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CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars engage in a variety of activities aimed at strengthening comprehension of the Constitution. The activities are part of a layered curriculum and students create a portfolio for assessment.
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In the Light of Reverence

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners watch a documentary prior to participating in a Supreme Court simulation in order to study how religious practices are protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. They interpret conflict from a number of perspectives...
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Racial Discrimination and the Death Penalty

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Available on RTF file. Students study race and its relationship to the death penalty. Students also review court cases and constitutional amendments related to racial discrimination.
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Statehood

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine issues and events that led to Arkansas' becoming a state. They study the relation of demographics (population statistics) to Arkansas history through the use of left and right brain illustrations.
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Diversity and Equality

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how our political system addresses issues of diversity. After reading an included article, they discuss the constitutionality of student-led prayer in schools. Working in groups, they role play a Supreme Court case...
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Philanthropic Movements in the United States To 1900: The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students translate the meanings of and draw illustrations depicting the Bill of Rights amendments. They discuss how philanthropy is enabled by the Bill of Rights.
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Birth of a Nation

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders portray one of the actual framers of the Constitution. They summarize each class period with a journal entry and culminate the experience with the actual framing and signing (or not signing) of the Constitution.
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Government by the People

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. For this service learning lesson, students examine primary documents regarding the founding of the United States. Students analyze section of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of...
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Checks and Balances

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explain the structure and function of the United States government established by the Constitution. They set up a make-believe scenario: the 3 volunteers have been friends for a long time and have formed a club (the...
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Children and Family Law

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners examine children's rights and how laws can affect their education and daily life. Through the investigation of various cases, they assess how the best interests of children are either upheld or ignored and how the Constitution...
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Political and Cultural Road to the American Revolution

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners examine the Declaration of Independence. For this Revolutionary War lesson, learners use primary sources to analyze how the creation of the Declaration of Independence lead to the development of the United States as an...
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Legislation: Passing a Bill in the Senate

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students debate a bill. In this Senate lesson plan, students investigate the steps of the House of Representatives when amending a bill that has passed. Students role-play law-making.
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The Mayflower Compact

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate historical documents of the United States by reading the Mayflower Compact.  In this U.S. History lesson, 8th graders analyze the wording of the original Mayflower Compact of the first U.S. settlers and...
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Two Nations Struggle for Independence

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students compare the struggle for independence of the United States with that of India. They review the idea of "British Rule" as it affected both countries. Explore the idea of taxation as a way to control the resources of a country....
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The Election Process

For Students 6th - 8th
In this election process worksheet, students learn about the election process in the United States in which the president is selected. They then answer the 16 questions on the worksheet. The answers are on the last page.
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Stamp of Approval

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students share opinions about what constitutes a worthy design for a postage stamp. They research a subject and design a postage stamp to submit to the United States Postal Service.
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Internment of Japanese-Americans

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students assess the significance of a watershed event in the political history of the United States . They identify events and issues associated with the internment of Japanese-Americans as a result of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor...
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Presidential Gallery

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify the three branches of the federal government and their role in our government. They identify important events and accomplishments in the life of one president of the United States. Students identify the major national...
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Liberty Vs. Safety: an American Dilemma

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the process of consensus and the value of studying history as we try to craft a more perfect society. They examine President Franklin D. Roosevelt's decision to incarcerate Japanese Americans in the Western United States,...
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Jackie Steals Home

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read articles relating to Jackie Robinson's breaking of the racial barrier in professional baseball. This leads to a deeper exploration of racism in the United States. They use a variety of worksheets imbedded in this plan to...
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Our National Documents

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the significance of National Documents. In this National Documents lesson plan, students read handouts regarding the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Students complete the provided...
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We the People v. We the Children of the World

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child to the Bill of Rights. In this social justice lesson, students read and analyze both documents. Students discuss how the documents compare and then write their...
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The Bill of Rights: Debating the Amendments

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students research 12 possible amendments that were considered for the Constitution in 1789....
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First Amendment: Crossword Puzzle

For Students 5th - 8th
In this United States history instructional activity, students use the 14 clues in order to fill in the crossword puzzle with the appropriate answers pertaining to the First Amendment.