Advocates teaching constitutional history and principles to middle school students in accordance with the 1988 California History-Social Science Framework. Reports findings of a survey of 118 California middle school and high school teachers that revealed a need for improved teacher knowledge about the U.S. Constitution. Recommends steps to ensure…

This serial issue concerns itself with several conflicts between individual rights and allegedly wrongful acts that the Supreme Court has not considered previously. The articles on these topics illuminate the constitutional issues of equal protection, due process, and freedom of expression. Specific issues addressed include: (1) equal educational…

Designed for use in secondary school social studies classes, this guide provides activities for helping students understand some of the fundamental principles of government as well as its structure, politics, and effects on the individual. Information, articles, and cartoons from the Austin-American Statesman form the basis of the readings, along…

This teacher's guide was designed to accompany six 30-minute video programs on the fundamental constitutional principles that form this nation's foundation. Each lesson in the guide contains an introduction to the main ideas of the program, a program summary, and suggested activities to carry out before and after the program. The topics emphasized…

By completing these self-contained, supplementary activities, secondary students will learn about important law-related issues and themes in American history. When students recognize the vital constitutional issues of different periods in history they are helped in understanding the social, political, and economic forces which shaped those…

Intended to educate youth and parents about the rights and responsibilities of youth in society, this manual outlines the prevailing rules as well as U.S. and Illinois laws applying to youth. Separated into four categories, the manual explores the relationship of youth to society, youth to family, social controls on youth, and the rights and…

Designed to help make the Bill of Rights a living document, the student text (user's guide) describes the history of each right in the Bill of Rights and explains how the Supreme Court has interpreted those rights throughout history. The units trace the history of the Bill of Rights, describe and analyze the first ten amendments, and explain the…

Reviews a fascinating lesson plan designed to acquaint students with the methods and devices used to deny blacks the right to vote in the pre-Civil Rights era south. Students take the same test that Alabama required of resident blacks to vote. Includes a copy of the exceptionally difficult test. (MJP)

Provides a model National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) essay examination that teachers may use to evaluate higher-order thinking among social studies high school students. Presents a constitutional issue for students to argue positions. Reports examination results from 51 classrooms. Includes essay examples and scoring rationale.…

Offers suggestions for teaching the concept of constitutional government. Differentiates constitutional governments from autocratic systems. Includes a handout containing excerpts from a model constitution. Involves students in comparisons of this model to the U.S. Constitution and discussions about clauses in the model. Reveals at the lesson's…

Maintains that the adult male inmate population at a maximum security correctional center is a logical if difficult audience for effective lessons about the Bill of Rights. Presents two scenarios with accompanying instructional procedures and student discussion questions. (CFR)

This document consists of a study unit and an accompanying teacher's guide prepared to assist teachers and community groups in discussing some of the legal and constitutional issues raised by the verdict in the Rodney King beating case. The study unit's first section, "Trial and Verdict," examines such issues as the public perceptions of…

One of a series of secondary level teaching units presenting case studies with pro and con analyses of particular legal problems, the document presents a student's lesson plan, a teacher's lesson plan, and a lawyer's lesson plan for a unit on First Amendment rights of students. Designed to expose students to the 1975 Supreme Court ruling that…

One of a series of secondary level teaching units presenting case studies with pro and con analyses of particular legal problems, the document presents a student's lesson plan, a teacher's lesson plan, a lawyer's lesson plan on religious rights in the public schools. Lessons acquaint students with important First Amendment rights concerning…

The unit of study is intended to bring information and rational thought to the controversial Native American treaty issue. It begins with an explanation of the concepts behind the unit's minimal student learning expectations. Fifteen lesson plans are organized into three one-week sub-units consisting of an introductory game illustrating the…