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Norman Rockwell, Freedom of Speech: Know It When You See It

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students 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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Is the Internet Igniting Violence?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
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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Plessy V. Ferguson: "Separate but Equal," Equal Protection

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the details and impact of the Plessy vs. Ferguson U.S. Supreme Court case.  In this U.S. History lesson, students participate in several group discussions and group activities that examine both sides of the...
Lesson Plan
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Bill of Rights: Rights and Responsibilities

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the meaning of freedom.  In this U.S. History lesson, students research the Declaration of Independence and how it relates to American freedom by completing activities and a mock trial.
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Fairy Tails Can Show Due:It can happen for you, If you play your part.,

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students view a Reader's Theater focusing on the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The story is used as a springboard into a videotaped mock trial of Gold E. Locks developed by the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). They...
Lesson Plan
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Learning to Respect Each Other

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Discover how important Martin Luther King Jr. is to our society. For this civil rights lesson, investigate how Dr. King was an advocate for nonviolence and how he fought for civil rights for all Americans. Read and analyze Dr. King's "I...
Worksheet
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American Government Worksheet 1

For Students 4th - 6th
In this American government learning exercise, students respond to 12 true/false, 11 alphabetical order, 15 fill in the appropriate articles, 15 matching, and 1 cryptogram about the structure of the American government.
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United States v. Thomas Cooper --

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners compare the Alien and Sedition Act to the First Amendment. They read and analyze a primary document and write a synopsis. They brainstorm challenges to the Government or President of the US.
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Understanding the Election of 1800 and the Twelfth Amendment

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the election of 1800.  In this American Government instructional activity, 11th graders summarize the events that made the election controversial.  Students advocate for a candidate during a short role...
Worksheet
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Church and State Questions

For Students 9th - 12th
In this U. S. government worksheet, high schoolers respond to 17 short answer questions about the first amendment and the separation of church and state.
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Bill of Rights: Rights and Responsibilities

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students consider the individual liberties outlined in the Bill of Rights as they read the provided handouts and complete the provided worksheet activities.
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American Focus on World Constitutions

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders describe essential components of a constitution and cite cultural factors affecting international law-making.
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The Death Penalty

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders perform a study of the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and focus on the protection against cruel and unusual punishment in the Eighth Amendment as it relates to the death penalty. Prior to formulating a...
Lesson Plan
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The Fight for Human Rights

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the concept of human rights by developing and defending their own 'Bills of Human Rights' and by writing a reflective essay that compares their notions of human rights and the protection of them.
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The Holocaust's Legacy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate contemporary hate groups and then participate in a debate on tolerating their existence of the Holocaust. They work in groups to conduct research. Students use print and Web resources to identify one or more...
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Teaching About Freedom of Speech on the Internet

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students explore the first amendment in relation to their own personal use of the internet and discuss the legal implications that occur when schools and libraries put filters on computers to restrict access to certain websites.
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Civil War Prison Camps

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders work with a partner to create a puppet show that demonstrates the condition of the prisoners in Andersonville, Georgia during the Civil War.
PPT
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Mock Election

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Here is an excellent PowerPoint presenting loads of information about the US election process. Some of the topics included in the slide show: the reasons voting is important, how to choose a candidate, how the federal, state, and local...
Lesson Plan
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American Government

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Challenge your students with this lesson on American government! Learners discuss the three branches of government and its responsilbities, and then go on to more complex critical-thinking activities. Students interview members of the...
Lesson Plan
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Making the Case for Progressive Constitutional Changes in Connecticut

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students take a closer look at Constitutional Amendments. In this Progressive Era lesson, students discover how the amendment process works and then examine 4 amendments proposed during the era in Connecticut. Students research primary...
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Breaking Barriers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the context of a speech delivered by Barack Obama. In this African-American history lesson, students discuss the 15th Amendment and the American Civil Rights Movement prior to analyzing Barack Obama's speech "A More...
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Bill of Rights Booklet

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students design a booklet that explores the Bill of Rights. They summarize each of the rights, write a personal response to each entry and create an illustration to interpret each of the rights. Students then make a cover and title page...
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Divided We Fall

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution instructional activity, students write essays for perform plays that feature the importance of the first ten amendments. Students imagine the United States without 1 of the...
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Religion in Public Schools

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders conduct research on important background information regarding the role of religion in American public schools. In this Ethics lesson, 7th graders examine and become familiar with the First Amendment of the Bill of...