Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World can't wait, students say

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Learners create a lesson to present to the rest of the class about current laws, including expressing killing the president as a joke. Students research past events and current laws. Learners present to the class using mult-media, oral...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Political statements and protected speech

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research and investigate what laws exist about freedom of speech. They write an article about this topic. Students interview the high schoolers at their school on this topic. They take a stand and support their stand with...
Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

The Articles of Confederation

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Have you ever started a project only to realize you need to scrap it and start over? Scholars analyze the issues leading to the fall of the Articles of Confederation. A group investigation into Articles II, III, and VIII unveil the...
Lesson Plan
State Bar of Texas

Mapp v. Ohio

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Do you have a search warrant? Scholars investigate the concept of illegal search and seizure through the eyes of the Supreme Court case Mapp v. Ohio. A short video clip along with paired group work opens discussion on the concept of how...
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Refugees: International Law and U.S. Policy

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Discover the ways America has opened its borders to international refugees, and the ways other countries have been more or less welcoming, with an informational passage about United States and international policies on refugees....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The False Parliamentarism of 1791 (3rd Canadian constitution)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students gain an understanding of the concept of false parliamentarism after the Constitutional Act. They, in groups, represent different members of government as they draft, debate and try to pass a bill into law.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of the Executive Branch in the Lawmaking Process

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Pupils research the Executive Branches role in making a law. In this law making lesson plan, students study the history of the Constitution and see how much power the President has in making a bill into a law. Pupils then research on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Checks on Presidential Power

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine presidential powers. In this checks and balances lesson, students identify the constitutional and informal restraints of the president and consider the reasons for the limitations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Are the Government

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students read primary documents to find the motivations of the founding fathers of the United States. In this primary documents lesson, students discuss the meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution, read parts of the Constitution...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Procedural Justice

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Learners analyze the concept of procedural justice. In this judges in the classroom instructional activity, students role play the ways the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights established certain procedures to protect people from...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bill of Rights: Rights and Responsibilities

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution instructional activity, students consider the individual liberties outlined in the Bill of Rights as they read the provided handouts and complete the provided worksheet...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Toxic Torts

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders examine the role of courts in environmental law enforcement. Using examples, they identify civil cases brought against large corporations for violating environmental laws. They define new vocabulary and discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supreme Court in Our Lives: Key Cases

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students analyze Supreme Court decisions and their effect on students. They discuss current events realted to the U.S. Constitution and review cases that impact students. They identify each case with its facts, issues, and arguments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Divided We Fall

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students write essays for perform plays that feature the importance of the first ten amendments. Learners imagine the United States without 1 of the amendments that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders determine why the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. In this U.S. government lesson, 7th graders discuss the first 10 amendments and any vocabulary they may be unfamiliar with. Students then read different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Roots of Our Rights

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the Preamble to the Constitution. In this government lesson, students read the Preamble of the Constitution and define the meaning of unknown words. Students write about examples of how the Constitution protects our rights.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students classify the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students complete provided readings and worksheets in order to define, identify and analyze each of the amendments and explain why they were included in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the intent  Bill of Rights. In this American government lesson, students watch segments of the Discovery video "The Bill of Rights."  Students discuss and debate the 4 Supreme Court cases featured in the video.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ira Ritter, Et Al., V. Jerry And Ruth Stanton Lesson 2: What Does a Jury Do Anyway?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students investigate how a jury is chosen, and what the rights and responsibilities of juries are. They examine case studies to determine the role of the jury in both criminal and civil cases.
Organizer
Curated OER

Checks and Balances Chart

For Students 9th
In this checks and balances chart worksheet, students use their textbooks and a copy of the U.S. Constitution to complete 10 items in the chart identifying the branches of government.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The First Amendment

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the First Amendment.  In this US Government lesson, 11th graders analyze the scope and meaning of the first amendment.  Students conduct a survey on First Amendment freedoms.  Student evaluate the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voting Rights: Convicted Felons

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the state right to revoke the voting privileges of convicted felons. In this voting rights instructional activity, students read an article and respond to discussion questions about the voting rights of felons.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Reconstruction: "Healing Wounds, Mending Fences"

For Teachers 5th
Students examine material on the Civil War Era to develop an understanding of the major issues that were resolved. This six lessons unit provides a closer glimpse into our nation's political and ethical history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landmark Supreme Court Cases and the Constitution: Reynolds v. United States (1878)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the impact of court decisions. In this Supreme Court instructional activity, students read the Reynolds v. United States (1878) case study regarding first election decided by the House of Representatives. Students...