Lesson Plan
US National Archives

National Archives: Teaching Six Big Ideas in the Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
The Constitution can be broken down into 6 main themes: Limited Government, Federalism, Republicanism, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, and Popular Sovereignty. Young scholars will study background on the Founding Fathers and...
Lesson Plan
US National Archives

National Archives: Constitutional Issues: Watergate and the Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan deals with the constitutional issue of indictment and impeachment of a U.S. President. Includes original documents and related teaching activities.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The Preamble to the Constitution: A Close Reading Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan, middle schoolers will consider "The Preamble to the Constitution: A Close Reading Lesson." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Activity
Shmoop University

Shmoop: Making the Constitution Terms

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Checks and Balances, Balance of Power, the Electoral College, and much more in this informative lesson about the making of the Constitution.
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.
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: This Great Enterprise: Theodore Roosevelt and the Panama Canal

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson and activity on American enterprise and intervention with a focus on Theodore Roosevelt and the Pananma Canal. Includes class activity and questions for discussion and writing.
Lesson Plan
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress Link: Lesson Plans

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
The Dirksen Congressional Center provides abundant lesson plans on all aspects of the US Congress and the US Constitution. All lessons contain time frames, objectives, and links to material, and are built around Bloom's taxonomy.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How Is Power Divided in the United States Government?

For Students 4th - 8th
Video accompanied by questions for students that looks at how the concept of separation of powers embedded in the Constitution is applied in the United States government. [3:50]
Lesson Plan
Center For Civic Education

Center for Civic Education: Presidents' Day Lessons

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Presidents' Day lessons for Grades 10-12 on the constitutional legacies of George Washington, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan, and how they shaped the history and Constitution of our nation. Each lesson was written and...
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: History of Ohio's Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learn about the history of the Ohio Constitution with this before and after instructional activity that looks at the original 1802 state constitution and the major changes made in the 1851 version. Students will explore the two documents...
Lesson Plan
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Understanding the Nomination Process

For Teachers 9th - 10th
From its conception in the United States Constitution, to necessary adjustments in the 12th Amendment, students will understand the nomination process and role of political parties in establishing a president with the aid of this lesson.
Lesson Plan
University of California

History Project: Debate Over the California Constitutional Convention, 1878 1879

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson on immigration, conflict and nativism in which young scholars examine primary source documents to evaluate public policy and attitudes towards Chinese immigrants in California, 1878-1879.
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Alien and Sedition Acts: Defining American Freedom

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson with activity in which students study and analyze the challenges surrounding constitutional rights and national security by focussing on the Alien and Sedition Act, 1798 and definitions of American freedom. Links to primary...
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Rules of War: Choices: Truman, Hirohito, and the Atomic Bomb

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson and activity on rules of war and the decision to drop the atomic bomb during WWII.
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: The United States and the Barbary Pirates

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson and activity in which students analyze foreign policy challenges on paying ransom. Students study U.S. response to the Barbary pirates and apply their knowledge to modern day terrorism and foreign policy examples.
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: The u.s. Supreme Court: Fdr Tries to "Pack" the Supreme Court

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson and activity in which students learn about the importance of the Supreme Court, balance of power, and judicial reform.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Reconstruction Amendments

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this interactive lesson, students will understand and explain the key provisions of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, commonly referred to as the Reconstruction Amendments.
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.
Lesson Plan
Center For Civic Education

Center for Civic Education: James Madison and Executive Power

For Teachers 9th - 10th
James Madison has been called the "Father of the Constitution". His ideas have shaped the role of our government, the role of political parties, the Bill of Rights and more. This lesson offers extensive background, critical thinking...
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Bill of Rights in Action: Welfare

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson in which students read the history of welfare in the United States, answer questions for discussion and writing, and debate who should be responsible for the welfare of others. Small group, individual and whole class work.
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Welfare to Work: The States Take Charge

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson on public policy, history and public debate over welfare and the Welfare Reform Act. Includes informative text with background and historical information, questions for writing and discussion, and guidelines for class debate.
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: The Pros and Cons of Discussion

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Contains plans for four lessons that use "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. to engage students in a discussion about what constitutes equality. Lessons use re-writes, persuasive essays, computer activities, and informal class...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The Argument of the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan, middle schoolers will consider "The Argument of the Declaration of Independence." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Four Founding Fathers

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The lesson plan provides varies information and links to help teach about the Constitutional Convention and learn about the Founding Fathers.