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...
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. Learners will discuss just how far individual...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: First Amendment
Check out this interactive timeline on first amendment of the United States Constitution.
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.
Cornell University
Cornell University: Law School: Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)
Offers the complete syllabus of the landmark Supreme Court case of Lemon v. Kurtzman. This case dealt with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and established the "Lemon test," which states that there be no excessive...
Cornell University
Cornell University: Law School: Agostini v. Felton (1997)
Offers the full text of the Supreme Court landmark decision on Agostini v. Felton. This case dealt with the issue of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Boston Public Schools Capstone Project
The (Boston Public Schools) Capstone Project is an opportunity for students to engage in rigorous project-based learning. It is an opportunity for our students to develop skills to be life, career, and college-ready in a culturally...
iCivics
I Civics: Bethel School District v. Fraser (1986)
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that established a school's ability to prohibit inappropriate student language on campus. Students learn about the First Amendment right of free speech, and explore the...
Other
Freedom Forum: First Amendment Struggles & Triumphs
Find out how the First Amendment serves citizens in real life by reading about Daniel Ellsberg, Mary Beth Tinker, and Alton T. Lemon, all of whom were principal litigants in landmark Supreme Court cases regarding the freedom of expression.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)
Resource contains information on the case including how the justices voted, an audio file of the Oral Argument and an abstract of the case regarding high school journalists and their call for First Amendment (free speech) rights.
Cornell University
Cornell University: Law School: Schenck v. United States (1919)
Features a syllabus of the landmark Supreme Court case of Schenck v. United States which decided that the defendant's right to criticize the draft was not protected by the First Amendment.
Other
San Francisco Unified School District: Bill of Rights
A collection of resources for learning and teaching about the Bill of Rights. Includes ideas for projects, links for the First to Eighth Amendments, videos, resources on significant Supreme Court cases, and histories of the Amendments....
Other
First Amendment Schools: Lesson Plans: Religious Liberty
A series of lessons examining freedom of religion. A few of the lessons are off-site and the links no longer work.
University of Missouri
Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Engle v. Vitale
Read the majority and dissenting opinions in the Engle v. Vitale case of 1962 which held that school-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
iCivics
I Civics: Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that established a school principal's right to censor student articles in the school newspaper. Students learn about the limits on student free speech in a school...
Digital History
Digital History: Religion in Public Schools: Engle v. Vitale
Read the background of the Supreme Court case, Engle v Vitale, in which school prayer was banned. Find Justice Hugo Black's opinion confirming that decision.
Other
A Guide to Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
This site has A Complete Guide to the Supreme Court Decision for this Supreme Court case. It can be downloaded as a PDF file. The article explains many different aspects of the case, including What the Decision Says, What the Decision...
University of Missouri
Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Vouchers, Tax Credits & Other Aid to Religious Schools
Important cases from Aguilar v. Felton to Everson v. Board of Education are reviewed. Discussion questions are included on this site.
iCivics
I Civics: Minersville v. Gobitas (1940)
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that allowed schools to require students to salute the flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Students learn about the First Amendment and how the interests of...
iCivics
I Civics: Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that extended First Amendment protections to students in the classroom. Students learn about the concept of symbolic speech and how students gained the right to engage in...
Read Works
Read Works: Battle Over the Pledge
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating whether or not the Pledge of Allegiance should be said in schools. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Oyez Project: Agostini v. Felton
The U.S. Supreme Court case that dealt with violations in the Establishment Clause in public and parochial schools is detailed with an abstract providing a concise summary and a record of the justices that sat on the court at that time....
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Censorship in the Classroom
Online instructional activity that challenges learners to examine the past and present practice of censorship in the classroom, in particular the "Banned books," from high school curriculums. Students research reasons for censorship and...