Other
Bill of Rights Institute: College Bill of Rights
Colleges and universities often carry stricter policies than the Bill of Rights to protect their young scholars, even with their students being legal adults. Explore whether this is constitutional or not with the aid of this lesson plan.
Other
Supreme Court Historical Society:texas v. Johnson (1989)
A complete unit on constitutional law that uses the court case of Texas vs. Johnson, in which Gregory Lee Johnson was convicted of desecration of a venerated object after lighting an American flag on fire. The case became an argument...
PBS
Now With Bill Moyers: Supreme Court and Freedom of Speech
Brief descriptions of several case studies involving decisions by the Supreme Court concerning First Amendment rights, especially freedom of speech.
US National Archives
Docsteach: The First Amendment
In this activity students will analyze documents that span the course of American history to determine their connection to the different phrases found within the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: That's Your Right Game
That's Your Right is a card where you use the Bill of Rights to defend your freedom.
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.
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...
C-SPAN
C Span Classroom: Social Media and Free Speech
Complete learning module with lesson plan, video, vocabulary and activities on free speech and social media. Students examine arguments through video and text and debate to what extent should social media be protected as free speech...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The First Amendment
This resource presents lessons on the First Amendment. It contains many resources for use with children, and links to primary source documents.
The Washington Post
Washington Post: With Protest, Nfl Player Is Exercising His Rights
The San Francisco 49ers backup QB, Colin Kaepernick, is making waves with his knee during the National Anthem.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Foreign War and Domestic Freedom: (Civil Liberties Lesson Plan)
A lesson plan that directs students to review the concept of civil liberties and to examine examples from American history wherein rights were restricted. They will investigate key arguments between those who seek to restrict liberties...
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.
iCivics
I Civics: West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943)
This mini-lesson plan covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that it was unconstitutional for a state to force learners to salute the flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Students learn how the interests of national unity...
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Supreme Court Considers Free Speech and Protests
Hateful as these actions may seem to many people, do groups still have the right to protest under the First Amendment? Read about the case that the Supreme Court is considering involving protests at a military funeral.
iCivics
I Civics: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association (1988)
This mini-instructional activity examines the Supreme Court case that pitted the interests of government economic projects against the religious rights of American Indians. Students learn about the religious protections of the First...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: The Bill of Rights
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this flipchart students are introduced to the Bill of Rights and its timeframe in our country's government. The 1st - 10th Amendments are outlined in full.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
Provides a brief summary and the text of Chief Justice Brennan's opinion of the Supreme Court in this case involving libel.
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Rcfp: The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
This non-profit organization collects instances of First Amendment and Freedom of Information cases throughout the United States and reports on the facts and outcomes. An interesting cross section from this section of our law.
Harvard University
Harvard Law: Freedom of Speech and Anonymous Speech
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...
Illinois Institute of Technology
The Oyez Project: Griswold v. Connecticut
Exerpts from Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court decision regarding marital privacy and birth control. Hours of oral arguments on Real Audio, a link to case opinions, an abstract summary, and notes about the vote of each justice...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Free Exercise of Religion
Information about the Free Exercise Clause and general purpose laws which protect individuals from government interference in their religious affairs.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Freedom of the Press
Check out this interactive timeline on the history of freedom of press in the United States.
PBS
Pbs Newshour Extra: The Dilemma of Protecting Free Speech
Students will compare various examples of offensive expression. How does the fact that the expressions are offensive to others impact Freedom of Speech? Students will review and analyze and complete a case study of cases where the...