Lesson Plan
Other

Supreme Court Historical Society:texas v. Johnson (1989)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A complete unit on constitutional law that uses the court case of Texas vs. Johnson, in which Gregory Lee Johnson was convicted of desecration of a venerated object after lighting an American flag on fire. The case became an argument...
Activity
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Picturing America: Rockwell: Freedom of Speech [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about and analysis of a characteristic work by Norman Rockwell inspired by Franklin's state-of-the-union address delivered in 1941.
Unit Plan
Choices Program, Brown University

Choices: The Struggle to Define Free Speech: From Skokie to Paris

For Students 9th - 10th
Relevant resource on free speech in which students examine how different societies define freedom of expression. Through multi-media sources students look at historical sources as well as current controveries over free speech.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: The Kentucky Resolution of 1799

For Students 9th - 10th
The full text of the Kentucky Resolution of 1799, in which the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky declares its opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.
Article
Other

University of Arkansas: The Ordeal of Religious Test Oaths in Pennsylvania

For Students 9th - 10th
An argumentative essay on the underlying premise of political theory which deals with religious test oaths.
Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: The Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
Yale's School of Law provides the text of the ten original amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: A Bill of Rights? [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
There was no Bill of Rights attached to the original Constitution, but it was a topic of discussion. Read a reconstruction of speeches of delegates to the Constitutional Convention who debated for and against the inclusion of a way to...
Article
US Department of State

U.s. Dept. Of State: 2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: China

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive account of human rights practices in China for the year 2018. Per the US Department of State, China's "human rights record remained poor and worsened in some areas." Sections of the report include: Arbitrary or Unlawful...
Unknown Type
University of Florida

Freedom of Speech: The First Amendment and the u.s. Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive site outlines thoughts on the First Amendment from four founding fathers. Click on their faces to find an index reflecting their thoughts. From a student project at University of Florida.
Activity
PBS

Pbs News Hour Extra: Supreme Court Considers Free Speech and Protests

For Students 9th - 10th
Hateful as these actions may seem to many people, do groups still have the right to protest under the First Amendment? Read about the case that the Supreme Court is considering involving protests at a military funeral.
Unit Plan
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Religious Freedom and the Affordable Healthcare Act

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Summary, resources, and activities addressing the constitutionality with regard to the first amendment which surfaced with the Affordable Healthcare Act.
Website
PBS

Pbs News Hour Extra: Supreme Court Ends Ban on Sale of Violent Video Games

For Students 9th - 10th
An article about the Supreme Court ending a ban on the sale of violent video games. There are also links to other related items such as a classroom activity and information about the revolution of video games.
Lesson Plan
Other

Bill of Rights Institute: College Bill of Rights

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Colleges and universities often carry stricter policies than the Bill of Rights to protect their students, even with their students being legal adults. Explore whether this is constitutional or not with the aid of this lesson plan.
Activity
Other

Streetlaw: Rights in the Community

For Students 9th - 10th
This website provides several links and introductory information on the Constitution, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, expression in special places, freedom of religion, due process, the right to privacy, discrimination, and...
Activity
Scholastic

Scholastic: Democracy for Kids: Understanding Rights and Responsibilities

For Students 3rd - 8th
Scholastic offers a series of printable panels and classroom activities in PDF format that focus on a U.S. citizen's right to express his- or herself. Content focuses on the Bill of Rights and its provisions for freedom of religion,...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Yearning to Breathe Free: Mary "Mother" Jones and Child Labor [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" that examines the life of activist Mary "Mother" Jones and the methods she used to change conditions for laborers, especially for child laborers....
Lesson Plan
Other

First Amendment Schools: Lesson Plans: Religious Liberty

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A series of lessons examining freedom of religion. A few of the lessons are off-site and the links no longer work.
Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Cox v. New Hampshire (1941)

For Students 9th - 10th
Full opinion of the United States Supreme Court in the Cox v. New Hampshire case (1941).
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How to Turn Protest Into Powerful Change

For Students 9th - 10th
We live in an age of protest. On campuses, in public squares, on streets and social media, protestors around the world are challenging the status quo. But while protest is often necessary, is it sufficient? Eric Liu outlines three...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: American Government the Bill of Rights Part Ii

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text passage explains a few parts of the Bill of Rights. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes...
Lesson Plan
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: The Stolen Valor Act and False Speech

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan, including an extension opportunity, addressing whether the Stolen Valor Act violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Website
University of Maryland

Voices of Democracy: John F. Kennedy, "Address: "The President and Press" 1961

For Students 9th - 10th
Read President John F. Kennedy's speech, "The President and the Press," which he delivered before the American Newspaper Publishers Association (ANPA) on April 27, 1961. In this speech, he attempted to explain and justify the Bay of Pigs...
Handout
Siteseen

Siteseen: Government and Constitution: 1st Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
Short, simple summary with the full text of the 1st amendment of the Bill of Rights detailing freedom of religion, the freedom of the press, and freedom of expression in the Constitution.
Lesson Plan
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Religious Liberty

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Use these lesson extensions to help your students understand the historical context of American religious liberty.

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