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social Studies: First Amendment Role-Play
Students evaluate First Amendment case decisions by the Supreme Court. they divide into three groups - Supreme Court justices, prosecution attorneys, and defense lawyers. Both sides present their arguments and the justices deliver...
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A Salute to Veterans
Young scholars examine the United States Constitution. They prepare a skit dealing with the Bill of Rights. They practice being responsible citizens and becoming involved in the community.
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Roots of Religious Liberty
Students examine the First Amendment and consider the contributions of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. They review conflicts between the rights of Church and State and write a Madisonian argument on the issue.
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Constitutional Convention
Students engage in a role-playing situation to illustrate the kinds of compromised that were made a teh Constitutional Convention. They write three short 1-2 paragraph arguments and then present their arguments to the class at the...
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Faces Behind the Guns
Students use the New York Times article profiling ordinary citizens who legally own guns as the basis of a role-playing exercise in which they explore the types of people who own firearms and their personal reasons for doing so.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Naturalized Citizens and the Presidency
Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution takes center stage in a lesson that asks class members to assume the role of state senators, debate a resolution to amend the U. S. Constitution to permit naturalized citizens to run for...
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Family Law: Parent - Child Relationship
Students examine the role courts play in family matters and children's rights. They propose a court-ordered plan to resolve conflicts between parents/guardians and children. Students complete worksheets with various scenarios and discuss...
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Value of Education: Education and Earning Power
Students explore the concept a higher education yields higher earnings. Throughout the class, students visit six workstations and examine occupations, education, salaries, spending, banking, and taxes. As students rotate through the...
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Jeopardy: Seventh Grade Terra Nova Review of Literary Terms
This literary terms PowerPoint provides a structured game to review the literary devices. The Jeopardy-style review game includes instructions for play, the game board slide, and questions that feature examples of the literary terms.
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Birth of a Nation
Fifth graders portray one of the actual framers of the Constitution. They summarize each class period with a journal entry and culminate the experience with the actual framing and signing (or not signing) of the Constitution.
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Making Change
Students investigate how to make change when purchasing items. In this making change lesson, students examine a scenario to calculate the correct change. Students play Bingo based on information and calculations to determine the amount...
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Our Compromise, Our Constitution
Sixth graders explore, analyze and study our constitutional government and become aware of the purpose of our government. They assess the basic rights that are protected by the United States Constitution through graphic organizers and...
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What is Democracy?
Students examine civic duties. In this citizenship instructional activity, students play an online game that requires them to consider the needs of their community. Students campaign for the issue they choose in the game.
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"Let us Reason Together" Lyndon Johnson, Master Legislator
High schoolers explore the contributions of Lyndon B. Johnson. In this congress lesson, students listen to their instructor lecture on the prowess of Lyndon B. Johnson's legislative skills. High schoolers respond to discussion questions...
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Celebrating Martin Luther King Day
Students examine how Martin Luther King Day is celebrated in the United States. They practice treating others equally and respectfully. They also identify ways in which they can help King's dream of peace a reality.
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What Made George Washington a Great Leader?
Students examine the leadership attributes of George Washington. In this George Washington lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the leadership of first president. Students respond to discussion...
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Bridging the Gap
Students explore the role that bridges play in our society. They conduct an investigation to examine the various shapes and functions of bridges. They determine which type of bridge would best suit a given scenario.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
If Men Were Angels: Teaching the Constitution With the Federalist Papers
Much like the methods of group work, the writers of the Federalist Papers worked together to advocate for their viewpoints against the anti-federalists. The resource enables learners to break into small groups and conduct research before...
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A Lesson To Accompany "The First Bank of the United States: A Chapter in the History of Central Banking"
Here is an interesting topic. Learners examine the economics that led to the founding of the First Bank of America. They participate in a reader's theater experience depicting the debate between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson...
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George Washington Crossing the Delaware: A Study of Setting and Character
Students examine "Washington Crossing the Delaware." For this American Revolution lesson, students analyze the painting, research its background, and then perform skits based on their findings.
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Presenting Constitutional Issues in a Non-adversarial Mode
Students study the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth Amendments to the US Constitution. They apply different points of view to their research and present their finding to the class.
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Religion in Public Schools
Students examine the presence of religion in public institutions. In this ethics instructional activity, students focus on one aspect of the presence of religion in public institutions, and the controversy surrounding religion in the...
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Reflections on Judicial Power - Part I
Students research the Constitutional provision for the Judicial branch of government. They examine different U.S. founder's positions on the relative strength of the judicial branch and act as a review court for Marbury vs. Madison.
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Teaching Life Skills to Students with Special Needs
Ideas for instilling essential life skills in learners with special needs.