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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The First Amendment

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This resource presents lessons on the First Amendment. It contains many resources for use with children, and links to primary source documents.
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Handout
Social Studies Help Center

Social Studies Help Center: The Supreme Court as Defender of the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives you examples of court cases demonstrating how the Supreme Court upholds the constituion. It also includes links to further information.
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Primary
US National Archives

Nara: Teaching With Documents: United States vs. Thomas Cooper

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The information, documents and lessons relating to the United States vs. Thomas Cooper case. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
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Website
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Rcfp: The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

For Students 9th - 10th
This non-profit organization collects instances of First Amendment and Freedom of Information cases throughout the United States and reports on the facts and outcomes. An interesting cross section from this section of our law.
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Article
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Rcfp: Court Rescinds Its Own Prior Restraint Against the Ap

For Students 9th - 10th
A judge decided not to continue to enforce a prior restraint keeping the Associated Press from releasing information it had obtained through an open records request.
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Article
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: The Tech: Cnn Foils Prior Restraint

For Students 9th - 10th
An essay by a freshman at MIT gives a definition and examples of "Prior Restraint." The Tech is the MIT school newspaper. (Published Dec. 7, 1990)
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Website
PBS

Pbs Newshour Extra: The Dilemma of Protecting Free Speech

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students will compare various examples of offensive expression. How does the fact that the expressions are offensive to others impact Freedom of Speech? Students will review and analyze and complete a case study of cases where the...
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Website
Other

Article 19: Promoting Freedom of Expression

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses right to information and freedom of expression issues. Bright, colorful, nicely designed with many resources.
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Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Schenck v. United States (1919)

For Students 9th - 10th
This U.S. Supreme Court case established the famous "clear and present danger" doctrine by dealing with the issue of freedom of speech. This resource provides an abstract containing a summary, a link to the full text of the decision, and...
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Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Dennis vs. United States

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief summary of Dennis v. United States, a First Amendment case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1951 involving limits to the freedom of speech. Includes portraits of the justices on the court of the time and information about how...
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Primary
George Mason University

George Mason University: The Espionage Act of May 16, 1918

For Students 9th - 10th
The original text of Section 3 of the Espionage Act of May 16, 1918 is provided at this site.
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Handout
Siteseen

Siteseen: Government and Constitution: 1st Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
Short, simple summary with the full text of the 1st amendment of the Bill of Rights detailing freedom of religion, the freedom of the press, and freedom of expression in the Constitution.