Utah Education Network
Uen: Themepark: Liberty: United States Historical Documents
Find a large collection of internet resources organized around historical documents. Links to places to go, people to see, things to do, teacher resources, and bibliographies.
iCivics
I Civics: Constitutional Principles
The Founding Fathers created a government based on a set of fundamental principles carefully designed to guarantee liberty. This lesson lets students look at the Constitution from the perspective of its foundational principles and make...
iCivics
I Civics: The Constitutional Convention Mini Lesson
Students explore how the U.S. government was created in the years following the Articles of Confederation.
iCivics
I Civics: We Got This!
For this lesson, students explore how colonial government was both similar to and different from government in Britain and how it influenced the government we have today.
iCivics
I Civics: Major Clash? Compromise!
For this lesson, students explore the reasons for and outcomes of some of the most impactful resolutions made to form the U.S. Constitution.
iCivics
I Civics: Trying Self Government
For this lesson, students will learn about the Articles of Confederation's strengths and weaknesses as well as how it downfalls impacted the writing and ideas in the U.S. Constitution.
Other
American Civil Liberties Union: Constitution Day Activities
Six activities teach students about the U.S. Constitution. Learn about checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, some of the history of the document, and how each of the states became a state. The site also provides teacher resources,...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Ratification and Bill of Rights
This site is provided for by the University of Groningen. Learn about the struggle for approval by the states of the U.S. Constitution, continuous disagreements after the Constitutional Convention between the Federalists and the...
This Nation
This nation.com: Constitution of the United States
This site provides the full text of the Constitution of the United States of America.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation
Using primary texts and prior study of Colonial America and the Revolution, students examine "what type of government would best represent the ideals of the American Revolution." Worksheets, discussions, and role-playing within this...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: James Madison
A brief biography of James Madison. Find out why James Madison was called the father of the constitution. Learn how his life affected the United States. (In Spanish)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: The American Revolution
Teachers will find an assortment of readings to enhance teaching about the revolutionary origins of the American Government.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement:the Preamble to the Constitution
These step-by-step lesson plans help students understand the historical background to the U.S. Constitution. Students simulate a hypothetical situation where they must create their own rules and figure out how to work together. Links to...
Library of Congress
Loc: The u.s. Constitution: Governing of the u.s.
This unit includes four lessons using primary sources to examine continuity and change in the governing of the United States. Lessons one and two are focused on a study of the Constitution and Bill of Rights and provide access to primary...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The Argument of the Declaration of Independence
In this lesson plan, students will consider "The Argument of the Declaration of Independence." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Basis of the American Republic
Overview of the U.S. Constitution as the supreme law of the land enduring through changing times and ever increasing diversity over the last two centuries.
Digital History
Digital History: Republicanism
The framers of the Constitution had a great distaste for the monarchial society of Great Britain. See how this was reflected in the checks and balances they wrote into the Constitution in an effort to create a working republic.
Digital History
Digital History: Completing a Final Draft
Read about the committee that produced a final draft of the Constitution to present to the entire Constitutional Convention. Find out what the delegates to the convention kept in the final draft and what they changed.
Digital History
Digital History: u.s. Constitution and Organization of the National Government
Read about the structure of the U.S. Constitution and the thoughts of the framers behind the formation of each branch.
Digital History
Digital History: Constitutional Quiz
See the questions about the Constitution that have been asked in recent polls.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the u.s. Constitution
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Making of the American Constitution
A brief video providing background information on the Constitutional Convention. [3:58] The video is followed by a quiz and a list of additional resources.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: United States Bill of Rights
This encyclopedia article from Wikipedia gives some background history to the creation of the Bill of Rights and contains a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
This encyclopedia article explains what it means to plead the Fifth, and provides an excerpt from the Fifth Amendment.