Social Studies & Civics Resources
Teaching for Justice
“We Have Rights” Videos
Series of 3-5 minute videos discussing how to invoke rights in situations involving ICE officers. Available in 8 languages. Note: Videos use cartoons, not real actors, but still depict arrests and family separations in a dramatic way, so may not be appropriate for all groups.
#IamABE Curriculum
#IamABE is a 3-lesson, standards-aligned curriculum, developed at three different levels, geared towards Adult Basic Education students. Designed to be easily implemented in any classroom, lessons and materials are available at the beginning, intermediate, and Advanced/GED levels. Lessons range from understanding First Amendment rights, to voicing one's political opinions on social media. This project-based curriculum builds towards launching a social media campaign to elevate student voices.
Advanced – Symbols of Resistance [NEW in 2026!]
This reading lesson features a household item that has become a symbol of resistance in Latin America. Students focus on five vocabulary words and reflect on the importance of being connected to others in difficult times.
Advanced ESL/GED – Language Matters [NEW in 2026!]
This lesson focuses on evaluating textual arguments for the value of bi-/multilingualism. The goal is to practice argumentation and textual analysis. This lesson is designed to be taught in-person but can be adapted for an online class.
Annenberg Guide to the United States Constitution
Part of the Annenberg Classroom website, this resource displays each section of the Constitution, followed by an explanation of the meaning in modern (though still advanced-level) English. It may be beneficial for an advanced English or GED class, or teachers can simplify further for other levels. The site also includes other civics and political science lesson plans.
Beginning – Language Matters [NEW in 2026!]
This lesson focuses on communicating the languages we speak and how they connect to our culture and history. The goal is to communicate our languages and their importance. This lesson is designed to be taught in person but can be adapted for an online class.
Beginning – Symbols of Resistance [NEW in 2026!]
This unit focuses on how the monarch butterfly was used as a symbol of resistance during the ICE occupation in Minnesota and how neighbors helped each other. Students are encouraged to think of other examples and write at least 2 sentences on how they felt during the occupation. It can be done in person or virtually.
Bill of Rights
This reading/writing lesson plan was created by Pennsylvania Adult Education Resources for intermediate or advanced students based around a NewsELA article about the Bill of Rights. The difficulty of the article can be adjusted based on class level. NOTE: Requires NewsELA account to view the article.
Citizenship News
Collection of links to free citizenship test prep materials. (The author also has her own citizenship class textbooks for sale.) The "News" page tracks changes to the N-400 citizenship application form and USCIS administration of the test.
Constitution Center Education Resources
Classroom resources (lesson plans, handouts, videos) from the National Constitution Center for teaching about topics like the First Amendment, judicial review, executive power, etc. Published by a non-partisan nonprofit. Intended for K-12 students but could be adapted for more advanced ABE classes.
Disability Rights
A history lesson about a movement that brought change in accessibility law. This lesson can be split into two days, with day one being vocabulary, scaffolding, reading, and comprehension. Day two could be vocabulary extension, grammar, text review, and application to present day.
Do You Know Your Bill of Rights?
Activity where students refer to "The Constitution and Rights" section of the Judicial Learning Center's website, which explains the amendments in the Bill of Rights, and fill in a handout with key vocabulary. A good intro to constitutional rights; could be used as a vocabulary activity for high-level ELL or GED students, or a digital literacy activity. Note: This website also has an Educator Center with a variety of additional podcast and video activities, online learning modules, lesson plans, and other resources.
Don’t Believe Everything That You Read! Information/Media Literacy
When it comes to the information that we are reading, hearing, and passing along, it is no wonder that it is becoming increasingly difficult to determine its validity. To this end, it is more important than ever to incorporate information/media literacy instructional strategies and activities into the ABE classroom. Moreover, these strategies and activities are beneficial for all levels of students and can be delivered within all types of instruction. This adaptable lesson will help students become more critical readers and listeners in this age of mass information and, depending on class time, can be taught during one or multiple sessions. To be most effective, it should be taught after lessons/discussions about the First Amendment (especially freedom of speech and freedom of the press) and the role(s) of media in society.
First Amendment Rights
This site offers extensive lessons on a variety of immigration-related historical topics. It includes full lesson plans, worksheets, and links to articles and videos. While designed for grades 6-12, it could be used in an advanced English or GED class.
How the Constitution Established our Government
This lesson teaches students how the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution to establish the U.S. government. Students will learn about the three main Articles of the Constitution and how each one establishes the three branches of government. They will then learn the role of each branch of government and the significance of “Checks and Balances.”
Human Rights Classroom Resources
Collection of lesson plans from The Advocates for Human Rights for various ages of K-12 students, intended to teach about human rights generally and specifically (e.g., rights of migrants, racial discrimination, etc.). Some lessons may not be ideal for all ABE classes, since they were created for children; teachers should use best judgment.
Intermediate – Language Matters [NEW in 2026!]
This two-part lesson asks students to critically reflect on the importance of our language/s and what can be lost if we lose our language/s. Students then have the opportunity to write a short I Am poem using all their linguistic resources.
Intermediate – Symbols of Resistance [NEW in 2026!]
This 6 hour, multi-day lesson takes students through identifying the use of symbols in a piece of model writing, to identifying a symbol that is significant to them from the Occupation. Students write about their experience using the symbol. Suggestions for adapting to online instruction provided.
Know Your Rights with ICE
A 2-3 hour long lesson (extensions built in) for beginning ESL students on differentiating types of law enforcement and understanding their rights in those interactions with an emphasis on Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Know Your Rights: 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments
In this module, students will read about exercising their 4th, 5th and 6th amendment rights during an encounter with ICE. Students will practice listening for specific phrases they can apply to interactions with ICE and practice using those phrases in role plays.
Let’s Talk about (Biological) Sex
This GED Science lesson explores data interpretation and DNA through the lens of biological sex. Students will read about 6 genetic combinations beyond XX and XY and discover what characteristics scientists consider when defining sex. This lesson could be taught over 1-2 class periods, depending on length of class time and whether the teacher assigns work for students to do ahead (watching videos to discuss). If everything is done in class, 3-4 hours.
Making Sense of the Amendments
Students will read and summarize some of the amendments to the Constitution, focusing especially on the 14th Amendment. This will be used as an opportunity to discuss, model, and practice strategies for making sense of unfamiliar challenging text. Students’ work is self-paced; they work on this assignment for about an hour a day over two weeks.
MATH – Symbols of Resistance [NEW in 2026!]
This math lesson begins with images of political resistance from the Metro Surge Occupation. Students can choose to adjust a different image for the math practice, but political resistance is discussed at the beginning. Please offer space for students to opt out if this is difficult to discuss.
Please use this lesson at the end of a unit on ratio/proportion. It should not be students’ first experience with these topics. (example units: CALM Unit 2, LiteracyMN GED Math Lesson #7, Kaplan 2026 Math Chapter 3)
Mock Hearing Before the Supreme Court
Part of a series of lesson plans from the ACLU of Maine, intended for high school students, about constitutional rights. After a teacher explains the 4th amendment (searches and seizures), students form a "Supreme Court" and debate an actual past SCOTUS case. The case deals with searching students' belongings, but could be used to explain protection against unlawful search more generally (i.e., stopped by officers on the street).
Step-by-Step Family Preparedness Plan
Created by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the Family Preparedness Plan can be downloaded as a PDF from their website. Pages 16-19 of the PDF allow individuals to fill in phone numbers and information for emergency contacts, health conditions and medical help, community resources, important documents, etc. This could be done as a class activity, possibly in a computer lab so students can practice searching for information online.
Teaching U.S. Immigration Series
This site offers extensive lessons on a variety of immigration-related historical topics. It includes full lesson plans, worksheets, and links to articles and videos. While designed for grades 6-12, it could be used in an advanced English or GED class.
The 5Ws of Executive Orders
Description of this lesson: Executive orders can be one of those “mysteries” of the U.S. government. Every president has the power to issue these types of orders but what exactly are they? Are they like a law? Do they have an expiration date? These are just a few of the many questions that will be answered in this lesson. While it can be a complex topic, this adaptable lesson provides the “5Ws” of executive orders and also puts them into historical context.
The Right to Assembly and the Power of Protest in the United States
In this Teaching for Justice lesson, students focus on the First Amendment Right to peaceably assemble. Students will interpret what it means to assemble peacefully through a reader’s theater activity, assess and summarize various, major protest movements in the United States, investigate songs, art, and/or poetry as other ways to protest, and critique why the right to assembly is essential for a healthy democracy. To be most effective, the lesson should also be taught after lessons/discussions/an overview of the Constitution and its amendments.
United States National Parks: Impact of 2025 Federal Layoffs
This reading lesson centers around a news article about how the 2025 U.S. federal layoffs impacted the National Park Service, the parks, and their employees.
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