Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Death Penalty

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders perform a study of the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and focus on the protection against cruel and unusual punishment in the Eighth Amendment as it relates to the death penalty. Prior to formulating a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Schools of Thought on Segregation

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read a New York Times article in order to explain how American courts and communities are dealing with the unanimous Supreme Court decision to end "separate but equal" education. They analyze how this affects the nation's youth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Integration of Education

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the history of Civil Rights and how the struggle for Civil Rights and the Second Reconstruction, transformed society and politics in the United States in the 1950s. Then they identify why American Schools are integrated...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A More Perfect Union: Barack Obama's Race Speech at the National Constitution Center

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore the process of perfecting the Union through changes made to the Constitution, and through the powers delegated to each branch of government.  In this American Government lesson, 11th graders research various...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reflections on Judicial Power - Part I

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the Constitutional provision for the Judicial branch of government. They examine different U.S. founder's positions on the relative strength of the judicial branch and act as a review court for Marbury vs. Madison.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Judicial Review

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review the concepts they were introduced to in a telecast on judicial review. After reading an article, they answer discussion questions and repeat the same procedure for another article. They participate in a debriefing session...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

First Things First: Using the Newspaper to Teach the Freedoms of the First Amendment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use the newspaper as a tool to make connections about what the five freedoms guarantee in the First Amendment. In this first amendment lesson plan, students analyze events in the newspaper to form conclusions about the freedoms...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Remember the Ladies: The Supreme Court and Women's Suffrage, Minor v. Happersett

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars study the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments as they examine the fight for women's suffrage. They explore the Nineteenth Amendment.
Lesson Plan
1
1
Curated OER

What is Meant by Returning to Fundamental Principles?

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
What did the Founding Fathers mean by the importance of continually returning to fundamental principles? Your young historians will analyze a series of quotations illustrating the fundamental ideals and principles of the...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Achieve The Core

Linda R. Monk, Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution - Grade 8

For Teachers 8th - 10th Standards
“We the people . . .” Thus begins the Preamble to the Constitution. Using a close reading approach, class members examine an excerpt from Linda Monk’s article that traces how the interpretation of these words has evolved. Some of your...
Unit Plan
Feminist

Women's History Teacher's Guide

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The origins, goals, and struggles of the women's movement are the focus of a five-day series of lessons about the accomplishments of the movement and the continuing struggle for women's rights.
Lesson Plan
Teaching for Change

A Documents-Based Lesson on the Voting Rights Act

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How did the Voting Rights Act affect the daily lives of American citizens? A document-based lesson developed by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating committee (SNCC) presents a case study of the impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 on...
Lesson Plan
2
2
Hyperion Publishing

Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
The language of the Constitution can feel quite ominous to young learners, but there are a variety of strategies you can utilize to help your class grasp the important concepts and ideals in our nation's founding document. This lesson...
Writing
Carolina K-12

Writing Prompt: The Death Penalty

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Is the death penalty unjust because it violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution, "cruel and unusual punishment"? Or is it just a form of permissible capital punishment? After weighing arguments for and against the...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Ken Burns: Jackie Robinson - A Journey Back to Separate but Equal Conditions

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Baseball great Jackie Robinson fought for social justice. His efforts to push for equal access are detailed in an episode from from the Ken Burns: The Jackie Robinson Collection. After viewing the clip, class members engage in a...
Activity
Digital Public Library of America

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
A set of 14 primary sources provides background for a study of Lorraine Hansberry's drama, A Raisin in the Sun. Featured are images from stage productions of the play, white supremacy protests, a clip from a television interview, and...
Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Speaking Freely In the Soviet Union's Autocratic Government

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Speak your mind! The lesson explores the difference in free speech between the United States and the Soviet Union. Academics review the constitutions of both governments, political cartoons, and case studies to understand how freedom of...
Lesson Plan
Newseum

Battle for the Bill of Rights: Ultimate Survivor Amendment Game

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
To understand the importance of the wording of the articles of the First Amendment (freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the press, and freedom to assembly and petition), teams argue before a jury for draft amendments of one...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding the Significance of the Nationalization of the Bill of Rights

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders study the impact of the Nationalization of the Bill of Rights upon criminal law. They analyze opposition to expansionist viewpoints that could possibly create more checks and balances on the state courts and analyze...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The "Big Four"

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the four individuals who are identified as the "Big Four", examine the years they were on the bench together, and look and the impact they made in key cases.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rights in Conflict

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners study situations where rights are in conflict. For this conflict in rights lesson, students review a conflict situation and the Supreme Court ruling for the issue. Learners review the Bill of Rights and then receive their own...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wealth and Power: United States v. Microsoft

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore wealth and influence in the United States. In this Bill of Rights instructional activity, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of the United States v. Microsoft case....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Public Schools and Prayer - Do They Mix?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss and research different Supreme Court cases and examine religious freedom and prayer in public schools.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Alien and Sedition Acts: Defining American Freedom

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars analyze the Alien and Sedition Acts. In this Bill of Rights instructional activity, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of the Alien Act and the Sedition Acts. Young...

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