Free Lesson Plans
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Our free Constitution Courier newsletter helps teachers connect America’s Founding principles to students’ lives. Delivered directly to your inbox, each Courier includes historical content, connections to real life, classroom activities, downloadable PDFs, answer keys, discussion questions, and/or suggestions for further reading. Our 2 newsletter themes each come out once a month and cover a variety of topic areas to engage today’s students. Sign up for the Courier today, or read more about the most recent lessons below!
Current Events and the Constitution
There are many opportunities to analyze and discuss current events in light of our Founding documents. Current Events and the Constitution provides a framework for discussing current events in context with history. Each month, students will analyze how the Constitution applies to a specific issue and can be adapted to discuss events on the local, state, or national level. View past lessons.
North Carolina Amendment One eLesson
On Tuesday, May 8, 2012, the people of North Carolina passed an amendment to their state constitution, stating: “Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized.” This amendment, which banned same-sex marriage as well as civil unions for straight or gay couples, passed 61% to 39%. In the days that followed the passage of the amendment, President Obama stated, “It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.” Explore the constitutional issues around the events in North Carolina and President Obama’s response in this eLesson.
Bill of Rights in the News
The Bill of Rights in the News Constitution Courier focuses on issues making headlines that directly relate to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. With current online news articles, discussion questions, and related links and resources, Bill of Rights in the News is a valuable teaching asset for government, history, or civics teachers. View past lessons.
Supreme Court Wrap-Up eLesson
As the Court winds down its 2011-2012 term, several key cases are still pending. Use the following resources and discussion questions to analyze the issues and discuss how you and your students believe the Court should rule under the Constitution. Continue reading the Supreme Court Wrap-Up eLesson.
Landmark Supreme Court Cases and the Constitution
Short historical narratives exploring the facts of the case, constitutional arguments on each side, analysis of the Court’s ruling, thought-provoking discussion questions, and suggested responses. View past lessons.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
This month we spotlight the landmark criminal procedure case Gideon v. Wainwright (1963). The man at the center of this case, Clarence Gideon, sent a handwritten petition to the Supreme Court challenging his conviction for breaking into a Florida pool hall. He argued that he did not have a fair trial because he had not been given a lawyer to help him with his defense. The Court held that the Sixth Amendment’s protection of the right to counsel meant that accused persons who cannot afford a lawyer must be provided one at public expense. Continue reading the Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) eLesson.
The Constitution and Religious Freedom
This eLesson explores the history and importance of religious liberty in the United States from the colonies to today. Focuses on historic individuals, landmark Supreme Court cases, student rights, and current issues related to this First Amendment protection. View past lessons.
Religious Freedom and the American Founders
Today’s activities give you and your students a chance to test your knowledge of some important American statements on religious liberty.