this lesson, students examine the content of and controversy surrounding Proposition 187, proposed to voters in California as a measure to discourage illegal immigration in the state. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students role play as members of a Citizen Advisory Panel that has been tasked with making recommendations about a proposed law.

In this lesson, students examine common arguments for and against the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students role play as members of a congressional committee deciding what to do about the NEA.

In this lesson, students read about the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, one of the first of the 1960s university student protests that challenged authority and criticized the way things were. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, the class will simulate a public university student senate debating whether student activity fees should be voluntary or mandatory for campus organizations.

In this lesson, students learn about the plague that struck in the mid-1300s. Discussion questions are provided. In an associated activity, students evaluate and rank the severity of various catastrophes in modern societies.

In this lesson, students examine the contributions of black soldiers during the Civil War. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, the class will write and publish an issue of Frederick Douglass's Paper, reflecting some of the important controversies concerning black troops in the Union Army.

In this lesson, students read how the Aztec Empire rose to its peak of power and then collapsed under the assault of Cortes and his Indian allies. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students imagine they are an advisor to Moctezuma II on the eve of the Spanish conquest, and write a letter to the emperor describing the problems the Aztec Empire is facing, the consequences of these problems, and what should be done about them.

In this lesson, students examine how Gandhi led the movement for independence in India by using non-violent civil disobedience. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students consider various situations and tell whether the situation calls for civil disobedience.

This lesson introduces students to the importance of building a constituency to support or oppose public policies using the case study of the Montgomery Bus Boycott as an example. Students read primary documents from the boycott and discuss how the documents show how leaders tried to build support.

In this lesson, students will examine the background and contents of the Bush Doctrine. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will research current African American leaders and their views on current issues. The students will debate whether or not the Bush Doctrine should be part of the U.S. foreign policy.

In this lesson, students examine the Chinese Civil War and how the Mao Zedong's Communists defeated Chiang Kai-Shek's Nationalists. Discussion questions are provided. In an associated activity, students will choose two main reasons why they think the Communists won and then support their reasons in an essay. Students will also participate in a class discussion to explain and defend their reasons.

In this lesson, students review the life of Cicero and his thoughts on ideal government. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will form small groups and discuss quotes from Cicero's speeches and writings.

In this lesson, students consider the need for citizens to be engaged in government and the need for civic education. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will role play school board members deciding whether to adopt the six promising approaches (listed in the reading) for classes in the school district.

In this lesson, students read about how the British and French clashed over control of the North American interior during the 1700s. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will role play five groups that had a stake in North America just before the outbreak of the French and Indian War in 1754.

In this lesson, students read about how climate changes in the American Southwest affected the lives of the Anasazi people and impacted their civilization. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students research other ancient civilizations and compare them to the Anasazi.

In this lesson, students investigate the movement toward capitalism in China in recent years and contrast this with communism's reign in political power. A set of discussion question is provided. In an associated activity, students will review major characteristics of communist and democratic systems and then place China on continuums of Marxism vs. Capitalism and Leninist government vs. Democracy.

In this lesson, students will learn how WWII victims have sued banks, companies, and governments to compensate them for lost money, forced labor, unpaid insurance benefits, stolen property, and human rights violations. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will debate whether victims should receive compensation or not.

In this structured discussion method, under the guidance of a facilitator, participants are encouraged to engage intellectually with challenging materials, gain insight about their own point of view and strive for a shared understanding of issues. In this conversation, students will focus their study on the "Immigration Enforcement Raids."

In this structured discussion method, under the guidance of a facilitator, participants are encouraged to engage intellectually with challenging materials, gain insight about their own point of view and strive for a shared understanding of issues. In this conversation, students will focus their study on the "Syrian Refuge Crisis and U.S. Policy."

In this lesson, students explore the development of the national park system in the United States and national attitudes and beliefs concerning conservation and preservation. Discussion questions are provided. In an associated activity, students will discuss and debate current controversial dilemmas related to the national park system.

In this lesson, students review the events of how Hawaii became annexed by the United States. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will participate in a debate. One-third of the students will role-play the imperialists of 1898 who favored an American overseas empire. Another third of the students will role-play the anti-imperialists who opposed an empire. The final third of the students will represent the American public who will decide the debate.

In this lesson, students examine Thomas Robert Malthus's economic theory as related to population growth. Discussion questions are provided. In an associated activity, students debate whether or not there is a current overpopulation problem based on the Malthus principle.

In this lesson, students read about how Thomas Jefferson, drawing on the current thinking of his time, used natural rights to justify declaring independence from England. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students further discuss some of the ideals in the Declaration of Independence.

In this lesson, students read how the Roman Republic attempted to limit the power of its political leaders. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students discuss the merits of a constitutional amendment that applies the Roman concept of the short-term problem-solving dictator to contemporary America.

In this lesson, students review the Supreme Court case of Yaser Esam Hamdi v. Donald Rumsfeld (2004) and analyze the Justice's opinions. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will role play the Court and see whether they can get a majority decision on the two issues in the case.

In this lesson, students explore the development of Confucianism in China. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will examine and discuss famous quotations from political philosophers from different eras.

In this lesson, students review Vietnam's history and how the splitting of the country in 1954 led to conflict between North and South Vietnam and how and why the United States became involved. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will discuss and describe what they would want America to be like by the year 2050.

In this lesson, students investigate the impact of the Dust Bowl and subsequent mass migrations to California. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will conduct research about one of the many artists that were working in the 1930s. Students will create a report based on their research findings.

In this lesson, students read how Asoka, one of the first rulers of ancient India, rejected military conquest in favor of spreading a philosophy of nonviolence and respect for others. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students work in a small group to write their own edicts.