Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: This Great Enterprise: Theodore Roosevelt and the Panama Canal
Lesson and activity on American enterprise and intervention with a focus on Theodore Roosevelt and the Pananma Canal. Includes class activity and questions for discussion and writing.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The u.s. Supreme Court: Fdr Tries to "Pack" the Supreme Court
Lesson and activity in which students learn about the importance of the Supreme Court, balance of power, and judicial reform.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Rules of War: Choices: Truman, Hirohito, and the Atomic Bomb
Lesson and activity on rules of war and the decision to drop the atomic bomb during WWII.
SMART Technologies
Smart: Amendment Review
In this interactive activity, students match the given right to the proper amendment from the Bill of Rights.
The Newberry Library
Newberry Library: Anti Statism in u.s. History
Newberry Library digital collections presents a lesson using primary sources from which students explore the concept of "anti-state" sentiment and examine the reasons writers and politicians protest the authority of the federal...
PBS
Pbs: American Roots Music
If teaching a unit about the history of popular music in America, this PBS web site supporting their four-part TV broadcast of a few years ago would make a great resource. Includes lesson plans and oral histories too.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Ibn Battuta: The Greatest Traveler in the Middle Ages
Activity-based resource on Ibn Battuta, world traveler of the Middle Ages. Includes questions for writing and discussion, research/presentation activity for students and links to additional lessons for teachers.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Background on the Patriot Attitude Toward the Monarchy
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Background on the Patriot Attitude Toward the Monarchy." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
iCivics
I Civics: Familiar but Flawed
This instructional activity highlights British influences on American government. Learn how America's Founders improved upon familiar structures of British government to contain tyranny in favor of liberty.
Library of Congress
Loc: After Reconstruction: Problems of African Americans
After reading a collection of primary texts, students will identify problems facing African Americans in the South following Reconstruction and propose solutions to those problems. In addition to providing guidelines for teachers leading...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The First Amendment
This resource presents lessons on the First Amendment. It contains many resources for use with children, and links to primary source documents.
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: How Constitution Used to Organize the New Govt [Pdf]
This lesson describes how, using the guidelines provided in the Constitution, the First Congress in April 1789 named the new president and vice president, provided funding for the new government, organized the executive branch, organized...
Other
Us Courts: Fifth Amendment Activities
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.
Utah State University
Teacher Link: Celebrations: A Resource Guide for Teachers
TeacherLINK at Utah State University offers a wealth of topics and project information on celebrations held throughout the world. Click on "Topics and Authors," to access a long list of available lesson plans on a variety of...
Other
Us Courts: Fourth Amendment Activities
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...
Other
Freedom Forum: Finding Common Ground Religious Liberty in Public Schools [Pdf]
A lengthy report on the issue of religious liberty and the public schools. Issues explored are religious holidays, a teacher's guide to the teaching of religion, and much more. The report is in PDF format.
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Us Repeals Ban on Gays Serving Openly in Military
In the last days of its December 2010 session, the United States Congress voted to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This policy prohibited gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. The majority of troops serving...
iCivics
I Civics: The Federalist Debate
The ratification debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists gives us insight into the ideas behind both sides and a better understanding of how our government developed in its early years.
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: United States vs. Thomas Cooper
The information, documents and lessons relating to the United States vs. Thomas Cooper case. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
US National Archives
National Archives: To What Extent Was Reconstruction a Revolution? (Part 1)
Should Reconstruction be viewed as a revolution or not? Using primary source documents, young scholars can weigh the evidence and come up with their conclusion. This lesson can be used as a whole class, small group, or individual activity.
iCivics
I Civics: Federalists & Anti Federalists
Look at the debate and eventual compromise, between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists that occurred around the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
Other
Gunston Hall Plantation: Discover George Mason
Lesson plans, activities, and resources for learning about George Mason and his contributions to Virginia statehood and in forging the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.