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Lesson Plan
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Social Media Toolbox

Law Review

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
How can your journalism class ensure they use social media responsibly and legally? The sixth lesson in a 16-part Social Media Toolbox series asks pupils to dig deep into the legal aspects of social media use by school publications....
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Assessment
Fluence Learning

Writing an Argument: Free Speech

For Students 11th - 12th Standards
How do you assess whether pupils have mastered certain concepts and skills? Designing a performance task that asks learners to demonstrate their skills and providing writers with a rubric that identifies these skills and provides...
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Department of Archives and History

New York Times Co. v Sullivan: The Alabama Case that Changed Libel Law

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Malice aforethought? Can the New York Times be held libel for false claims appearing in its ads? The Supreme Court case New York Times v Sullivan changed the interpretation of the First Amendment. Class members examine these changes and...
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Lesson Plan
Media Smarts

Cyberbullying and the Law

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Research, role-playing, and reflection are the three “R’s” that form the basis of an examination of Cyberbullying. Although based on the Criminal Code of Canada, the included scenarios and case studies provide valuable resources for a...
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Lesson Plan
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1
Curated OER

Law & Ethics for Photojournalists

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify and discuss First Amendment rights, examine how to make sound legal judgements regarding photographs of private individuals, examine difference between public and private figures as far as libel law is concerned,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The First Amendment, What it Means and When Libel Comes in to Play

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students research three topics: The First Amendment, John Peter Zenger and his trial, and libel. In this journalism and libel lesson plan, students discuss things authority figures have done they disagree with and the anit-sedition law....
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Worksheet #56 Questions - Judicial Terms

For Students 8th - 9th
For this American judicial terms worksheet, students examine their knowledge through ten fill in the blank questions that relate to the aforementioned topic.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

For Students 9th - 10th
The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by Congress in 1798 because of feared war with France. This engaging page gives you the opportunity to see a complete copy of the original document and also gives links to a typed transcript,...
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Activity
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: John Peter Zenger Trial

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a comprehensive site from UMKC School of Law concerning the trial of John Peter Zenger. You can find just about any information you may need here, from the issues of The New York Weekly Journal to the trial record. Also of...
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Alien and Sedition Acts

For Students 5th - 8th
A great description of the Alien and Sedition Acts, passed by the Federalist Congress in 1798. See how the Federalists tried to hang on to power by restricting voting privileges and infringing on free speech and freedom of the press.
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Activity
Other

Student Press Law Center Legal Brief: Libel Law

For Students 9th - 10th
Excellent site for students that need to know more about libel laws. Includes a definition of libel, a process to go by in order to avoid a lawsuit, and your defense options if you happen to be involved in a lawsuit.
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Article
Investopedia

Investopedia: Cease and Desist

For Students 9th - 10th
Understand the legal term "cease and desist," why it is used, and what the difference is between a cease and desist order and a cease and desist letter.
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Handout
University of Hawai'i

University of Hawaii: Business Editors Ethics Code

For Students 9th - 10th
The official ethics code of The Society of American Business Editors and Writers provided for by the University of Hawaii.
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: First Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out this interactive timeline on first amendment of the United States Constitution.
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: Freedom of the Press

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out this interactive timeline on the history of freedom of press in the United States.
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a brief summary and the text of Chief Justice Brennan's opinion of the Supreme Court in this case involving libel.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Beginnings of Revolutionary Thinking: Trial of John Peter Zenger

For Students 5th - 8th
Freedom of the press? That was not always an accepted right. Read about the trial of John Peter Zenger, who was accused of libel for printing truths about the royal governor of New York. Find out the outcome of the trial and what it...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Emergence of New Ideas About Personal Liberties

For Students 9th - 10th
American colonists expected to have "English rights" as supported by the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights. See how these rights were applied in the trial of John Peter Zenger, whose acquittal reflected the right of freedom of...
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Primary
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Archiving Early America: Alien and Sedition Acts

For Students 9th - 10th
This article from Archiving Early America provides an explanation of the Naturalization, Alien, Alien Enemies and Sedition Acts, shows the original acts and provides transcribed texts of the Alien Enemies and the Sedition Acts.
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Handout
Other

The Ethical Spectacle: Libel and Slander

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a brief definition of libel and slander.
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Activity
Other

Beginning Reporting: Libel and the Reporter

For Students 9th - 10th
This site offers a definition of libel and some easy -to-follow explanations of how this might apply in various situations.
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Handout
Other

New York State Newspapers:the Early History of Newspaper Publishing in N Y State

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
In the first few paragraphs of this article read about the first two colonial newspapers published in New York.
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Handout
Other

Free Advice Legal: What Is Defamation?

For Students 9th - 10th
The term defamation is defined and briefly discussed here. More information can be accessed from this resource on libel and slander.
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Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Defamation, Libel, and Slander

For Students 9th - 10th
An introduction to the legal definition of defamation.