Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine Laws
A lesson plan prompted by the Trayvon Martin case addressing the "Stand Your Ground" and "Castle Doctrine" laws in Florida.
iCivics
I Civics: You've Got Rights!
Students learn about the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and other important constitutional amendments.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Bill of Rights in Action: Welfare
Lesson in which students read the history of welfare in the United States, answer questions for discussion and writing, and debate who should be responsible for the welfare of others. Small group, individual and whole class work.
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: u.s. Constitution: The Bill of Rights
Fifth graders will examine the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution.
Other
Lesson Plans for Teaching the First Amendment
This FreedomForum.org site lists the three English documents that were precursors to the American Bill of Rights.
Texas State Historical Association
Texas State Historical Association: The Constitution of Texas [Pdf]
An activity guide where students refer to the Texas Almanac, which is free to download, for information needed to complete assigned tasks. In this lesson, they examine the Texas Constitution and the Texas Bill of Rights and record their...
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Human Rights (Lesson Plan)
A lesson plan for exploring and reporting on world human rights issues in which learners analyze the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and compare it to the U.S. bill of rights.
Other
Freedom Forum: Lesson Plans for the First Amendment
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...
Library of Congress
Loc: The u.s. Constitution: Governing of the u.s.
This unit includes four lessons using primary sources to examine continuity and change in the governing of the United States. Lessons one and two are focused on a study of the Constitution and Bill of Rights and provide access to primary...
iCivics
I Civics: Colonial Influences
Where did the American colonists get their ideas that lead to a revolution and a whole new kind of government? This lesson explores the Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, English Bill of Rights, Cato's Letters, and Common Sense.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Religious Liberty
Use these lesson extensions to help your students understand the historical context of American religious liberty.
PBS
Pbs News Hour: Constitutional Amendments and Gay Marriage
In this lesson, students examine and debate the issue of same sex marriage by studying background information, news articles, legal arguments and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. They then draft an amendment of their own to...
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: A Nation Conceived in Liberty [Pdf]
In this instructional activity, 11th graders examine the events and political philosophy that laid the foundations of the American government, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They also look at what role religion played in...
iCivics
I Civics: Interpreting the Constitution
Students analyze real-life cases interpreting the 8th and 5th amendments to see whether they interpret the Bill of Rights the same way the Supreme Court did and discover how tricky interpreting the Constitution really is.
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: James Madison and Executive Power
James Madison has been called the "Father of the Constitution". His ideas have shaped the role of our government, the role of political parties, the Bill of Rights and more. This lesson offers extensive background, critical thinking...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Leadership: u.s. History
Lesson and activity looks at leadership in U.S. history focussing on presidents, past and present, to determine what makes a good leader. Questions for discussion and class activity guidelines included.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Conflict of Cultures: President Polk and the Taking of the West
Lesson and activity on conflict of cultures in which students study U.S. overtaking lands of Mexico and California and form policy on property rights and citizenship of conquered cultures. Activity guidelines, questions for discussion...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Free Markets and Antitrust Law
Lesson in economics and democracy in which students study and analyze Adam Smith's concept of free market mercantilism and determine how it would apply to government interventions today. Includes text, questions for study, resources for...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Rules of War: Choices: Truman, Hirohito, and the Atomic Bomb
Lesson and activity on rules of war and the decision to drop the atomic bomb during WWII.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Executive Branch: A Hero Betrayed: The Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant
Lesson with activity on the Executive Branch, distribution of power, scandal and the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. Includes questions for discussion and class activity. Links to supplemental material.
iCivics
I Civics: The Federalist Debate
The ratification debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists gives us insight into the ideas behind both sides and a better understanding of how our government developed in its early years.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Background on the Patriot Attitude Toward the Monarchy
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Background on the Patriot Attitude Toward the Monarchy." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Library of Congress
Loc: After Reconstruction: Problems of African Americans
After reading a collection of primary texts, students will identify problems facing African Americans in the South following Reconstruction and propose solutions to those problems. In addition to providing guidelines for teachers leading...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Welfare to Work: The States Take Charge
Lesson on public policy, history and public debate over welfare and the Welfare Reform Act. Includes informative text with background and historical information, questions for writing and discussion, and guidelines for class debate.