First Amendment

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

12

Overview

In this lesson plan, students investigate students' rights and the First Amendment. Click on the download PDF or DOC button to access additional resources including the following story from the Washington Post about students expelled for posting rap videos to their social media sites.

  • Elahe Izadi, news story describing a group of students suspended for rap videos they created, “Lawsuit: Black Teens Unfairly Expelled from Ohio High School after Making Rap Music Videos”, Washington Post, September 3, 2014

After reading the story, students analyze the actions of both the students and the school.

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 12 - United States Government

SS10.USG.3

Analyze major features of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights for purposes, organization, functions, and principles, including rule of law, federalism, limited government, popular sovereignty, judicial review, separation of powers, and checks and balances.

UP:SS10.USG.3

Vocabulary

  • rule of law
  • federalism
  • limited government
  • popular sovereignty
  • judicial review
  • separation of powers
  • checks and balances
  • ratification
  • Anti-Federalist
  • confederation
  • amending
  • Federalist
  • article of the Constitution

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Key principles of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights as well as their meaning.
  • Key arguments given by the Federalists and Anti-Federalists regarding the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
  • The Constitution is an evolving document through both formal and informal means.
  • The process by which an amendment can be added to the U.S. Constitution.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Outline the possible paths taken to ratify an amendment to the Constitution.
  • Interpret how constitutional principles are embedded in current and past issues in US history and politics.
  • Interpret primary documents from both Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
  • Analyze a given passage of the U.S. Constitution to identify how it relates to a key principle of American government.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Many key principles of the Constitution, including judicial review, federalism, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, rule of law, and popular sovereignty, are embedded in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights and that their meaning has been debated throughout U.S. history.

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

Other

License Type

Custom

Resource Provider other

College Career & Civic Life (C3)
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