Lesson Plan
Newseum

You Can’t Say That: In My Opinion

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
As a part of a study of the First Amendment, high schoolers research a current news story that seems to involve one of the freedoms granted by the First Amendment. Investigators decide whether they think the action presented in the story...
Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Freedom of Expression

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Should democracies include hate speech as a protected right? Scholars analyze the rights found under the First Amendment to the Constitution through researching evidence. Freedom of expression becomes the focal point of the...
Lesson Plan
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Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

Reading the Work of B. Franklin, Printer

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Placing Ben Franklin’s ideas about a free press next to those embodied in the First Amendment sheds light on both. Learners interpret and compare two primary sources and then examine them in the light of a contemporary survey about...
Lesson Plan
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PBS

The Supreme Court: Early Civil Rights Cases Facing the Supreme Court

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Imagine being an ex-slave after the Civil War and not understanding if you were considered a citizen of the United States. Scholars analyze the early Supreme Court battles in civil rights cases and especially the Fourteenth Amendment....
Lesson Plan
Judicial Branch of California

Protecting our Freedoms: The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 3rd Standards
Take to the stage! Integrate both drama and civic skills by asking pupils to create and perform skills that demonstrate the importance of the amendments in the Bill of Rights. After reviewing the Preamble to the Constitution, learners...
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Prayer and Friday Night Lights? An Establishment Clause Case from Texas

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Is a Christian prayer before a Friday night football game a nice gesture or the imposition of religion on the rest of the community? A resource asks the question using a clip from the popular movie "Friday Night Lights" and readings...
Interactive
DocsTeach

Analyzing a Letter from Ruth Bader Ginsburg

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Before her career as a Supreme Court Justice, the Notorious RBG was a legal activist for women's rights. Using a letter from then-Professor Ginsburg, young historians carefully examine a letter from Ginsburg to a member of Congress...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The First Amendment: Freedom of Expression

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars explore First Amendment rights. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students examine the freedom of expression as they view a PowerPoint presentation and listen to the lecture that accompanies it.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Pleading the Fifth" Self-Incrimination and the Fifth Amendment

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students examine how the Fifth Amendment protects against self-incrimination. They apply it to hypothetical situations by role playing as judges.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Decide

For Teachers 5th - 7th
What a cool worksheet! The full set of our Constitutional Amendments are included in this resource which helps learners know how to answer 10 questions intended to build an understanding of constitutional and unconstitutional actions.
PPT
Curated OER

Branches of the Government: Jeopardy Game

For Teachers 5th
Jeopardy games are great ways for students to review concepts in an interesting way. This Game covers the Amendments, 3 Branches of US Government, and miscellaneous terms related to American independence and law.  
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rights of the Accused in Search and Seizure

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explain the rationale behind the Fourth Amendment, and the types of activity regulated by the Constitution. They analyze situations, and explain a citizen's rights when an unlawful search or seizure is conducted.
Lesson Plan
National Constitution Center

The Development and Application of the First Amendment

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What are the limits on freedom of speech? While a cherished right in the Constitution, it is not unbridled. Budding historians consider what checks should exist on this liberty using news stories, court cases, and College Board prompts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bill of Rights

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Young scholars work in collaborative groups to research an amendment of the Bill of Rights. They then design and present a skit that demonstrates and communicates the core values and concepts of the amendment to the class.
Lesson Plan
Carolina K-12

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission & the First Amendment

For Teachers 10th - 11th Standards
Should Congress limit how much a corporation spends to support a political candidate? Here is a fantastic lesson plan and activities to help young citizens approach this question.
Lesson Plan
Judicial Branch of California

The Power of the Press: The First Amendment

For Teachers 5th Standards
Was what happened in 1886 at the Haymarket riot a crime or a case of xenophobia? Using political cartoons from the time, young historians consider the role the media played in anti-labor sentiment during the time and how that influenced...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bill of Rights

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars discuss the government as a whole and then each amendment is examined. They complete a Bill of Rights test in groups or on their own. Answers are gone over in class and discussion is encouraged.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Regents Review Worksheet #1: Principles of the U.S. Constitution

For Teachers 12th
Kids who take the Regents Exam really need to know a lot of information. This is a wonderful exam review tool that includes 26 pages of questions, charts, and suggested readings to help upper graders pass the test. It focuses on all...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Childhood Lost: Child Labor in the United States, 1830-1930

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Working in groups, middle and high schoolers describe and discuss photographs depicting working conditions experienced by child laborers in the 19th century. They then write a persuasive paragraph supporting an amendment to regulate the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The First Amendment, What it Means and When Libel Comes in to Play

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students research three topics: The First Amendment, John Peter Zenger and his trial, and libel. In this journalism and libel lesson, students discuss things authority figures have done they disagree with and the anit-sedition law....
Worksheet
Curated OER

U.S. Voting Amendments: Crossword Puzzle

For Students 5th - 8th
In this United States history worksheet, students use the 13 clues in order to fill in the crossword puzzle with the appropriate voting Amendment answers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Religion and the First Amendment

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the First Amendment and religious freedom. In this freedom of religion lesson, students prepare and present an arts-based project about religious freedoms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Juvenile Death Penalty

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Sensitive material is discussed in this lesson. Please review to ensure that the content is suitable for your class. The topic is the Eighth Amendment and how the U.S. Supreme Court makes determinations about what constitutes cruel and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Progressive Reforms

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders analyze editorial cartoons focusing on progressive reform. They compare their analysis and research. Students discuss the cost of reform leading to the creation of a national income tax through the passage of the 16th...

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