Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: First Amendment
Annenberg Classroom summary and text of the 1st Amendment to the Constitution. Links to relevant news articles, video, and timeline.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Free Exercise of Religion in America
Activity on first amendment rights and the protection of religious freedom. Students develop a deep understanding of religious liberty and how it has been interpreted as they examine the contoversies surrounding individual rights versus...
Other
Us Courts: First Amendment Activities
Activities for students that make learning about the 1st Amendment relevant by applying landmark Supreme Court cases to contemporary scenarios related to the five parts of the First Amendment and rights to freedom of religion, speech,...
US National Archives
Docsteach: The First Amendment
In this activity students will analyze documents that span the course of American history to determine their connection to the different phrases found within the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Religious Freedom and the Affordable Healthcare Act
Summary, resources, and activities addressing the constitutionality with regard to the first amendment which surfaced with the Affordable Healthcare Act.
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.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: The Stolen Valor Act and False Speech
A lesson plan, including an extension opportunity, addressing whether the Stolen Valor Act violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)
This resource includes information on the Supreme Court case, Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier. The case involves the First Amendment rights of high school students and the publishing of their high school newspaper.
Other
Fac: Curfews, Loitering, and Freedom of Association
This detailed article offers a well-documented overview of this constitutional freedom, as well as an FAQ section and additional cases and resources focused specifically on this aspect of the First Amendment. (Published Sept. 16, 2002 /...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The First Amendment
This resource presents lessons on the First Amendment. It contains many resources for use with children, and links to primary source documents.
PBS
Now With Bill Moyers: Supreme Court and Freedom of Speech
Brief descriptions of several case studies involving decisions by the Supreme Court concerning First Amendment rights, especially freedom of speech.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Freedom of Speech and Automatic Language
Contains plans for four lessons that use the "Pledge of Allegiance" to discuss the concepts of freedom of speech and automatic language. Ties in well with novels that deal with First Amendment rights such as Laurie Halse Anderson's...
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: Petition Signed by Thomas A. Edison
What a surprise to read about the several controversies engendered by the request that the Columbian Exposition be open on Sundays. This lesson plan examines the background of the main controversy and its relation to the First Amendment....
Other
First Amendment Schools: Lesson Plans: Religious Liberty
A series of lessons examining freedom of religion. A few of the lessons are off-site and the links no longer work.
Other
Freedom Forum: First Amendment Struggles & Triumphs
Find out how the First Amendment serves citizens in real life by reading about Daniel Ellsberg, Mary Beth Tinker, and Alton T. Lemon, all of whom were principal litigants in landmark Supreme Court cases regarding the freedom of expression.
iCivics
I Civics: Games: Do I Have a Right?
Play this game from iCivics that requires an understanding and application of the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, and a few other amendments to argue and win cases the clients bring into the law firm. There...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: That's Your Right
An engaging online card game where students learn about the Bill of Rights by matching situations with the correct right. There are three levels of difficulty. Includes a short video for each of the first ten Amendments to the...
US National Archives
Our Documents: The Bill of Rights (1791)
An interactive experience with the Bill of Rights. The Our Documents group allows you to view a copy of the original Bill of Rights. There is a brief information section along with links to larger images, a typed transcript, and...
Other
San Francisco Unified School District: Bill of Rights
A collection of resources for learning and teaching about the Bill of Rights. Includes ideas for projects, links for the First to Eighth Amendments, videos, resources on significant Supreme Court cases, and histories of the Amendments....
Other
Bill of Rights Institute: College Bill of Rights
Colleges and universities often carry stricter policies than the Bill of Rights to protect their young scholars, even with their students being legal adults. Explore whether this is constitutional or not with the aid of this lesson plan.
Other
Janet Reno vs. American Civil Liberties Union
A complete transcript outlining the court case between Janet Reno, U.S. Attorney General, and the American Civil Liberties Union, in which the Communications Decency Act was declared unconstitutional.
PBS
Pbs News Hour: Your Safety and Security or Your Civil Liberties Lesson
The object of this lesson is to take a look at the USA Patriot Act and the controversies around the Act. Does the Patriot Act defy our Civil Liberties? This lesson will explore that question and more.
iCivics
I Civics: Clapper v. Amnesty International (2013)
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that determined the government's ability to conduct electronic surveillance of its citizens. Students learn about the First Amendment right to free speech, the Fourth...
iCivics
I Civics: Bethel School District v. Fraser (1986)
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that established a school's ability to prohibit inappropriate student language on campus. Students learn about the First Amendment right of free speech, and explore the...