In the modern American politics classroom, ideological and partisan conflict have the capacity to interfere with a healthy classroom environment. This problem is increasingly apparent when students engage questions at the heart of U.S. Constitutional design. By asking students to inhabit fictional roles with preferences and attitudes that may…

At the turn of the 20th century, Pink Teas (alternately known as "suffrage teas") were held by women who championed women's right to vote. In this article, the author provides historical background on Pink Teas and ideas of how to teach about them in the elementary classroom.

"Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Constitution" is an engaged-learning activity that has been conducted in 26 classes over the past four years. The activity teaches multiple themes commonly included in a variety of courses on American politics such as federalism, congressional powers, the role of the federal courts, and the relevance of the commerce…

This article explores the drafting of the United States Constitution. The United States Constitution is the longest-lasting written national constitution in the world. Its four parchment pages serve as the blueprint for a government under which more than 290 million Americans live. It holds great significance for the American people and for others…

This book explains the development and current workings of the American and Maryland judiciaries. An interview with the Honorable Arthur M. Monty Anhalt of the Circuit Court of Prince George's County, a long-time advocate of law education, presents a realistic view of the principles by which jurists operate in their daily effort to impart justice.…

This digest discusses issues related to teaching about the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It begins by quoting the amendment that protects citizens of the United States against unreasonable searches and seizures, and goes on to discuss how the understanding and interpretation of the amendment have been influenced by historical events,…

Courses on the Constitution must focus on the principles of government. Those principles and how the understanding of those principles shaped the document are appropriate subjects for consideration. The best sources for an examination of the Constitution are "The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787" and "The Federalist."…

Designed to assist elementary school teachers, these materials present a series of lessons about the United States Constitution. Ten lesson plans and appropriate work sheets are included for grades K-3. The topics covered include the age of the Constitution, a constitutional convention, elected representatives, majority rule, voting, law making,…

Written by classroom teachers from around the country, this compilation of 28 lesson plans on the U.S. Constitution and related topics is adaptable to many grade levels. Lesson titles include "Exercise Your Constitution: Constitutional Olympics for the Classroom"; "ERA for Children"; "It's in Your Pocket" (minting of…

Constitutional law is a good way to introduce students to fundamental debates over means and ends, over what means work and at what costs, and over what ends are not merely desirable, but may be legitimately achieved even through the application of collective force. It also offers an exciting way to teach logic. (MLW)

Techniques are presented which explore a single dimension of the subject under consideration as no technique, in and of itself, provides for a comprehensive analysis of the constitution. Approaches are presented which can be most effectively utilized by the teacher. (JB)

Herbert Storing taught students at the University of Chicago about the Constitution by using a textual rather than the usual thematic basis. Students read, discussed, and analyzed the entire Constitution. This textual approach serves to undermine the dominant belief that the Constitution is only what the judges say it is. (RM)

This teaching guide provides methods for integrating the study of law and citizenship into chronologically based U.S. History courses for elementary students. Correlated with the Illinois State Goals for Learning and the Learning Outcomes of the Chicago Public Schools as well as with national standards projects, the lessons encourage critical…

A course on the Constitution should help students see that the Constitution is not a document that provides solutions to problems, but a document that helps individuals come to a fuller understanding of contemporary problems by exposing them to the intellectual foundations and historical dimensions of the issues. (RM)

This collection of lesson plans presents ideas for educators and persons in the law and justice community to teach young people about the Bill of Rights. The lesson plans are: "Mindwalk: An Introduction to the Law or How the Bill of Rights Affects Our Lives"; "Bill of Rights Bingo"; "The Classroom 'Constitutional…