Lesson Plan
National Constitution Center

Separation of Powers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners explore how the Constitution provides for separation of power and limited government, as evidenced by the three branches of government. They participate in role-playing situations, group discussions, and complete worksheets to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the Constitution: The First Three Articles of the Constitution, Separation of Powers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review the first three articles of the United States Constitution. In groups, they examine the three branches of government and their function. They follow the path of a bill until it becomes law and discuss Congress' role.
Interactive
2
2
Judicial Learning Center

Your 4th Amendment Rights

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Americans love to learn about their rights, especially those that protect them from the government's power to invade their privacy. Young people are especially engaged by this topic. An informative lesson explores four Supreme Court...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

United States v. Nixon (1974)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine checks and balances. In this Supreme Court lesson, students examine primary documents from United States v. Nixon and discuss the implications of the decision.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Constitutional Acts (Chapter 3)

For Students 10th - 12th
Help your students review constitutional acts in this review worksheet, which could also be used as a class quiz. Five matching questions and five multiple choice questions address checks and balances, the powers of the Senate and House,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of State Government and the State Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the relationship between state and national governments. They define the principles of American federalism how the constitution outlines the powers of state and federal government. Lesson focuses on Nebraska...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights and the Supreme Court

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore what the United States would be like today if the Bill of Rights had never been written.  In this exploring the constitution activity, students research Supreme Court cases that were heard in the early years of the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

United States Government 5th Grade

For Students 5th
In this review of United States government learning exercise, 5th graders recall facts and answer multiple choice questions. Students answer 25 questions.
Interactive
DocsTeach

Court Packing vs. Reorganizing: The Supreme Court in the New Deal

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Travel back in time to understand the effects of FDR's New Deal on the Supreme Court. Academics analyze historical documents to understand FDR's attempts to pack the Supreme Court and the opposition he faced. The activity includes a...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Bill of Rights Institute

Celebrate Constitution Day

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
September 17 is a great day to focus on the US Constitution for on this day in 1787, the Constitution was signed. Through a series of activities, high schoolers get a chance to look closely at this famous document and the rights and...
Lesson Plan
State Bar of Texas

Marbury v. Madison

For Teachers 8th Standards
Who has the final say in matters dealing with the rules under the United States Constitution? The case Marbury v. Madison brings to light the issue of judicial review. Learners investigate the Supreme Court's opinion in the case with a...
Lesson Plan
Ohio Center For Law-Related Education

Four Activities: Thurgood Marshall and the Nomination and Confirmation of Federal Judges

For Students 7th - 12th Standards
The process of nominating and confirming federal judges can sound like a lot of bureaucratic hoops, but a resource breaks down the steps of the Supreme Court nominations in a simpler manner. Learners participate in four activities that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

US Government: The Checks and Balances System of the US Constitution

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine the responsibilities of the 3 branches of U.S. government. In this checks and balances lesson, students identify the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. Learners share examples of...
Interactive
1
1
Judicial Learning Center

Your 1st Amendment Rights

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Why should classes care about the First Amendment? An engaging lesson serves as a powerful tool for answering just that. As all four cases in the lesson relate directly to freedom of expression in schools, young scholars explore the...
Lesson Plan
Carolina K-12

The Rule of Law

For Teachers 8th Standards
What functions do laws serve in our society? Your learners will be guided through several interactive activities to address this question, and to consider the impact of rule of law in American society.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roles of the President

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers read a document which explains the roles and responsibilities of the President of the United States. In groups, they tour the George Bush Presidential Museum and participate in a Presidential scavenger hunt. Once back...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Curated OER

Teaching With Documents: U.S. Constitution Workshop

For Teachers 4th - 12th
What does it mean to be American? Explore the constitution and what it really means to be a citizen here. First, learners of all ages will investigate different primary source documents. Then, they establish each document's...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Three Branches of Government

For Teachers 6th - 9th
In this United States government learning exercise, students learn about the 3 branches of the government: Executive, Judicial, and Legislative. They then answer 10 questions about what they learned. The answers are on the last page of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Three Branches of Government

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders discover details about the 3 branches of government. For this primary source analysis lesson, 6th graders examine documents and images from the Library of Congress to investigate the structure of the U.S. government.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hiibel vs. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Did Hiibel's arrest and conviction for not telling a police officer his name violate his rights? Have your learners read a short description of the case and answer the comprehension questions that follow. Resource links and...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Branches of Government: Crossword Puzzle

For Students 5th - 8th
Reinforce terminology that goes along with the branches of government with this crossword puzzle. There are 17 clues provided. Learners fill in the crossword puzzle with the appropriate answers regarding the legislative, executive, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Supreme Court and the Fourteenth Amendment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment. In this Reconstruction Era lesson, students read and analyze 4 Supreme Court decisions regarding the Fourteenth Amendment and determine how the decisions impacted citizen...
PPT
Curated OER

Separation of Powers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The three branches of our government are covered in this presentation.  Students get a closer look at the powers that each branch of the government hold, how the system of checks and balances works, and how each branch has specific...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Judicial Branch & Supreme Court Questions

For Students 7th - 12th
In this U. S. government worksheet, students respond to 19 short answer questions about the responsibilities of Supreme Court members in the United States.