Constitutional Rights Foundation
Plyler v. Doe: Can States Deny Public Benefits to Illegal Immigrants?
Illegal immigration is an ever-changing source of consistent controversy. A reading passage about the rights of undocumented workers and illegal immigrants—and the lack thereof—guides high schoolers into a mock trial activity. Three...
Curated OER
Racial Profiling
Students debate both positions on the controversial topic of racial profiling with support for each and then develop a consensus position on how racial profiling as a law enforcement tool should be used.
Curated OER
"Escuela" Debate
Students observe a documentary on "Escuela" to explore the life and education of migrant families. After discussing the related topics in the movie, students share their conclusions migrant farmworkers. Using the Internet and other...
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Social Studies: A Quiet Protest
Students examine the protest by Gallaudet University students concerning the hiring of a new school president. They investigate laws related to protests and present their findings to the class in a multimedia show, oral report, or debate.
Curated OER
Justice for All? Debating the Fairness of the Juvenile Justice System
Students discuss treatment of young people by the criminal justice system and debate whether or not that treatment is fair.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Educating About Immigration The DREAM Act
Group members role play state legislators, supporters of and opponents to the The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors). After listening to the arguments put forth for and against the immigration...
Curated OER
Lessons in Legal Ethics: Crime and the Media
High schoolers examine a variety of ethical issues that arise in criminal cases. They get into groups, and perform a case study of a real situation in which many of these ethical issues came up. All of the worksheets needed to...
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Human Cloning, Genetic Engineering and Privacy
Review the aspects of human cloning and the moral issues associated with it. Individually, your students will keep a list of the articles related to this issue and research issues related to the ethic issues people are concerned with....
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Reporter rights vs. legal access...
Students write an article to inform readers about confidentiality with reporters, attempting to find local lawyers and journalists to explain the issues as they relate to them. Students research past cases and the status of the current...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Crime and Punishment
Should the United States ban the death penalty? Scholars use real-life examples of criminal activity to come to their own conclusions on the death penalty. Primary source documents, as well as video clips, open the issue of capital...
PBS
The Supreme Court: Early Civil Rights Cases Facing the Supreme Court
Imagine being an ex-slave after the Civil War and not understanding if you were considered a citizen of the United States. Scholars analyze the early Supreme Court battles in civil rights cases and especially the Fourteenth Amendment....
Curated OER
How To Save a Life
Students examine their own beliefs about the morality of capital punishment through a "where you stand" activity. They explore economic arguments about the costs, benefits and morality of capital punishments by reading and discussing...
Curated OER
Was the Iraq War a "Humanitarian Intervention?"
Learners debate the intent of the Iraq war. For this humanitarian intervention lesson, students each research a view point and defend it in a class room debate. Learners defend the views points of Terry...
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Government: War Powers Limitations
Students examine historic examples of authority during wartime. They interpret the Fifth Amendment. They debate the merits of the Patriot Act.
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Dead Man Walking
Students consider personal opinions about capital punishment and have an intelligent debate after reading Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean.
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Raids and Arrests of Enemy Aliens
Student read background summary information and debate how much control did the government require to keep the nation safe. They research how World War II restrictions on enemy lines were enforced and how it related to the U.S....
Curated OER
English is So Tricky
In this homophone worksheet students read examples of either homophones, or words spelled the same with different meanings. Students answer 8 questions on this challenging worksheet.
Curated OER
And Justice For All
Students compare three justice systems currently in place in the United States: the civilian criminal justice system, the military criminal justice system (courts-martial) and the secret wartime tribunals that President Bush has proposed...
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The President's Cabinet: Choosing the Right Person for the Job
Students examine the Federal Confirmation Process for filling cabinet members by completing a confirmation process flow chart. They research the process, and participate in a mock Confirmation Process.
National First Ladies' Library
Fire! The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Trial and It's Aftermath
Middle schoolers research, examine and are provided the opportunity to re-enact one of the most exciting trials of the 20th century, The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Trial. They research the history of the trial and then divide into...
Curated OER
Downloading Trouble
Students explore the meaning of piracy. In this technology lesson, students discuss the economic and social repercussions of DVD and CD piracy, then further their knowledge by completing on-line research on the topic. Several...
Curated OER
What Makes a Good Judge?
Students define qualities that should be considered when selecting judge, evaluate costs and benefits of two methods of selecting and retaining judges, decide whether methods provide for judicial independence
and judicial accountability,...
Curated OER
Writing Resolutions
Students prepare for Youth Voices Forum by writing resolutions using actual format employed by United Nations. Students explore components of resolution, including formal language, and practice writing and critiquing resolutions.
Curated OER
What is Meant by Returning to Fundamental Principles?
Students explain in what ways the American experience in self-government can be called an adventure in ideas. They evaluate positions on a number of issues related to the fundamental principles and values of government and individual...