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Lesson Plan
Other

Us Courts: Fifth Amendment Activities

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Two activities and lesson plan apply landmark Supreme Court cases on the Fifth Amendment and the right to due process or fair trial for adults and juveniles accused of a crime.
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Activity
Other

Us Courts: Sixth Amendment Activities

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Activities for the classroom in which students apply landmark Supreme Court cases to contemporary scenarios related to the right to counsel and right to a fair trial. With plan for teachers, word bank, and links to related resources.
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Activity
Other

Us Courts: Fourth Amendment Activities

For Students 9th - 10th
Activities for the classroom on the 4th Amendment in which students apply landmark Supreme Court cases to contemporary scenarios related to search and seizure issues at school, in the car, and the home. With lesson plan and links to...
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Activity
Other

Us Courts: First Amendment Activities

For Students 9th - 10th
Activities for students that make learning about the 1st Amendment relevant by applying landmark Supreme Court cases to contemporary scenarios related to the five parts of the First Amendment and rights to freedom of religion, speech,...
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Equal Status of Jewish Americans

For Students 3rd - 8th
This 3-page article provides a general overview of George Washington recognizing the equal status of Jewish Americans in 1790.
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Article
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: How Federal Grand Juries Work

For Students 9th - 10th
An overview of the procedures of Grand juries and the history behind them is given in this article on NPR. A great glossary of Grand jury terms is provided along with a link to download the Federal Grand Jury handbook.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Right On

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about a program called "Do Something About It" designed to teach kids about the Bill of Rights. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: American Government the Bill of Rights Part I

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text piece shares a history to the Bill of Rights. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes scaffolding...
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: American Government the Bill of Rights Part Ii

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text passage explains a few parts of the Bill of Rights. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes...
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Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Bill of Rights

For Students 3rd - 8th
The Bill of Rights was adopted to protect each United States citizen's rights. Learn about how the Bill of Rights was formed and the protections it guarantees to Americans.
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Graphic
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Illustrated Bill of Rights

For Students 3rd - 8th
For elementary students, an easy to understand illustrated explanation of the Bill of Rights is offered.
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Civil Liberties Recap: You Be the Judge

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
How well can you decide the balance of civil liberties? Review three case summaries as well as the laws and facts about each case and arguments, and then make a ruling.
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Free Exercise of Religion

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about the Free Exercise Clause and general purpose laws which protect individuals from government interference in their religious affairs.
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: U S. Constitution: Annotation 18: First Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about the boundaries of seditious speech and the permissibility of governmental measures which are directly concerned with the content of expression.
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Annotation 3: Eighth Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
This particular page of annotations on the Eighth Amendment discusses the background and intended meaning of the phrase "cruel and unsual punishment".
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides extensive information regarding several American constitutional issues such as: impeachment, war powers, interstate commerce, and the amendment process. Hyperlinks can be found throughout each constitutional issue to...
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: De Jonge v. State of Oregon (1937)

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a summary of the case De Jonge v State of Oregon.
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Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: "The Bill of Rights" by James Madison

For Students 11th - 12th Standards
A learning module that begins with "The Bill of Rights" by James Madison, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free teacher...
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Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 42: The Bill of Rights Is a Rockin

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students are aware of most their personal rights and freedoms. However, many have not critically evaluated the significance of the Bill of Rights and are unaware that the Bill of Rights only applied to the federal government from 1791...
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Interactive
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Life Without the Bill of Rights?

For Students 9th - 10th
This a click-and-explore activity that puts you in control and ask you to consider how life would change without some of our most cherished freedoms. Life Without the Bill of Rights? invites you to understand the significance of your...
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Primary
Bill of Rights Institute

The Bill of Rights Institute: The Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. Written by James Madison in response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties, the Bill of Rights lists specific...
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Activity
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Ap Us Government and Politics: Unit 2: Bill of Rights Reading Guide [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A 2-page worksheet where students fill in the blanks with information about the rights and protections embedded in the amendments in the Bill of Rights. They are also asked to explain the meanings of eight terms used in the Bill of Rights.
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Interactive
Other

Sunnyland Classroom: Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Interactive learning game on the Bill of Rights in which students hear from historians and then answer questions based on what they learned.
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Handout
CommonLit

Common Lit: Text Sets: Founding the United States

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is a collection of 15 Grade-Leveled texts (5-12) on the topic The Founding of America. Once the Revolutionary War was over, America's Founding Fathers had to develop a nation. Learn about the founding of American democracy, from the...