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Activity
Sharp School

The Bill of Rights and Supreme Court Cases Project

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Social media and United States history combine as your young historians design a Facebook page for two major defendants of landmark Supreme Court cases. The resource includes a detailed rubric for research and page design, as well as a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supreme Court Decisions on Freedom of Religion

For Teachers 11th Standards
What does freedom of religion mean? Analyze a series of Supreme Court cases where the First Amendment right to freedom of religion was put to the test. They discuss the cases' outcomes and argue whether the right decision was made....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Tinker to Fraser: Freedom of Speech in Public Schools

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The Tinker and Fraser cases were taken the Supreme Court on the basis of the 1st Amendment right to Freedom of Speech. Learners discuss each case, the First AMendment, complete handouts, and conduct a role play activity. Handouts are...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Symbolic Speech

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders consider the right of freedom of speech as it is outlined in the U.S. Constitution. They receive background information for the US Supreme Court, the Bill of Rights, and free speech. They discuss a series of actual cases...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Religion in Public Schools

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the presence of religion in public institutions. In this ethics lesson, students focus on one aspect of the presence of religion in public institutions, and the controversy surrounding religion in the public schools....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How to Teach the Legacies of the 1960s

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recommended Reading?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do You Have a Prayer?

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students review the 1st Amendment and the clauses which deal with prayer/religion in schools. They discuss, in groups, the Equal Access Act, which gives students the right to practice/express their religion at school and take a quiz on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

First Amendment Guarantee of Free Speech (Senior, Social Studies)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students receive a list of banned books from which they choose one to read. They read their chosen book and write a paper that includes a discussion of the First Amendment and its guarantees and the reason(s) why they believe their book...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Public Demonstrations - Lesson Plan

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Learners examine various handouts to determine the value, necessity and potential limitations of assembly and public demonstrations. They then select a side and debate pre-provided questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mayflower Compact: Freedom Contract

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read historical documents. In this freedom lesson, students discuss the freedoms they have, such as whom to play with at recess, and how the pilgrims must have felt when they landed in America. Students read The Mayflower...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Law I

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students identify four basic values (economic, social, moral, and political) protected by law, examine different definitions of values, and correlate laws to values they aim to protect.
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Activity
Harvard University

Harvard Law: Freedom of Speech and Anonymous Speech

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Cyber Harvard Law offers summaries of three different Supreme Court cases which address the limits of free speech. Includes interactive opinion, multiple-choice questions. Links to the written opinions of the Court for...
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Lesson Plan
Other

Our Courts: Bill of Rights: You Mean I've Got Rights? [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A great, active lesson about the Bill of Rights. Students compare rights they think they should have with the rights in the actual amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The language of the amendments is broken down into simpler English so...
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Lesson Plan
Other

Freedom Forum: Lesson Plans for the First Amendment

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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. Students will discuss just how far individual...
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Times Film Corp. V. City of Chicago (1961)

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the majority opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court in Times Film Corp. v. City of Chicago, a 1961 case that focused on free speech and obscenity.
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Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Constitution: First Amendment Protections

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource contains an annotated look at the different topics covered within the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Click on any subtopic link for in-depth information about that part of the First Amendment.
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Lesson Plan
Other

Bill of Rights Institute: College Bill of Rights

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Colleges and universities often carry stricter policies than the Bill of Rights to protect their students, even with their students being legal adults. Explore whether this is constitutional or not with the aid of this lesson plan.
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Website
University of California

Ucla: Freedom of Speech vs. Workplace Harassment Law

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains excerpts from public law review articles relating to the issues of freedom of speech and workplace harassment.
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Activity
PBS

Pbs Online News Hour: Virtual Victory?

For Students 9th - 10th
Discussion of the implications of the Supreme Court ruling against the constitutionality of the Communications Decency Act, including give and take on the meaning of the decision for children. Includes transcript of discussion, and link...
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: That's Your Right Game

For Students 9th - 10th
That's Your Right is a card where you use the Bill of Rights to defend your freedom.
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: First Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out this interactive timeline on first amendment of the United States Constitution.
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: Freedom of Speech and Association

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out this interactive timeline freedom of speech and association in the United States.
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: Freedom of Religion

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out this interactive timeline on the history of freedom of religion in the United States.