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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Freedom to Worship

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read the biographies of seven colonists and determine their position on the freedom of religion. They conduct a panel discussion of seven personalities and debate the religious freedom in America.
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

We the Second Graders

For Teachers 2nd
Students study the history, development and meaning of the Constitution. They participate in a classroom simulation of the Constitutional Convention by writing a Preamble, developing a government, and writing a Bill of Rights for their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Government: War Powers Limitations

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students examine historic examples of authority during wartime. They interpret the Fifth Amendment. They debate the merits of the Patriot Act.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Divided We Fall

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the consequences of eliminating one or more of the amendments to the Bill of Rights.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating A Bill Of Rights In Space

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students create an Intergalactic Bill of Rights and apply the United States Bill of Rights to a hypothetical situation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Study of the First Amendment Rights in the Bill of Rights

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students become aware of the basic liberties of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition through study of Supreme Court cases. Student groups analyae some cases heard by the Supreme Court to further their understanding of the First...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

With Liberty and Justice for All

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify and define in their own words the first ten amendments to the Constitution. They are assigned a CDV or amendment from the Bill of Rights and create and present a one-minute skit demonstrating it.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reorganizing the Bill of Rights

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders look critically at the 26 amendments to the United States Constitution.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights and the News

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Learners examine current news stories and from them develop "BIG" questions related to individual and group rights. They then relate their questions to the U.S. Constitution and supreme court decisions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Time for Justice

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars explain the protections and privileges of individuals and groups in the United States.
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: The Bill of Rights: Debating the Amendments

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Help students grasp the idea of making amendments with this instructional activity on the debates of the amendments to the US Constitution. Use primary sources to have the students choose their own amendments, give them opportunity to...
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Article
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: James Madison: Proposed Amendments to Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
Text of James Madison's "Proposed Amendments to the Constitution," June 8, 1789. Madison states his reasons for the amendments in view of the anti-federalist feelings in many of the colonies. The proposal explains in Madison's own words...
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Primary
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation: The Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a close look at the United States Bill of Rights, the ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It was written a long time ago-1791. Move your cursor over the picture below to see if you can read the rights given to American citizens.
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Primary
US National Archives

Nara: Treasures of Congress: The First Congress the Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Visit The National Archives & Records Administration's website on the Bill of Rights. The site gives some background information on the drafting of the Bill of Rights, lets you view the text to the document, lets you view an image of...
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Primary
US National Archives

National Archives and Records Administration: America's Founding Documents

For Students 9th - 10th
Original founding documents supported by explanations and articles. Includes the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
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Interactive
Scholastic

Scholastic: Constitution Game

For Students 9th - 10th
This game is all about the U.S. Constitution. Click start and drag the item where it belongs in the Constitution. The resource contains links to learn more about the Constitution.
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Activity
University of Missouri

Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Marsh v Chambers, u.s. Supreme Court

For Students 9th - 10th
Chief Justice Burger's majority opinion in the case of MARSH vs. CHAMBERS, 463 U.S. 783 (1983). The case dealt with whether an opening prayer in the Nebraska Legislature violated the First Amendment.
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Website
US National Archives

Nara: Charters of Freedom: The Bill of Rights: The First Ten Ammendments

For Students 9th - 10th
Primary source document includes handwritten drafts of what would become the first ammendment to the Constitution along with informational text and painting of a ca. 1890 colored engraving, "In the Reading Room of an 18th Century New...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs News Hour: Constitutional Amendments and Gay Marriage

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson, learners examine and debate the issue of same sex marriage by studying background information, news articles, legal arguments and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. They then draft an amendment of their own to...
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: A National Initiative on American History, Civics, and Service

For Students 9th - 10th
Our Documents is home to one hundred milestone documents that influenced that course of American history and American democracy. Includes full-page scans of each document, transcriptions, background information on their significance, and...
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: The Bill of Rights (1791)

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive experience with the Bill of Rights. The Our Documents group allows you to view a copy of the original Bill of Rights. There is a brief information section along with links to larger images, a typed transcript, and...
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Website
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Bill of Rights in Action: The Lincoln Douglss Debates [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Article and activity offering students problem-based learning by examining conflict, past and present, that call in to question our Constitutional Rights. Questions for writing and discussion as well as small group learning activity.
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Website
Teaching American History

Teaching American History: Bill of Rights Introduction

For Students 9th - 10th
What is the Bill of Rights? Why were they created? Find out the purpose of these ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution and how they work to protect the citizens in the U.S.
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Interactive
PBS

Pbs Online/the American Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
Information packed game that takes you on a journey through the lead-up to the Revolutionary War, the Revolutionary War itself, and beyond to the Bill of Rights. Hyperlinks to other articles in this great site.