Curated OER
The Bills of Rights: Cutting It down to Size
Eighth graders explore democratic values. In this U. S. Constitution lesson plan, 8th graders read the Bill of Rights and consider the significance of the amendments. Students design a governmental time capsule that includes their own...
Curated OER
The Bill of Rights is a-Rockin
Young scholars explore the U.S. Constitution through music. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students discuss a hypothetical case regarding lyrics by Madonna and the historical Massachusetts Blue Laws. Young scholars use the Bill of Rights...
National Endowment for the Humanities
James Madison: Raising an Army—Balancing the States and the Federal Government
To war! To war! Every nation in the history of the world has had to deal with warfare on some level. Scholars go through a series of activities and discussions surrounding the development of the Constitution to help them better...
Library of Congress
The Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment
How did the Emancipation Proclamation lead to the Thirteenth Amendment? Middle schoolers analyze primary source documents including the text of the Emancipation Proclamation, political cartoons, photographs, and prints to understand the...
Curated OER
Constitution/Impeachment/Reconstruction
Eleventh graders analyze a chart comparing U.S. census data from 1850, 1880, 1900, and 1920. They read a handout summarizing immigration legislation from 1882-1996 and create a graph charting how open / closed U.S. immigration is over time.
Curated OER
The Bill of Rights and the Supreme Court
Learners explore what the United States would be like today if the Bill of Rights had never been written. In this exploring the constitution lesson, students research Supreme Court cases that were heard in the early years of the U.S....
Curated OER
Keep Your Eye On the Prize
High schoolers learn about citizens who were actively involved in the civil rights movement, and the strategies they used to overcome the Jim Crow laws that were so prevalent in the 1960s. They investigate the voting amendments of the US...
Judicial Learning Center
Your 4th Amendment Rights
Americans love to learn about their rights, especially those that protect them from the government's power to invade their privacy. Young people are especially engaged by this topic. An informative lesson explores four Supreme Court...
C-SPAN
14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause
Two Supreme Court cases, Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education take center stage in a lesson about the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Class members research both cases to compare and contrast the rulings.
Curated OER
Why We Chose Our Constitution
Students examine the American plan for government. In this American government lesson, students examine selected Internet websites regarding the Magna Carta, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution.
Curated OER
Constitutional Issues: The Separation of Powers
Students research and stage a debate on the question: RESOLVED that the Constitution should be amended to provide for a parliamentary system of government. They debate if a parliamentary system of government might be better.
Curated OER
The Great Debate Lesson Plan: Slavery in the U.S. Constitution
Students examine the U.S. Constitution to see what has been writte about slavery. Then, students, in groups, research the Constitutional Convention of 1787 to explore slavery compromises.
Scholastic
The Right to Vote
Who used to have the right to vote in the United States? Who has the right to vote now? Amendments to the US Constitution that have changed the definition of eligible voters are the focus of a one-page activity that asks class members to...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Celebrating the 19th Amendment
Eighty-eight years after women earned the right to vote, a women ran for president. Young analysts consider the role women play in politics, how they are portrayed, the standards they are held to, and if they are still treated unfairly...
Center for Civic Education
The Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and Today
Discover the fascinating history of the Equal Rights Amendment and discuss the major implications and considerations associated with it today. Here you will find background information on the topic, a graphic organizer summarizing...
Curated OER
Bill of Rights
Students analyze the U.S. Bill of Rights. They conduct research on an amendment of the Bill of Rights, complete a worksheet that matches scenarios to amendments of the Bill of Rights, and write a letter to their Congressperson.
Curated OER
We The People
Students consider the main concepts of the Preamble of the United States Constitution They research different issues explored in the Constitution which have both historic and modern connections.
Curated OER
Do We Need a New Constitutional Convention
Learners analyze the adaptive nature of the U.S. Constiution. For this Amendments lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the amendment process. Learners respond to question regarding the amendment process...
Curated OER
Federalism and the Division of Power
Test your U.S. history class on what they know about Federalism and the division of power. There are 5 matching and 5 multiple choice questions to solve. Questions relate to the American federal system, US Constitution, national...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: The First Amendment? D'oh!
In this current events worksheet, learners analyze a political cartoon about First Amendment rights and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
The Constitution of the United States
Students explore the Web site provided to answer questions about The Constitution of the United States. They write the missing word of words in the blanks. Students use this Scavenger Hunt to help familiarize themselves with the...
Curated OER
The Juvenile Death Penalty
Sensitive material is discussed in this instructional activity. Please review to ensure that the content is suitable for your class. The topic is the Eighth Amendment and how the U.S. Supreme Court makes determinations about what...
State Bar of Texas
Roe v. Wade
At what point does the right of privacy end and the government begin? Scholars research rights under the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution. Using the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case as a starting point, along with small group work...
Curated OER
The U.S. Constitution and Disability Laws
Pupils examine the United States Constitution for laws that protect people with disabilities. They discover how the education system provides equal education to all students and how the Federal Government makes sure this is occuring.