Comparative Politics Teacher Resources

Who were Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton? High schoolers examine the character traits of these historical figures and watch the video, The Duel. Hamilton vs. Burr: An Event that Changed History (available from PBS), to gain an...

The right to vote and freedom of expression are democratic principles that fall under the study of political science. A handout describes writing assignments that are common in political science college classes and gives tips and...

Before Democrats and Republicans, there were Whigs, Dixiecrats, Federalists and Anti-Federalists, Populists, Prohibitionists, Progressives, and the list goes on. Your young historians will discover the evolution of political parties in...

Can countries avoid global warfare if they all act the same way? Consider the importance of international relations with a video analysis of Hans Morgenthau's 1948 work, Politics Among Nations, which cites liberal idealism as a factor in...

Are politics a necessary and natural part of society? High schoolers view a brief explanation of Aristotle's Politics to learn more about the ways Greek society — and modern society — form the political world to help citizens improve...

Learners determine their own perspective on women's empowerment then compare it to how it is seen in Syria. They watch a four documentary clips, discuss what they've seen, then answer two short essay questions. Excellent resource links...

Could a president just ignore election results? In this analysis handout, scholars consider this question as they read background information on the 2008 elections in Zimbabwe. Two political cartoons poke fun at President Robert Mugabe,...

Though slightly dated (around the 2008 Presidential election), the information and discussion points in this presentation about political humor are solid. Use the slides in your language arts class in a lecture about semantics, or in a...

Fourth graders study women's involvement in Texas politics. In this US history lesson, 4th graders discuss woman suffrage, examine three Texas female pioneer legislators by reading biographies, and explore women's issues by generating a...

Grammar practice gets good, better, and best! Choose when to use comparative and superlative forms of various adverbs in 12 sentences. Examples at the top of the page guide kids to select the best form based on how many people or items...

Islamism, not to be mistaken for the religion of Islam itself, defines a government that uses Islam as its basis. A Crash Course World History video discusses the historical spread of Islam in context with the political presence of...

Analyze the constitutions of five different countries and see how they relate to each country's culture and traditions. Pupils read the preambles to the constitutions of India, Ireland, Russia, Suriname, and the United States. After...

Every political theory needs a devil's advocate. Discussing Karl Marx with your classroom creates a healthy debate about the pros and cons of the capitalistic system and government. Last in a series of 13, the video includes primary...

Use this 5-day lesson to clarify the platforms of the two major parties, comparing and contrasting against students' beliefs. Begin by looking at unlabeled summaries of both party platforms, having learners identify most with one. Groups...

Examine American political culture with your scholars using this self-assessment lesson. Individuals rate a list of 14 values from highest to lowest, including ideas such as financial security, right to private property, justice,...

Students examine a variety of historical cartoons. They recognize a political cartoon and identify the main idea, symbolism, exaggeration and caricature in political cartoons. Students analyze a political cartoon by Benjamin Franklin.

Every political system has advantages and disadvantages. To gain an understanding of these differences, groups investigate the political system of another country—oligarchy, monarchy, dictatorship, parliamentary—and prepare a...

Are there differences in the brains of liberals and conservatives? That is the question young political scientists are challenged to answer. Class members examine studies, consider how the results are presented, and how the studies were...

Use political cartoons to spice up a discussion on national security! Two cartoons, one by Normal Rockwell in 1948, the other a parody of Rockwell's by Chuck Asay in 2010, depict the dangers of leaking information. Background information...

The two major parties polarize many in America today, but it doesn't have to be that way in the classroom! Teach learners about political party platforms and modern campaigns with a mock political convention. After watching a PowerPoint...

To demonstrate their ability to craft an analysis of informational text, class members read excerpts from James Madison's "The Federalist No. 10," from George Washington's Farewell Address, and from Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural...

Encourage readers to compare and contrast the information that they find in informational text with a variety of reading passages and worksheets. Learners read all about subjects in science, social studies, and literature before...

How are gender equality and language connected? A video summary of Joan Wallach Scott's Gender and the Politics of History addresses this question as part of a larger playlist that discusses ideas of the world. The summary gives an...