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Lesson Plan
Penguin Publishing

Penguin Random House: "Censorship: An Educator's Guide"

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Activities, writing prompts, points of discussion and some additional resources are offered here to help with teaching about free speech and censorship.
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Website
New York Times

New York Times: Cyber Law Journal

For Students 9th - 10th
Cyber Law Journal, a weekly publication of the New York Times, reflects on the legal issues raised by the Internet.
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Article
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Landmark Court Cases

For Students 9th - 10th
Landmark court cases regarding religious liberty throughout the history of the U.S.
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Article
A&E Television

History.com: When the Supreme Court Ruled a Vaccine Could Be Mandatory

For Students 9th - 10th
In 1901 a deadly smallpox epidemic tore through the Northeast, prompting the Boston and Cambridge boards of health to order the vaccination of all residents. But some refused to get the shot, claiming the vaccine order violated their...
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Handout
Other

Society of Professional Journalists: Code of Ethics

For Students 9th - 10th
The complete text of the Code of Ethics by the Society of Professional Journalists.
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Article
US Department of State

U.s. Dept. Of State: 2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: China

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive account of human rights practices in China for the year 2018. Per the US Department of State, China's "human rights record remained poor and worsened in some areas." Sections of the report include: Arbitrary or Unlawful...
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Alien and Sedition Acts

For Students 5th - 8th
A great description of the Alien and Sedition Acts, passed by the Federalist Congress in 1798. See how the Federalists tried to hang on to power by restricting voting privileges and infringing on free speech and freedom of the press.
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Website
Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch: Venezuela

For Students 9th - 10th
Various articles depicting possible human rights violations by the current government of Venezuela. Ranging from the beating of anti government demonstrators to infringements on the freedom of the press, Human Rights Watch has some major...
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Lesson Plan
Bill of Rights Institute

The Bill of Rights Institute: Free Lesson Plans

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Free lesson plans concerning the Bill of Rights and the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Included are lessons on important news stories occurring today, as well as lessons on famous Americans and how they executed their rights.
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Lesson Plan
Ohio State University

Osu History Teaching Institute: The Alien and Sedition Acts

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Objective of this lesson plan is to understand the provisions of the Alien and Sedition Acts within their political and constitutional contexts.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs News Hour: South Africa After Ten Years of Freedom (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson for exploring the history of South Africa, the system of apartheid, and the changes that have come about since the end of the apartheid era. Lesson has broad applicability to learning about unique methods that can be used to...
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Website
CNN

Cnn: War in Iraq

For Students 9th - 10th
A special report by CNN provides information on Iraq after President Bush declared that "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended." Weapons, US and coalition forces, Iraqi forces, the impact of the war on the world, and maps are in...
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Article
Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch: Conduct of War and Civilian Casualties in Iraq [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A lengthy report from the Human Rights Watch on the conduct of the war in Iraq as of the end of 2003, and how the use of "cluster munitions" caused many unnecessary civilian deaths. The report also examines the many Iraqi violations that...
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Article
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: 'World's Cheapest Smartphone' Goes on Sale in India

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about a new, cheap smartphone on the market in India, and controversy surrounding its legality.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Artist's Rendering of the Freedom Tower Design

For Students 9th - 10th
National Public Radio provides highlights of both the top national and international news, as well as various editorials, commentaries, and reviews. The majority of the content is available in audio format.
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Primary
Yale University

The Avalon Project: Declaration of the Rights of Man

For Students 9th - 10th
After a long debate about what should be included in their Bill of Rights, French leaders eventually came to a "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen," seventeen articles that laid out a government that protected natural rights....
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Article
George Mason University

Roy Rosenzweig Center: Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

For Students 9th - 10th
After a long debate about what should be included in their Bill of Rights, French leaders eventually came to a "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen," seventeen articles that laid out a government that protected natural rights....
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eBook
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Rcfp: The Ethics of Recording Conversations [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This cleverly designed article contains the laws concerning taping and recording conversation in regard to privacy rights. From the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
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Website
Other

Behind the Scenes: The Mc Carran Internal Security Act

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the origins and impact of the McCarran Internal Security Act which President Harry Truman called "the greatest danger to freedom of speech, press and assembly, since the Alien and Sedition Laws of 1798." Find out how a fear of...
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The First Amendment

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This resource presents lessons on the First Amendment. It contains many resources for use with children, and links to primary source documents.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Religion and the u.s. Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
A very brief explanation of the three-pronged test the Supreme Court uses to determine the constitutionality of a governmental poiicy to ensure it doesn't advocate the establishing of religion.
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Primary
US National Archives

Nara: Teaching With Documents: United States vs. Thomas Cooper

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The information, documents and lessons relating to the United States vs. Thomas Cooper case. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
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Handout
Social Studies Help Center

Social Studies Help Center: The Supreme Court as Defender of the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives you examples of court cases demonstrating how the Supreme Court upholds the constituion. It also includes links to further information.
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Handout
BBC

Bbc: 1989: Czech Police Crush Protest Rally

For Students 9th - 10th
The people of Czechoslovakia reached a boiling point in 1989 with citizens clamoring for political economic, and social reforms. This article by the BBC portrays how demonstrations for such reforms ended with tragedy when the police...