Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Minersville v. Gobitas (1940)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that allowed schools to require students to salute the flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Students learn about the First Amendment and how the interests of...
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that extended First Amendment protections to students in the classroom. Students learn about the concept of symbolic speech and how students gained the right to engage in...
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association (1988)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This mini-instructional activity examines the Supreme Court case that pitted the interests of government economic projects against the religious rights of American Indians. Students learn about the religious protections of the First...
Primary
Cornell University

Cornell University: Law School: Schenck v. United States (1919)

For Students 9th - 10th
Features a syllabus of the landmark Supreme Court case of Schenck v. United States which decided that the defendant's right to criticize the draft was not protected by the First Amendment.
Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)

For Students 9th - 10th
Resource contains information on the case including how the justices voted, an audio file of the Oral Argument and an abstract of the case regarding high school journalists and their call for First Amendment (free speech) rights.
Website
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Rcfp: The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

For Students 9th - 10th
This non-profit organization collects instances of First Amendment and Freedom of Information cases throughout the United States and reports on the facts and outcomes. An interesting cross section from this section of our law.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Church and State Separation: Challenge and Debate (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Describes the elements of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment as it relates to the separation of church and state and freedom of religion. Speculates on the probable constitutional issues associated with the separation of church and...
Primary
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Additional Amendments

For Students 9th - 10th
The Constitution contains within itself the process of changing it. The amendment process is described in Article 5. Amendments can be proposed in Congress when 2/3rd of both Houses agree. The states can play a role in proposing changes...
Primary
Bill of Rights Institute

The Bill of Rights Institute: The Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. Written by James Madison in response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties, the Bill of Rights lists specific...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
Article on the history and purpose of the Bill of Rights which spelled out specific protections in the first 10 amendments of the Constitution.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1754 1800: The Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution guarantee citizens' essential freedoms and rights.
Graphic
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Illustrated Bill of Rights

For Students 3rd - 8th
For elementary students, an easy to understand illustrated explanation of the Bill of Rights is offered.
eBook
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Rcfp: The Ethics of Recording Conversations [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This cleverly designed article contains the laws concerning taping and recording conversation in regard to privacy rights. From the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
Activity
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: George Mason the Virginia Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
The Virginia Bill of Rights was the framework for the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights. Some of Mason's actual phrasing appear in the first ten amendments passed fifteen years later. He is credited for authoring the first American...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Purpose of the Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Text of the first ten amendments of the Constitution found in the Bill of Rights.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: No Bill of Rights, No Deal

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In the debate over the Constitution, the Bill of Rights was a deal-breaker. In this lesson, students learn why the federalists thought the Constitution didn't need a bill of rights and why the anti-federalists refused to accept the...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: A 3 Minute Guide to the Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief video that summarizes the first ten amendments to the Constitution. [3:36] Followed by a quiz and a list of additional resources to explore.
Activity
University of Missouri

Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Marsh v Chambers, u.s. Supreme Court

For Students 9th - 10th
Chief Justice Burger's majority opinion in the case of MARSH vs. CHAMBERS, 463 U.S. 783 (1983). The case dealt with whether an opening prayer in the Nebraska Legislature violated the First Amendment.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Foreign War and Domestic Freedom: (Civil Liberties Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan that directs students to review the concept of civil liberties and to examine examples from American history wherein rights were restricted. They will investigate key arguments between those who seek to restrict liberties...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: United States Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia article from Wikipedia gives some background history to the creation of the Bill of Rights and contains a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form.
Website
Scholastic

Scholastic: Explaining the Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the need for a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution. Find out what each of the first ten amendments means.
Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Battle Lost and Won: The Nineteenth Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
After the "Susan B. Anthony" amendment was passed by the Senate, suffragists stepped up in order to persuade the states to ratify it. Read how Texas suffragist Jane Y. McCallum was part of that cause and about the opposition she faced...
Activity
University of Missouri

Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Griswold vs. Connecticut

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains in-depth information about the Griswold vs. Connecticut case, concerning the right to use contraception, and its impact.
Activity
Harvard University

Harvard Law: Freedom of Speech and Anonymous Speech

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Cyber Harvard Law offers summaries of three different Supreme Court cases which address the limits of free speech. Includes interactive opinion, multiple-choice questions. Links to the written opinions of the Court for...