PBS
Constitution Day
Travel back to 1787 as young scholars investigate the creation of the US Constitution. After first working in small groups to create sets of classroom rules, students go on to read a summary of the Constitution and watch a short video...
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Freedom of Expression in Special Places
Young scholars identify at least three places presenting First Amendment problems. They analyze how the First Amendment applies to school newspapers. Students argue for and against limiting First Amendment rights in school. They...
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Bill of Rights in the News: Election Issues 2008
Students consider First Amendment rights. For this Bill of Rights lesson, students complete an activity guide regarding constitutional rights issues raised in the 2008 presidential election. Students respond to discussion questions...
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Franklin’s Fair Hand American Journalism
Scholars know him for his role in the American Revolution, but Ben Franklin was also a journalist and printer. Learners investigate his standards for what was fit to print using primary sources—including writings where Franklin explains...
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Students Press Law and Ethics
Students research the rights and the responsibilities of journalists in dealing with First Amendment issues. In this First Amendment lesson plan, students research the Alien and Sedition Acts and study the five elements of...
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Is the Internet Igniting Violence?
Students explain how various issues regarding restrictions on the Internet are impacted by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, particularly in light of the recent school shooting and bombing in Littleton, Colorado.
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Norman Rockwell, Freedom of Speech: Know It When You See It
High schoolers explore the U.S. Constitution. In this First Amendment lesson, students examine Norman Rockwell's "Freedom of Speech" and analyze the five freedoms listed in the amendment.
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Church and State Separation: The Challenge and the Debate
Students describe the basic elements of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment as it relates to the separation of church and state and freedom of religion.
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Recommended Reading?
Students examine and defend various positions in the argument over a book ban in the Miami-Dade school system and then write a letter to the Miami-Dade school board expressing their opinion about the issues raised in the debate.
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How to Teach the Legacies of the 1960s
Students consider which aspects of world around them have roots in 1960s, research and compare 1960s to today with regards to Civil and Women's Rights, Vietnam, counterculture, music, voting, and economic rights, and explore legacy of...
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A Burning Desire: A Focus Group Turns Its Attention To Old Glory
Students explore the issue of a Constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. They simulate the role of a Senator's aide, conduct Internet research, write and prepare an oral and a written response based on research,
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The Bill of Rights Today
Students discuss the Bill of Rights and how the Bill of Rights relates to everyday life. In this Bill of Rights lesson plan, students identify and explain each amendment.
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Reorganizing the Bill of Rights
Eighth graders, in groups, explore all 26 amendments and group them accordingly.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Kate Chopin's "The Awakening": No Choice But Under?
The first in a series of three resources designed to accompany a reading of Kate Chopin's The Awakening provides readers with background information about Chopin, Creole culture, literary realism, and women's suffrage.
PBS
History of Juneteenth and Why It’s Now a National Holiday
June 19 is now a United States federal holiday. Young historians examine the background of the first Juneteenth celebrations and why on June 15, 2021, Congress finally approved "Juneteenth National Independence Day" as a federal holiday.
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What is the (No) Establishment Clause?
Learners research and discuss the Establishment Clause.
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Explaining the Bill of Rights
Students define the terms Bill of Rights and amendment. They successfully explain the meaning of each amendment of the Bill of Rights. Students work together in cooperative groups.
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Government and Politics
After a class lesson the U.S. Constitution and its amendments, students can apply their knowledge to this activity. Several questions prompt students to add missing key terms, such as the year the Constitution was written and the number...
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The Bill of Rights
Seventh graders determine why the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. In this U.S. government lesson, 7th graders discuss the first 10 amendments and any vocabulary they may be unfamiliar with. Students then read different...
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Breaking Barriers
Young scholars examine the context of a speech delivered by Barack Obama. In this African-American history instructional activity, students discuss the 15th Amendment and the American Civil Rights Movement prior to analyzing Barack...
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The Illustrated Bill of Rights
Students shoot Bill of Rights videos. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students film digital segment that illustrate the meaning of the first 10 amendments. Students integrate the video clips into PowerPoint presentations.
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Constitution Repatriation Simulation
Students work cooperatively in groups to present the specific needs of an assigned territory to a mock meeting of government officials in an attempt to amend an existing law.
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Supreme Court Case Study: District of Columbia Vs Heller
Examine the Supreme Court case, District of Columbia vs Heller, to build a better understanding of the Bill of Rights. Learners visit three different websites, read the provided informational text, and then answer a series of critical...
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Supreme Court June 2010 Decisions Wrap-Up
Students consider constitutional rights. For this Bill of Rights lesson, students complete an activity guide that requires students to examine Bill of Rights-related cases of 2010. Students respond to discussion questions pertaining to...