Curated OER
US Patriot Act: Security vs. Privacy
High schoolers use readings, worksheets and discussion to explore the ramifications of the US Patriot Act which was passed by Congress shortly after September 11th. They review Constitutional Amendments and consider how they relate to...
Curated OER
Why Burn Books?
Students identify the role of free speech in the selection of library books. They choose one banned book to read and evaluate the reason for its censorship. They create an argument for or against the selection of the book.
Curated OER
Don't Let Your Rights Be Violated
Ninth graders engage in a study of the First Amendment of The Constitution. They read the amendment and use a highlighter to note the important parts. Then students journal the connections of its importance to daily life. They include...
Curated OER
Animal Adjectives
In this animal adjectives worksheet, students write an animal next to each adjective, write sentences with the adjectives, and answer short answer questions about adjectives. Students complete 5 activities total.
Curated OER
"Rosa Parks"
Pupils use information from the Time 100: Rosa Parks Web site to explore Parks's decision to challenge Montgomery's segregation laws. They answer four questions and apply this information by delivering an introductory speech.
Curated OER
The African-American Experience During the Vietnam Conflict
Students examine the experiences of African-Americans in the Vietnam War. They illustrate their experiences showing how these events related to the Civil Rights movement. They compare and contrast the views of sailors and officers aboard...
Curated OER
Breaking News English: President Bush OK'd Spying in America
In this English learning exercise, students read "President Bush OK'd Spying in America," and then respond to 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 8 true or false questions about the selection.
Curated OER
Breaking News English: International Conference on Islam Openers
In this English activity, students read "International Conference on Islam Openers," and then respond to 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 8 true or false questions about the selection.
Curated OER
Virginian Contributors
Students examine the contributions of native Virginians to the United States. For each person, they read excerpts of a book about their contributions and organize the information in a chart. In groups, they become an expert on one of...
Curated OER
Individual Rights
Students study the individual rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. They determine where these rights come from, and why we value them as we do. They consider that our individual rights are not absolute, and may be limited by other...
Curated OER
Essay Evaluation
In this essay evaluation worksheet, students are provided with a writing prompt and two sample essays. Students evaluate and grade the sample essays and provide three reasons why they graded as they did.
Curated OER
Who To Believe?
Learners interpret meaning from opposing views on the same topic, and discuss that there is often so much "spin" and "hidden agendas" in the media.
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...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Times Film Corp. V. City of Chicago (1961)
Read the majority opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court in Times Film Corp. v. City of Chicago, a 1961 case that focused on free speech and obscenity.
![Ishs: The Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1917 and 1918 [Pdf] Handout](https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Ishs: The Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1917 and 1918 [Pdf] Handout")
Northern Illinois University
Ishs: The Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1917 and 1918 [Pdf]
From the 1994 spring volume of the Illinois Historical Journal comes this interesting and somewhat shocking account of how those who did not agree with the U.S. involvement in World War I were treated. Read how the basic right of freedom...
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Supreme Court Considers Free Speech and Protests
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.
Digital History
Digital History: A Bill of Rights? [Pdf]
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...
Read Works
Read Works: Don't Know Much About Liberty
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in classifying and categorizing.
Read Works
Read Works: American Government the Bill of Rights Part Ii
[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...
University of Maryland
Voices of Democracy: John F. Kennedy, "Address: "The President and Press" 1961
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...
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: Speech on Veto of the Mc Carran Internal Security Act
Read this impassioned speech given by President Harry S. Truman in which he gave his justification for vetoing the McCarran Internal Security Act, claiming that it would help Communists rather than root them out, as the act intended.
Boston College
Boston College: Feiner v. New York
Read the text of court opinions regarding the 1951 Feiner v. New York Case. Includes footnotes to Justice Hugo Black's opinion.
University of Missouri
Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Exploring Constitutional Law
Although the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, its interpretation is open to many opinions, causing great controversies. Students can read the Constitution as well as the many issues that surround the document. If that proves...
Boston College
Boston College: Schenck v. United States
Read the decision of this landmark Supreme Court decision involving the 1917 Espionage Act Schenck v. United States (1919).