Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Democracy in America: The Constitution: Fixed or Flexible?

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
This unit explores the timeless qualities of The U.S. Constitution, the opportunities to amend it, and how it is a pillar of the American identity, through these activities, videos, and outside resources.
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Fourth Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text and fully annotated phrasing of the amendment.
Lesson Plan
US National Archives

National Archives: The First Amendment

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars will look at documents and cases throughout American history to understand the effects of the First Amendment on our nation.
Unit Plan
The Newberry Library

Newberry Library: Anti Statism in u.s. History

For Students 9th - 10th
Newberry Library digital collections presents a lesson using primary sources from which students explore the concept of "anti-state" sentiment and examine the reasons writers and politicians protest the authority of the federal...
Unit Plan
CPALMS

Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Colonists: What Were They Thinking?

For Students 7th
This tutorial looks at the British political traditions that influenced the American colonists as they gained their independence from Britain and created their own form of government. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Graphic
Other

Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association: Washington's "First 100 Days"

For Students 9th - 10th
A "President's First 100 Days" has become a barometer by which to measure the success of the rest of his term. George Washington had the added weight of launching our new nation in his first 100 days. Use this interactive timeline to see...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Emergence of Colonial Government

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed essay which shows how colonial self-government developed prior to the Revolutionary War.
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: James Madison

For Students 9th - 10th
Facts, biography, and accomplishments of the life of James Madison and summaries of important events during his presidency.
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Economics and Democracy

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson in economics and democracy in which students analyze the decision to outsource jobs and determine if globalization is a threat to American workers. Small group, independent and whole class work. Links to related material.
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: After Reconstruction: Problems of African Americans

For Teachers 9th - 10th
After reading a collection of primary texts, students will identify problems facing African Americans in the South following Reconstruction and propose solutions to those problems. In addition to providing guidelines for teachers leading...
Activity
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakening in Colonial America

For Students 9th - 10th
Learning activity on religion and society in which students explore the ideas and events of the Great Awakening and determine the impact they may have had on the American Revolution. Site provides links to wide variety of resources for...
Activity
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Slavery, Civil War, and Democracy: What Did Lincoln Believe?

For Students 9th - 10th
Activity in which students examine the concept of democracy and the idea of a "just society" through the eyes of Abraham Lincoln. Lesson includes questions for discussion and activity in which students prepare a speech on the what they...
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: The 13th Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
An original 13th amendment restricting lawyers from serving in government that was supposedly ratified in 1819 and removed from the U.S. Constitution during the Civil War.
Website
Other

Founding Fathers

For Students 9th - 10th
Find information about the founding fathers and what they accomplished. Presents the Federalist Papers, The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, and The U.S. Constitution. Also includes images, quotes, a history of the...
Website
Utah Education Network

Uen: Civics: Government

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Provides basic information about our government.
Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: African Americans, Women, and the Gi Bill

For Students 9th - 10th
Although the GI Bill was intended to provide benefits to all WWII veterans, African Americans and women who had served had difficulties taking advantage of them due to discriminatory practices at the state and local levels.
Article
A&E Television

History.com: How the u.s. Constitution Has Changed and Expanded Since 1787

For Students 9th - 10th
Through amendments and legal rulings, the Constitution has transformed in some critical ways. The U.S. Constitution, written in 1787 and ratified by nine of the original 13 states a year later, is the world's longest-surviving written...
Website
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: The Early Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Read about the tremendous growing pains faced by the new republic of the United States from the presidency of George Washington up to the election of Thomas Jefferson. Find out about the domestic...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Political Experience

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about how the state governments in the new American nation served as the laboratory to try out new ideas of governing and treating citizens. See how remarkably similar the ideas put forth in state constitutions were to each other.
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides extensive information regarding several American constitutional issues such as: impeachment, war powers, interstate commerce, and the amendment process. Hyperlinks can be found throughout each constitutional issue to...
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Familiar but Flawed

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson highlights British influences on American government. Learn how America's Founders improved upon familiar structures of British government to contain tyranny in favor of liberty.
Website
Utah State University

Teacher Link: Celebrations: A Resource Guide for Teachers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
TeacherLINK at Utah State University offers a wealth of topics and project information on celebrations held throughout the world. Click on "Topics and Authors," to access a long list of available lesson plans on a variety of...
Handout
CommonLit

Common Lit: Text Sets: Founding the United States

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is a collection of 15 Grade-Leveled texts (5-12) on the topic The Founding of America. Once the Revolutionary War was over, America's Founding Fathers had to develop a nation. Learn about the founding of American democracy, from the...
Website
PBS

Pbs: Children of the Camps: The Documentary

For Students 9th - 10th
Companion website for PBS documentary that tells the stories of six Japanese Americans who were interned as children during World War II.