iCivics
I Civics: Constitutional Principles
The Founding Fathers created a government based on a set of fundamental principles carefully designed to guarantee liberty. This lesson lets students look at the Constitution from the perspective of its foundational principles and make...
iCivics
I Civics: Anatomy of the Constitution
This lesson gives an article-by-article overview of the structure and function of the U.S. Constitution. Students learn about the duties and powers of the three branches, the amendment process, and the role of the Constitution as the...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Oil and National Security
Lesson and activity in which students critique U.S. energy policy and its relationship to national security, then evaluate energy alternatives. Lesson includes article with background information, questions for discussion and...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Indian Removal: The Cherokees, Jackson, and the "Trail of Tears"
Collaborative and consensus building activity on U.S. policy and treatment of Native Americans. Lesson provides an in-depth look at government Indian removal and provides a list from which students choose and defend a Native American...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The United States and the Barbary Pirates
Lesson and activity in which students analyze foreign policy challenges on paying ransom. Students study U.S. response to the Barbary pirates and apply their knowledge to modern day terrorism and foreign policy examples.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Conflict of Cultures: President Polk and the Taking of the West
Lesson and activity on conflict of cultures in which students study U.S. overtaking lands of Mexico and California and form policy on property rights and citizenship of conquered cultures. Activity guidelines, questions for discussion...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Why Celebrate Constitution Day? (Lesson Plan)
A lesson in understanding the significance of the U.S. Constitution revolving around an editorial that explains two modes of interpreting the constitution: "living document" versus "original intent."
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress Link: Lesson Plans
The Dirksen Congressional Center provides abundant lesson plans on all aspects of the US Congress and the US Constitution. All lessons contain time frames, objectives, and links to material, and are built around Bloom's taxonomy.
Other
Freedom Forum: Lesson Plans for the First Amendment
These lessons address constitutional principles and contemporary issues involving the First Amendment. They intend to have explore how freedoms began and how they operate in today's world. Students will discuss just how far individual...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): The Meaning of the Commerce Clause [Pdf]
Lesson on the Constitution in which students study and analyze the Commerce Clause and the Supreme Court decision in Gibbons v. Ogden. Questions for discussion and guidelines for class activity provided.
iCivics
I Civics: Comparing Constitutions: Ohio
Compare and contrast the U.S. and Ohio constitutions in this hands-on lesson using excerpts from both documents. Dig into how they structure the government, address individual rights, outline the amendment process and more.
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: Independence Day: Fundamental Ideas About Government
In this lesson, students will examine some of the fundamental ideas about government that is contained in the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. When the lesson is completed, students should be able to...
iCivics
I Civics: Federalists & Anti Federalists
Look at the debate and eventual compromise, between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists that occurred around the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
iCivics
I Civics: u.s. V. Nixon (1974)
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that then-sitting President Nixon had to turn over some recordings of his presidential communications to a court of law. Learners learn about the Watergate break-in, the...
Other
Our Courts: Bill of Rights: You Mean I've Got Rights? [Pdf]
A great, active lesson about the Bill of Rights. Students compare rights they think they should have with the rights in the actual amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The language of the amendments is broken down into simpler English so...
iCivics
I Civics: Changing the Constitution
America's constitutional government has changed over time as a result of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, legislation, and other practices. Young scholars will use the seven basic principles found in our...
Other
Gunston Hall Plantation: Discover George Mason
Lesson plans, activities, and resources for learning about George Mason and his contributions to Virginia statehood and in forging the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: Watergate and the Constitution
Using documents from the U.S. Justice Department, students analyze the events following the revelations of the Watergate scandal, and the legal and constitutional arguments that ensued over whether Nixon should or could be indicted after...
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: The Federal Budget and the Constitution
What responsibilities belong to the U.S. President and the Congressional houses when it comes to establishing the federal budget? Take a look at these resources and incorporate this lesson into classroom learning.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation
Using primary texts and prior study of Colonial America and the Revolution, students examine "what type of government would best represent the ideals of the American Revolution." Worksheets, discussions, and role-playing within this...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Making of the American Constitution
A brief video providing background information on the Constitutional Convention. [3:58] The video is followed by a quiz and a list of additional resources.
iCivics
I Civics: Comparative Constitutions
Students explore how the US Constitution is similar to and different from state constitutions. Uses the constitutions of Florida and Virginia as examples.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: From Bullets to Ballots Chapter 2
John Zvesper's second chapter in his book, From Bullets to Ballots: The Election of 1800 and the First Peaceful Transfer of Political Power discusses the Lessons in Constitution Making.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Gouverneur Morris
A lesson plan introducing or revisiting the role of Gouverneur Morris in the planning and writing of the United States Constitution.