The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress Link: Lesson Plans
The Dirksen Congressional Center provides abundant lesson plans on all aspects of the US Congress and the US Constitution. All lessons contain time frames, objectives, and links to material, and are built around Bloom's taxonomy.
Teachnology
Teachnology: United States Constitution Teaching Theme
Enhance classroom teaching on the United States Constitution with the help of these resources including lesson plans, activities, interactive sites and more.
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...
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Internet Copyright and Piracy Bills
A lesson focused on SOPA, Stop Online Privacy Act, which protects online businesses from counterfeiters and from folks using copyrighted materials without appropriate permissions.
iCivics
I Civics: Anatomy of the Constitution
This lesson gives an article-by-article overview of the structure and function of the U.S. Constitution. Students learn about the duties and powers of the three branches, the amendment process, and the role of the Constitution as the...
iCivics
I Civics: Sources of Law
This instructional activity teaches students about the sources, types, and unique systems of law that exist in the United States. They learn about sources of law from the Constitution to local ordinances and also compare and contrast...
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: The Rule of Law
In this lesson, students examine primary source materials including the Book of Laws, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Magna Carta in order to understand their meaning and to compare them. They then prepare an argument on...
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: The Defense of Marriage Act
A lesson plan addressing what happens when Congress passes a law or an act, but the law is unconstitutional.
Internal Revenue Service
Irs: How Taxes Evolve? Lesson Plan
This lesson plan will help students understand that the legislative process of enacting federal income tax laws involves formal procedures based on the Constitution and informal procedures that blend and balance various interests.
PBS
Structure of Congress and the Legislative Process Lesson
This lesson plan explores the structure of Congress and the legislative process. There is an introduction, a research activity, an assessment, and a role play activity.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Great Qing Code: Law and Order During China's Last Dynasty [Pdf]
Article and lesson on the evolution of Chinese law and order which reached its pinnacle during the Qing Dynasty. Includes article, map, primary source exceprt, and questions for discussion. In addition, students learn about the Qing Code...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Free Markets and Antitrust Law
Lesson in economics and democracy in which students study and analyze Adam Smith's concept of free market mercantilism and determine how it would apply to government interventions today. Includes text, questions for study, resources for...
iCivics
I Civics: Changing the Constitution
America's constitutional government has changed over time as a result of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, legislation, and other practices. Students will use the seven basic principles found in our government...
Other
Supreme Court Historical Society:texas v. Johnson (1989)
A complete unit on constitutional law that uses the court case of Texas vs. Johnson, in which Gregory Lee Johnson was convicted of desecration of a venerated object after lighting an American flag on fire. The case became an argument...
American Bar Association
American Bar Association: How the Law Regulates Who May Vote
A lesson plan that includes a handout and various follow-up activities for middle schoolers. The lesson is described here and a link is provided for downloading the lesson plan and handout.
iCivics
I Civics: Congress in a Flash!
Students learn what Congress is, what the Constitution says about the legislative branch, and how a bill becomes law. They analyze some actual language from the Constitution, compare the House and the Senate, and simulate the lawmaking...
iCivics
I Civics: Voting in Congress
n this lesson, students learn what factors members of Congress consider when deciding whether to vote for a bill, including the powers given to Congress by the Constitution, what a member's constituents want, his or her political party's...
US National Archives
National Archives: Congress at Work: Presidential Veto
The veto process is an integral part of our checks and balances. Introduce the power of the presidential veto and override to a class using an example from President Nixon's administration. Materials include the Constitution, worksheets,...
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: George Washington's Legacy to America
This lesson plan from the Center for Civic Education encourages both teachers and students to learn more about George Washington's contribution to American Constitutionalism and Citizenship.
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: Revolution and the New Nation (1754 1820s)
Links to primary source documents from the revolution to the new nation.
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Three lessons for recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day, taken from the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution curriculum. These materials will help inform students about the national struggle for civil rights and equal...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Government Glossary
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson Activotes are used to access student's prior knowledge of the principles of the US constitutional government. Student knows the essential principles stated in the US Constitution-...
iCivics
I Civics: u.s. V. Nixon (1974)
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that then-sitting President Nixon had to turn over some recordings of his presidential communications to a court of law. Students learn about the Watergate break-in, the...
Syracuse University
Syracuse University: Youth Due Process Gerald Gault
This site contains a description of the juvenile justice system, background on the case involving Gerald Gault, and learning exercises for teachers to use in class.