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How a Bill Becomes a Law
Students examine Article I, Sections 1, 7, and 8, of the U.S. Constitution and discuss the authority and restrictions placed on the Congress in making laws.
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We the People
Students examine both the Preamble of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They work in small groups to connect the two documents and analyze how the documents are important to their lives today. They create a poster that visually...
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Get to Know Your Bill of Rights
Sixth graders research and examine the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America. They sequence events significant to this time period, read and discuss text, and in small groups prepare and present the...
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Documents and Symbols and American Freedom
Students complete a unit of lessons on the documents, symbols, and famous people involved in the founding of the U.S. government. They create a personal bill of rights, write a found poem, design a flag, conduct research, and role-play...
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The Right and the Power
Students read, discuss and analyze the New York Times article "In Wartime, Who Has the Power?" and relate the article to the Constitution. They then brainstorm how the president and Congress make decisions about the war in Iraq and write...
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School Bill of Rights
Students study the Bill of Rights. As a class, they create a "School Bill of Rights," with amendments. Students discuss the difference between rights and responsibilities and examine Supreme Court decisions dealing with the first ten...
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What Are Our Common Values?
Students make a poster. In this values instructional activity, students read the Preamble to the Constitution and discuss the core democratic values that are found there and in the Declaration of Independence. Students are each...
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Bill of Rights: Rights and Responsibilities
Students explore the meaning of freedom. In this U.S. History lesson, students research the Declaration of Independence and how it relates to American freedom by completing activities and a mock trial.
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Civil Liberties and 9/11
Fifth graders examine the effects of 9/11 on two guarantees in the Preamble of the Constitution, the preservation of liberty and the establishment of common security. They examine how our personal liberties been affected by the 9/11...
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A Nation's Voice
Students research the Constitution and the War Powers Act in order to determine what the powers of the government are in times of conflict. They answer a series of questions then write a legal brief either supporting or condemning the...
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First Things First: Using the Newspaper to Teach the Freedoms of the First Amendment
Students use the newspaper as a tool to make connections about what the five freedoms guarantee in the First Amendment. For this first amendment lesson plan, students analyze events in the newspaper to form conclusions about the freedoms...
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Why Does Congress Work That Way?
Students discover the powers of Congress. In this legislative branch lesson, students examine the legislative process as they analyze Article I of the U.S. Constitution. Students consider the powers of Congress as they define the role of...
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Age of Enlightenment
Studnets compare example of primary documents that have shaped U.S. government and our Constitution.
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Abraham Lincoln and the U.S. Constitution
Young scholars investigate President Abraham Lincoln's use of the U.S. Constitution and its importance to the Civil War. In this US history lesson plan, students read text about President Lincoln and the US Constitution. Young scholars...
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The Constitution: Drafting a More Perfect Union
Learners analyze the U.S. Constitution. In this U.S. History lesson, students explore the purpose of the Constitution, as well as who was involved in its creation.
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Paving the Road to the Constitution
Eighth graders assess the strengths and weaknessess of the Articles of Confederation as related to the United States and North Carolina. They demonstrate an argument for or against ratification of the United States Constitution.
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Constitution Evolution Research Project
Eighth graders demonstrate how South Carolina's Constitution has evolved through a research report. In groups, 8th graders conduct research and write a paper analyzing the historical and social influences that have been associated with...
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The United States Constitution
Twelfth graders research how the constitution was formed and the reasons for its implementation. They form a class wide constitution that expresses the steps originally used while forming the original constitution. Students vote and...
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Ratification Debate on the U.S. Constitution
Young scholars study the U.S. Constitution and are asked to give a speech about what they have found.
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The Living Constitution
Tenth graders explore the Constitution as a "living document." After reading three specific cases, learners consider characteristics that make up a living document. In groups, they conduct guided research on each case. Pupils write a...
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Fragment on the Constitution and Union (1861). The Purpose of the American Union
Eleventh graders examine how President Lincoln formulated the principles of the Declaration of Independence as the goal of the American Union. For this American Government lesson, 11th graders read and analyze primary sources based on...
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The U.S. Constitution and Disability Laws
Pupils examine the United States Constitution for laws that protect people with disabilities. They discover how the education system provides equal education to all students and how the Federal Government makes sure this is occuring.
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South Carolina's Constitution
Eighth graders explore the definition of political culture. After viewing a movie, 8th graders discuss how the political culture of the 1600 and 1700s is reflected in early drafts of the South Carolina constitution.
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Constitutional Amendments Survey
Students conduct Constitutional Amendments Survey to create an opinion poll forum.