# Policy and Current Events 

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These lesson plans and classroom resources will help cultivate civil discourse in your classroom. The lessons cover important topics from history and today.

#### Lessons 

[![Sphere Election Handout cover](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2022-11/sphere-election-handout-cover-16x10-cropped.png?itok=0Yanl2Ue)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/publication/civil-discourse-election-tips-tricks) 

**[Elections](https://www.sphere-ed.org/publication/civil-discourse-election-tips-tricks)**

[![Sphere - Civil Discourse Middle School Classrom Cover](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2022-04/sphere-middle-school-classroom-cover.png?itok=p5oyEUMq)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/cultivating-civic-discourse-middle-school-classroom) 

**[Civil Discourse](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/cultivating-civic-discourse-middle-school-classroom)**

[![ Immigration: Is History Repeating Itself?](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2021-11/Screen%20Shot%202021-11-15%20at%209.44.55%20AM.png?itok=6kwrGsOa)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/immigration-history-repeating-itself) 

**[Immigration](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/immigration-history-repeating-itself)**

[![Sphere Discussion Questions_Immigration Nowrasteh Final](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2021-10/Screen%20Shot%202021-10-05%20at%208.55.59%20AM.png?itok=r8Vn6afq)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/discussion-questions-most-common-arguments-against-immigration-why-theyre-wrong) 

**[Immigration Discussion Questions](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/discussion-questions-most-common-arguments-against-immigration-why-theyre-wrong)**

[![Sphere- Voting Rights- cover](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2022-03/sphere-voting-rights-cover.jpg?itok=eNrvEHfn)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/election-integrity-voting-rights-two-day-conversation-representation-general-will-popular) 

**[Voting Rights](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/election-integrity-voting-rights-two-day-conversation-representation-general-will-popular)**

[![Sphere Supreme Court](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2022-06/Sphere-supreme-court.jpg?itok=0xEVWAJh)](https://www.projectsphere.org/episode/should-the-u-s-supreme-court-overturn-more-laws/) 

**[Discussion: Role of Supreme Court](https://www.projectsphere.org/episode/should-the-u-s-supreme-court-overturn-more-laws/)**

[![Drug Prohibition](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2022-06/Sphere-Drug-Prohibition.jpg?itok=-MuSzsyR)](https://www.projectsphere.org/episode/should-drug-prohibition-be-ended-nationwide/) 

**[Discussion: Drug Prohibition](https://www.projectsphere.org/episode/should-drug-prohibition-be-ended-nationwide/)**

[![Sphere Presidential Powers video](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2022-08/sphere-panel-president-war.png?itok=01AHUIRx)](https://www.projectsphere.org/episode/does-the-president-have-the-power-to-start-a-war/) 

**[Discussion: Presidential War Powers](https://www.projectsphere.org/episode/does-the-president-have-the-power-to-start-a-war/)**

#### Resources 

[A Brief History of U.S. Immigration Policy from the Colonial Period to the Present Day ](https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/brief-history-us-immigration-policy-colonial-period-present-day)**August 3, 2021**

From the colonial period through the Industrial Revolution, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and up to today, radical swings in immigration policy have had their connections to earlier debates and policies.

[*The Most Common Arguments Against Immigration and Why They’re Wrong*](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/discussion-questions-most-common-arguments-against-immigration-why-theyre-wrong)**June 26, 2021**

*The Most Common Arguments Against Immigration and Why They’re Wrong* contains the 15 most common arguments against immigration and Cato Institute scholar Alex Nowrasteh’s responses to them.