A compilation of diverse lesson plans, project ideas, and resources for teaching the United States Constitution to junior high and senior high school students is presented. The document contains seven sections: (1) Teaching the Constitution: An Interdisciplinary Approach; (2) A Sampling of New Books on the Constitution; (3) Films and Videotapes;…

This instructor's guide was prepared in conjunction with the bicentennial celebration of the U.S. Constitution and to accompany a four-part series about the document's impact on citizen's lives. A separate guide, for use in secondary school classrooms, is included for each of the programs. Each guide contains: (1) a brief discussion of the…

This guide provides analyses of curriculum materials that have been designed for teaching about the U.S. Constitution and law-related education. The guide begins with an editor's introduction and two essays, "Constitution Study and Civic Education" (James B. Giese) and "Thinking about Law-Related Education during the…

The goal of the Hearst survey was to measure the public's knowledge of the U.S. Constitution. This report is divided into three sections: (1) a report on the survey in the form of an address to the National Conference of Bar Presidents; (2) the survey findings; and (3) the survey methodology. The survey itself, in which 1,004 respondents were…

This issue provides classroom activities, information on the U.S. Constitution and the Constitutional Convention, and a summary of materials available to teachers for instruction about the U.S. Constitution. Jean Fritz's book, "Shh! We're Writing the Constitution," is an example of the books on the annotated list of suggested readings.…

Stating that students should learn more about the U.S. Constitution than superficial details, Vile advocates the teaching of 12 basic constitutional principles that are essential to the nature and success of the U.S. government. These principles include the rule of law, individual rights, and the dangers of concentrated power. (GEA)

Discusses the changes in American thinking and tolerance between the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the writing of the Constitution. Concludes that the right to pursue happiness allows everyone to personally define happiness. The government that secures that right will leave people alone to do as they wish. (PS)

Questions whether the American constitutional order is capable of accommodating an equal citizenship for Blacks. Maintains that the inequality of condition that Black Americans endure is rooted in social as much as in legal practice. Improving the situation requires individual accountability on the part of Blacks. (PS)

Efforts to strengthen instruction in U.S. history and government resulted in the development of "Lessons on the Constitution," a book containing 62 lessons for use with high school students. The curriculum development process used in writing the book is described, and the objectives, format, and content of the lessons are discussed. (RM)

Focusing on the history and principles of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, the high school text and teacher's guide are intended to be the basis of study for the competitive component of the "We the People... The Citizen and the Constitution" civic education program. The 40 lessons in the text are divided into 6 study units…

Aiming to educate adult learners on the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, this teachers' guide focuses on cases and controversies about individual rights which are most relevant to the lives of adults. The worktext for adult learners provides some basic background information about the development and interpretation of the Bill of…

Aiming to educate students in grades 8-12 on the Bill of Rights, this student guide focuses on each of the of the first 10 amendments and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Organized by amendment, each section includes the text of the amendment and its counterpart in the Maine Constitution; an introduction to the legal…

Explores the content and history of the last three constitutional amendments: (1) presidential succession and disability (the Twenty-fifth amendment); (2) voting rights for young people (the Twenty-sixth amendment); and (3) congressional pay raises (the Twenty-seventh amendment). Includes questions for discussion. (CMK)

This annotated bibliography represents selected references in political science with an emphasis on the U.S. political system, elections, the Presidency, and Congress. This is designed for use by undergraduate students to aid them in beginning research on various political science topics dealing with American politics and government. The majority…

Jefferson Meetings on the Constitution are designed to provide a forum in which citizens can make the Constitution more fully their own through discussion of its principles and the way these principles shape the operation of the U.S. system of government. This document is a guide designed to stimulate reasoned discussion of rights and the…