Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Airport Scanners and the Fourth Amendment
Allow students opportunity to evaluate the constitutionality of the TSA full body airport scanners with this lesson plan.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Voters Make History With State Ballot Initiatives
Eminent Domain, Gay Marriage, Abortion, Marijuana, and the Death Penalty are a few issues that were on some state ballots in recent years. This lesson addresses the relationship these initiatives have with our constitutional rights.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: The Stolen Valor Act and False Speech
A lesson plan, including an extension opportunity, addressing whether the Stolen Valor Act violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: A Biography of America: A New System of Government 1776 1826
This module examines America's efforts to form a new government after the War for Independence and to draft the Constitution. Includes an interactive activity comparing Thomas Jefferson's and Alexander Hamilton's visions for America, a...
National Constitution Center
National Constitution Center: Interactive Constitution
This is a wonderful way to explore the US Constitution. The actual text of the Constitution comes first, then an excellent explanation of the text follows. In addition, most of the Amendments have essays by scholars on opposing sides of...
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: James Monroe
This site gives a biography of President James Monroe. From the left-hand toolbar, select information about his life before presidency, campaigns and elections, and also domestic affairs. Links to the first lady, cabinet members , and...
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Is the Healthcare Act Constitutional
Offer students an opportunity to evaluate whether they find the Healthcare Act constitutional or not based upon the Commerce Clause through this lesson plan.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Sixth Amendment
Full text and detailed summary of the 6th Amendment to the Constitution. Site includes links to related resources including videos, timeline, and news articles.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Fifth Amendment
Text and full descriptive summary of the 5th Amendment to the Constitution. Reference accompanied by links to related material including, video, timeline, and news sources.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Fourth Amendment
Detailed explanation of the 4th Amendment and links to related resources including a number of news articles, video and timelines.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Third Amendment
Text and summary of the 3rd Amendment to the Constitution. Links to related resources.
Other
Student Press Law Center Legal Brief: Libel Law
Excellent site for students that need to know more about libel laws. Includes a definition of libel, a process to go by in order to avoid a lawsuit, and your defense options if you happen to be involved in a lawsuit.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Democracy in Amer.: Civil Liberties: Safeguarding Individual
Do you understand what happens when there are disputes over the interpretation and protection of civil liberties as defined in the Bill of Rights? When do the rights of the individual trump the perceived needs of society, and when do...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Free Exercise of Religion in America
Activity on first amendment rights and the protection of religious freedom. Students develop a deep understanding of religious liberty and how it has been interpreted as they examine the contoversies surrounding individual rights versus...
Illinois Institute of Technology
The Oyez Project: Bigelow v. Virginia (1975)
Brief overview of the Bigelow v. Virginia (1975) Supreme Court case.
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Know Your Rights: Examining the Bill of Rights
In this tutorial, students learn about the Amendments in the Bill of Rights, the rights they grant and the limits placed on these. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
US National Archives
National Archives: The First Amendment
Young scholars will look at documents and cases throughout American history to understand the effects of the First Amendment on our nation.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Competing Visions: Federalists and Democratic Republicans
After reading this section of a chapter on "The New Republic," students will be able to describe the competing visions of the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, identify the protections granted to citizens under the Bill of...
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: Bill of Rights
Enrich learning about the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights with the help of this comprehensive resource. Find details about the amendments added to the new national document.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: The Documentary Origins of the Bill of Rights I
Explore both the British and state influences on the U.S. Bill of Rights. Understand the origins of each amendment to the Constitution.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: The Federalist/antifederalist Debate Bill of Rights
Identify the role of the debates between the Federalists and Antifederalists during the creation of the ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: The Politics of the Bill of Rights: Part Iii
Investigate what the politics were leading to the creation of the Bill of Rights. Identify how the debates in the first congress led to the stages of approval and ultimately the adoption of the ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: From Political Liberty to Social Freedom
In the early stages of the new nation's government the members of Congress sought to protect the citizens from political tyranny. Social freedoms emerged in the twentieth century when FDR begged for economic protection of U.S. citizens.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: Origins and Politics of the Bill of Rights
Use an interactive spreadsheet to investigate both the origins and the politics of the Bill of Rights. Peruse the proposals made by James Madison and which ones were adopted. Click on the color-coded documents to view them.