National Endowment for the Humanities
A Day for the Constitution
The "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day" law requires schools receiving any federal funding to provide educational programming on the history of the American Constitution. The lesson plans, materials, videos, questions, and activities...
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Right of Privacy: 4th Amendment
High schoolers are introduced to the 4th Amendment of the Washington state Constitution. In groups, they examine the Constitution of the state of Washington and compare it to the United States Constitution. They role play the role...
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The Bill of Rights
Learners examine the intent Bill of Rights. In this American government lesson plan, students watch segments of the Discovery video "The Bill of Rights." Learners discuss and debate the 4 Supreme Court cases featured in the...
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Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmation Simulation
Students research the Supreme Court judicial selection process while role playing. They examine the political nature of the process and discuss merits of Supreme Court nominees.
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Rights in Conflict
Learners study situations where rights are in conflict. In this conflict in rights activity, students review a conflict situation and the Supreme Court ruling for the issue. Learners review the Bill of Rights and then receive their own...
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The Second Amendment and the Right to Bear Arms
Students interpret the Second Amendment. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students examine the right to bear arms as they compare 2 Michigan Supreme Court cases and discuss their personal interpretations of the amendment.
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Due Process of Law and the Jim Crow Era
Students analyze eight case studies of Supreme Court decisions regarding due process of law and their impact on American society in the early 20th century. They digest that although the 14th amendment was intended to give federal rights...
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Government
High schoolers evaluate how the United States government has maintained a balance between protecting rights and maintaining order. They analyze the impact of Supreme Court decisions on governmental powers and the rights and...
Teaching for Change
A Documents-Based Lesson on the Voting Rights Act
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...
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THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
Students create a series of drawings to show the process of how the Supreme Court does its work. The drawings may be in strip cartoon form or a series of separate illustrations.
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Dred Scott and the Constitution
Students investigate the outcome of the Dred Scott case. In this human rights lesson plan, students read Justice Taney's decision about property rights and citizenship. Students write essays about the outcome of the case and President...
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Understanding the Significance of the Nationalization of the Bill of Rights
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...
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Social Activism In The United States
Middle schoolers explore justice issues. In this social activism lesson, students watch "Social Activism in the United States," and then locate newspaper articles from the 1960's and 1970's about events during the era.
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Executive Decisions
Students explore the role of judges in Britain. In this current events lesson plan, students visit selected websites to discover the responsibilities of judges and the justice reform in Britain.
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Individual Resistance & Social Change
Students examine the Brown v. Board of Education case. For this segregation lesson, students study the details of the case and compare it the Mendez v. Westminster case.
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Lee Yick: Fighting Racism
High schoolers study the 14th Amendment, then review and analyze a Supreme Court brief. There was much racism exhibited toward the Chinese immigrants by the European Americans; this came in the form of institutional racism and mob...
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The People's Right to Know
Students review Supreme Court ruling on the right to know, prior restrain and access to government. They read The Progressive case and hold a moot court to argue the outcome.
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The Second Amendment and the Right to Bear Arms
Students examine procedures and processes of the Michigan Supreme Court. They explain the Second Amendment to others. They compare and contrast two cases dealing with the Second Amendment.
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Analyzing and Understanding the Effects of Segregation
Eleventh graders understand the effects of segregation and analyze the effects of Supreme Court decisions. They trace the interpretations of the 14th amendment. They utilize a work of art to explore the topic of segregation.
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The Row Behind Death Row
Students investigate several controversial issues in the criminal justice system relating to death row and give oral reports explaining how their issues safeguard or contaminate the issue of fairness in capital punishment. They offer...
Facing History and Ourselves
Emmett Till: Confronting the Murder
The 1955 murder of Emmett Till is often regarded as the catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century. Learn more about the brutal crime—and, as many believe, the miscarriage of justice—that began a national conversation...
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Fun with Jury Trials
Students take a true or false quiz about jury trials and then gain understanding of interesting facts. It is basically again, an outline that students have as the teacher lectures. The quiz would be for students to remember for further...
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The Constitution and The Bill of Rights
Studnets learn about The Constitution and The Bill of Rights through a series on Internet pages that include such things as the framers, court cases and games.
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Government: Missouri Bar Civics Library
Students visit the Missouri bar Website to examine information about the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments. They complete a variety of activities from the provided lessons including the judiciary, Fourth Amendment issues, civil law,...