Curated OER
Creating Historians: Giving Scholars the Answers
How allowing index cards on tests can empower critical thinking; part one of a series on approaching social studies as a group of historians.
School Improvement in Maryland
Dividing the Powers of Government
Who does what? To develop an understanding of the balance of power between the US federal and state governments, class members research responsibilities in terms of legal systems, security issues, economic activities, lawmaking, and...
Feminist
Women's History Teacher's Guide
The origins, goals, and struggles of the women's movement are the focus of a five-day series of lessons about the accomplishments of the movement and the continuing struggle for women's rights.
Novelinks
Tuck Everlasting: Titles for Chapters
High schoolers synthesize the information they've learned from each chapter of Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting with a creative summarizing activity. With a graphic organizer for all of the book's chapters, readers title...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Reconstruction
When slavery ended, what did the government do to help African American during Reconstruction? An interesting instructional activity uses primary sources such as newspaper articles to help scholars analyze Reconstruction policies and how...
Curated OER
Bill of Rights
US history classes explore constitutional rights as they relate to court cases involving teens. Your class must already be familiar with the Bill of Rights before beginning this series of exercises. In preparation for a debate-style...
iCivics
The Road to Civil Rights
Here is a fantastic resource on the civil rights movement! It includes reading materials and worksheets, and particularly highlights major legislation and the role of the judicial branch in the federal government in addressing the...
PBS
From Selma to Montgomery: An Introduction to the 1965 Marches
The 1965 Civil Rights marches from Selma to Montgomery and the resulting Voting Rights Act of 1965 are the focus of a social studies instructional activity. The resource uses film clips to inform viewers not only about the discrimination...
University of California
The Civil War: Emancipation
Investigate and analyze Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation using primary and secondary sources. The sixth installment of an eight-part series analyzes the meaning of Lincoln's document in relation to its impact on the Civil...
Classroom Law Project
What are some of today’s voting issues? Voting in Oregon, youth vote, and technology
The youth vote. Rock the Vote. Vote-By-Mail. Electronic voting. Class members investigate issues facing today's voters, and the ways they have adapted over the years to optimize voter turnout.
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Reward: Valuable Slaves
To gain insight into the American institution of slavery and how African Americans were viewed during this time, groups examine run-away slave ads and slave auction broadsides. Teams use the provided worksheet to record their impressions...
Curated OER
Tally of the 1824 Electoral College Vote
Twelfth graders study the parts of the Constitution that address presidential election. They complete a variety of activities designed to spark debate about the flaws in the Electoral College system.
C3 Teachers
C3 Teachers: Inquiries: First Amendment
A learning module on the First Amendment. It includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Students explore how the First Amendment applies in the...
US National Archives
National Archives: The First Amendment
Students will look at documents and cases throughout American history to understand the effects of the First Amendment on our nation.
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Rcfp: First Amendment Handbook: Freedom of the Press
Very informative page focusing on the guidelines for freedom of the press, the first amendment. Offers examples and tenets to follow. Geared towards professionals but also accessible to students.
Other
Freedom Forum: Lesson Plans for the First Amendment
These lessons address constitutional principles and contemporary issues involving the First Amendment. They intend to have explore how freedoms began and how they operate in today's world. Students will discuss just how far individual...
Other
Us Courts: First Amendment Activities
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,...
US National Archives
Docsteach: The First Amendment
In this activity students will analyze documents that span the course of American history to determine their connection to the different phrases found within the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Citizen Student
A multi-part NPR program on the views of students about civic participation. Part 1 discusses Voting, Part 2 discusses "Bringing the First Amendment into the Classroom," and Part 3 talks about the strong messages teenagers have grown up...
University of Florida
Freedom of Speech: The First Amendment and the u.s. Constitution
Interactive site outlines thoughts on the First Amendment from four founding fathers. Click on their faces to find an index reflecting their thoughts. From a student project at University of Florida.
Other
Student Press Law Center Legal Brief: Libel Law
Excellent site for students that need to know more about libel laws. Includes a definition of libel, a process to go by in order to avoid a lawsuit, and your defense options if you happen to be involved in a lawsuit.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)
This resource includes information on the Supreme Court case, Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier. The case involves the First Amendment rights of high school students and the publishing of their high school newspaper.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Are Bible Readings Ever Allowed in School? [Pdf]
Article on the consitutionality of prayer, worship or reading the Bible at school. Students analyze Supreme Court cases, answer questions for discussion and debate the protective clause of first amendment rights.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Free Exercise of Religion in America
Activity on first amendment rights and the protection of religious freedom. Students develop a deep understanding of religious liberty and how it has been interpreted as they examine the contoversies surrounding individual rights versus...