Divide a bulletin board or worksheet into three sections labeled "Local," "National" and "International." Ask students to find news stories, either at school or at home, that fit into these three categories. Community or state news would be considered "Local," while articles from around the country would be "National" and world news would be "International." Once students develop an understanding of what is happening nearby and far away, plot the locations of the articles on a map.
Hold a mock election of former presidents. Divide the class into political parties and allow students to choose former presidents to research. Give each student the opportunity to deliver a campaign speech for their candidate. After all of the candidates have been presented, hold a primary election. The winner from each political party will advance to the presidential election, which should be scheduled at least one day later. Encourage the presidential candidates to make posters and continue campaigning until the election is held. After the votes have been tallied, discuss the outcome, the voting procedure and the importance of exercising the right to vote in a democracy.
Divide students into two groups: the importing nation and the exporting nation. Discuss the concepts of tariffs, or taxes on imported goods, and quotas, or limits on the number of imports permitted. Present simple scenarios involving tariffs and quotas and allow students to discuss the effects, both positive and negative, of these policies. For example, who benefits if the tariff placed on imported jewelry makes it more expensive than locally manufactured jewelry?
Use readings, maps and artwork to help students identify Native American culture in their region before Europeans settled in North America. Discuss the resources they used to construct dwellings and make clothing. How far did they have to travel to obtain these resources? Did they participate in trade? Learn how they got and prepared their food. Were they agricultural, hunter-gatherers or fishermen? Compare and contrast their historical culture with their culture today.