Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Time for Justice

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in a lesson that focuses on the development of The Bill Of Rights in the United States. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students two focus questions in order to guide the information search. They state...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitutional Convention

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners simulate the Constitutional Convention. They describe how the members of the Constitutional Convention might have felt as they gathered and began the arduous and memorable task of writing the United States Constitution .
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Judicial Review

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Student demonstrate understanding of both sides of the argument between Jefferson and Marshall that led to the strengthening of the Judicial Branch through the creation of judicial review. Unit is comprised of five lessons and fits into...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding the Significance of the Nationalization of the Bill of Rights

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders study the impact of the Nationalization of the Bill of Rights upon criminal law. They analyze opposition to expansionist viewpoints that could possibly create more checks and balances on the state courts and analyze...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights: Debating the Amendments

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Bill of Rights instructional activity, students research 12 possible amendments that were considered for the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Grievances Against the British Monarchy

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students review George Washington's reasons for not wanting to be viewed as a monarch. They review the Declaration of Independence and identify five grievances the United States had against the British monarchy. In groups, students...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Proposition 8 Struck Down

For Students 9th - 12th
Have your class examine the issues surrounding same-sex marriage, civil rights, and proposition 8. They read a New York Times article entitled "Proposition 8 Struck Down" and then answer 10 who, what, when, where, and why questions....
Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Educating Non-Citizens

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students distinguish between the privileges of being a U.S. Citizen and privileges that are forfeited if not a U.S. Citizen.  For this history lesson, students analyze the rights of people in a democratic society through research,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Emancipation Proclamation Through Different Eyes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how various segments of the American population viewed the Emancipation Proclamation. They read the Emancipation Proclamation, analyze key terms and statements in the document, and participate in a debate.
Activity
Administrative Office of the US Courts

US v. Alvarez

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
Is it illegal to lie about military service? Discuss the ways the First Amendment affects the Stolen Valor Act with a lesson that focuses on the Supreme Court case U.S. v. Alvarez. As high schoolers learn more about the history of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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
Curated OER

The Antebellum South

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Your history students will be on the edges of their seats during this fascinating presentation, which details the abolition movement and slave life during the Antebellum period in the American South. Students will be left agape at the...
Lesson Plan
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School Improvement in Maryland

Court Proceedings Civil Cases

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What's the difference between civil and criminal law? How do the court proceedings differ in these two types of trials? How do the standards of proof differ? Why do these differences exist? As part of their examination of the...
Lesson Plan
1
1
iCivics

Mini-Lesson: Executive Orders

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Can the President of the United States pass a law all by himself? Scholars investigate the concept of the executive order in regards to the powers of the presidency. They use current issues and events to monitor media bias while also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slave Life on George Washington’s Mount Vernon Plantation

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders investigate slave life on the Mount Vernon Plantation. In this slavery instructional activity, 11th graders examine photographs of and documents about George Washington's home as they participate in classroom station...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for The Classroom: Lame Duck Congress

For Students 9th - 12th
Clear up "lame duck" congressional confusion with this political cartoon analysis worksheet. Background information on the concept's history and current use is provided, and 2 cartoons give a past and present context. Three talking...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create Your Own Constitution

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the processes, purpose and components of a good and just constitution. They focus on the Constitution of the United States of America. Students discuss the purpose of a constitution and reasons why the Constitution...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the Constitution (Enumerated Powers)

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students continue their examination of the United States Constitution. Using the text, they discover where the power for the government came from and why it was needed. They are introduced to the concept of Federalism and discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paving the Road to the Constitution

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders assess the strengths and weaknessess of the Articles of Confederation as related to the United States and North Carolina. They demonstrate an argument for or against ratification of the United States Constitution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The 1812 Louisiana Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze the Louisiana Constitution of 1812 and then draw up a constitution for their particular school. They compare the Louisiana Constitution to the United States Constitution of 1789 and create a graphic organizer of both...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitutional Convention Debates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the signers of the United States Convention. They answer questions about the compromise debates. Students examine the concerns of Charles Pinckney regarding the security of the Southern States against emancipation of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The U.S. Constitution and Disability Laws

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the United States Constitution for laws that protect people with disabilities. They discover how the education system provides equal education to all students and how the Federal Government makes sure this is occuring.
Handout
Curated OER

U.S. CONSTITUTION: PREAMBLE

For Students 5th - 6th
In this worksheet of the preamble to the Constitution of the United States, students are given the 14 lines of text to read and evaluate.