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Lesson Plan
Heritage Foundation

Substantive Amendments: Amendments I and II

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The First and Second Amendments remain some of the most famous, even to this day. Learners read about several clauses from the US Constitution through a variety of captivating activities including before and after reading, group work,...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Judicial Branch

For Students 5th - 6th
In this social studies worksheet, students investigate the job of Sandra Day O'Connor in the judicial branch of the U.S. government. Students answer 25 questions, completing sentences with words from the word bank. This page is mainly...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rights of the Accused: To Be Confronted with the Witnesses Against Him

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students take on the role of Supreme Court Justices, after reading summary of a case and the arguments for and against a defendant's appeal. They make a decision, write majority and minority opinions, and report their decision.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Government Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan 5

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the process of writing a case brief. They analyze the case McCulloch v Maryland. After a lecture/demo, students utilize a case study worksheet imbedded in this plan to help them explain the process of performing a case...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Washington, D.C.

For Students 7th - 9th
In this Washington, D.C. government facts activity, students read ten facts associated with the United States and determine if they are true or false.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Illustrated Bill of Rights

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Pupils shoot Bill of Rights videos. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students film digital segment that illustrate the meaning of the first 10 amendments. Pupils integrate the video clips into PowerPoint presentations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making An Appeal

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students are introduced to factors involved in making an appeal in a court case. Students examine the appeals in two court cases and present arguments for both sides. Students discuss the class decision and compare it to the actual...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reflections on Judicial Power - Part I

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the Constitutional provision for the Judicial branch of government. They examine different U.S. founder's positions on the relative strength of the judicial branch and act as a review court for Marbury vs. Madison.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Judicial Branch

For Students 8th - 12th
In this U.S. branches of government activity, students respond to 5 fill in the blank questions regarding the powers of the judicial branch of government.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The My Lai Courts Martial of 1970

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners research the My Lai Massacre and trial. Students discuss the events and the trial, reviewing the constitutional amendments and concerns related to the massacre. Learners write an analysis of photographs related to the incident.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Role Playing Free Speech

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students conduct research into looking at a free-speech issue. They role play the events surrounding a court case. The lesson includes guiding questions to help create context and determine areas of further study. The presentation...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Whispering Wires": Public Law vs. Individual Civil Liberties

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High school student love discussing controversial issues like those brought up in this fourth amendment case study. They examine the 1928 Olmstead vs. U.S. prohibition court case, applying the fourth amendment to determine whether or not...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Brown v. the Board of Education: Success or Failure?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners identify reactions to Brown v. Board of Education. They evaluate the extent to which Brown was successful in desegregating American education. Students evaluate the role of the judiciary in affecting societal change.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just how broken is the Senate?

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders examine the role of the Senate in the United States.  In this American Government lesson plan, 12th graders read various articles and answer questions to these articles.  Students write a letter to their Senator on a...
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Lesson Plan
Heritage Foundation

Exercising Judicial Power

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
We should all do more exercising, but should the judicial branch as well? High schoolers develop their understanding of what powers the judicial branch carries because of the US Constitution, as well as where their limits lie in the...
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Lesson Plan
C-SPAN

The Impact of Citizens United v. FEC

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What began as an effort to show a movie by an interest group has impacted financing of federal elections. Did the Citizens United case lead to more "dark money" in politics, or did it shine a light with more speech? Using video clips...
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Worksheet
Read Works

The United States Constitution

For Students 2nd - 3rd Standards
The US Constitution is the beginning of Americans' rights. Use a five-paragraph passage to give a brief history of the US Constitution. A great last minute addition to a lesson on Constitution Day.
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Lesson Plan
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School Improvement in Maryland

Affirmative Action

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Do the government's affirmative action policies promote equity in the United States? The Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution and affirmative action policies come under scrutiny in an activity that asks class members to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Courts in the Classroom: Ritter v Stanton

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students read the case briefs of Ritter v Stanton. They simulate the trial with classmates taking various parts such as appellant, appellee, bailiff, and justices. After conducting a mock argument, they write their own opinion for the case.
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Worksheet
Law for Kids

General Election Activity Booklet

For Students 3rd - 7th Standards
It's never too early to practice smart voting! Gain practice voting in a general election using a booklet compiled of an assortment of activities including a word search, maze, graphing, and more!         
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thurgood Marshall Makes a Difference

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students find information about the life and legal career of Thurgood Marshall, including the NAACP and its causes. They comprehend the issues and context of the Brown v. Board of Education case that Marshall argued before the U.S....
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Activity
Shmoop

ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.8

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
It is no easy feat to wade through legal and political documents. And incorporating this type of informational text into a literature class can also be a challenge. Here’s a resource that includes suggestions for how to address this...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supreme Court

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore the redistricting process.  In this American Government lesson, 11th graders examine the electoral map.  Students write an essay posing an argument for the redistricting process. 
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Lesson Plan
Carolina K-12

Plessy v. Ferguson & the Roots of Segregation

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How far in the past do the roots of Jim Crow and segregation extend? Young historians closely consider this question using detailed PowerPoint slides as a basis for discussion rather than lecture, culminating in an activity where class...

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