Curated OER
Arguments Against Ratifying the Constitution
Learners define federalism, Federalist, and Anti-Federalist, debate issue of ratification in classroom convention, and take vote on whether to add bill of rights. Three lessons on one page.
Curated OER
Ratification of the Constitution
Eighth graders view two resources from the ratification debates and infer the motives and concerns of people in the two states involved. They write a newspaper editorial in favor or opposed to ratifying the Constitution.
Curated OER
The Inauguration and the Constitution
Students read the sections of the US Constitution that discuss the elements of the inauguration. They study how the inauguration symbolizes the peaceful transition of power in a democratic republic and show the parts of the inauguration...
Curated OER
Ratification Debate on the U.S. Constitution
Learners study the U.S. Constitution and are asked to give a speech about what they have found.
Curated OER
We the People... What Conflicting Opinions Did the Framers Have about the Completed Constitution?
Students study some of the disagreements about the Constitution which set the stage for the debates over its ratification. These are significant because many have to do with issues that are still discussed and debated today.
ProCon
Electoral College
The Electoral College's role in elections is sometimes confusing and controversial. Pupils use a debate topics website to research the pros and cons of the practice to debate whether the United States should still use the Electoral...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Chief Executives Compared: The Federalist Papers
Delve into the responsibilities of the president by looking at President Hamilton's opinion of the presidential office in his own words. The second in a three-part series, the resource also offers an interesting compare-and-contrast...
Heritage Foundation
The Powers of the Executive
Are executives as powerful as they sound? High schoolers find out about the US president and executive branch. A variety of activities include scaffolded reading sections, research assignments, and collaborative group work.
Curated OER
What Do You Know About New Hampshire?
In this online interactive New Hampshire worksheet, learners respond to 10 multiple choice questions that require them to exhibit what they know about the state. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
What Do You Know About Delaware?
In this online interactive Delaware worksheet, students respond to 10 multiple choice questions that require them to exhibit what they know about the state. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
What Do You Know About Georgia?
In this online interactive Georgia worksheet, students respond to 10 multiple choice questions that require them to exhibit what they know about the state. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
What Do You Know About New Jersey?
In this online interactive New Jersey worksheet, students respond to 10 multiple choice questions that require them to exhibit what they know about the state. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
What Do You Know About Connecticut?
In this online interactive Connecticut activity, learners respond to 10 multiple choice questions that require them to exhibit what they know about the state. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
What Do You Know About Maryland?
In this online interactive Maryland worksheet, students respond to 10 multiple choice questions that require them to exhibit what they know about the state. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
What Do You Know About Massachusetts?
In this online interactive Massachusetts worksheet, students respond to 10 multiple choice questions that require them to exhibit what they know about the state. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
What Do You Know About North Carolina?
In this online interactive North Carolina worksheet, students respond to 10 multiple choice questions that require them to exhibit what they know about the state. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
The Bill of Rights: Debating the Amendments
Students explore the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students participate in classroom debate regarding the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. Students then vote for the amendments they would like to ratify.
Curated OER
The Bill of Rights: Debating the Amendments
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students research 12 possible amendments that were considered for the Constitution in 1789....
Curated OER
Judges in the Classroom Lesson Plan History Of The Bill Of Rights
Students study the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution. They investigate the authors of the Bill of Rights and play a game based on the research.
Curated OER
The First American Party System: Events, Issues, and Positions
Students examine and discuss the philosophical differences that arose during the Constitutional Convention and how these differences played a role in the formation of the first political parties.
Curated OER
Checks and Balances Chart
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.
National Constitution Center
Thirteenth Amendment Poster
President Lincoln believed in the Thirteenth Amendment so strongly that he signed 14 copies of it, but died before he could see it passed on December 18, 1965. Explore the text that forever abolished slavery in America with a document...
National Constitution Center
Writing Rights: The Bill of Rights
Where did the cherished ideals enshrined in the Bill of Rights originate? While history gives the Founding Fathers much of the credit, laws in colonial America influenced the Bill of Rights. An interactive web-based activity allows...
Curated OER
In His Own Words: James Madison On the Problem of Faction
Students are introduced to the writings of James Madison and explain why he is often called "The Father of the Constitution". Using primary source documents, they examine his view of the Bill of Rights and what he meant by faction. In...