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…

"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 quarterly report on the Kailua Intermediate School's Excellence in Education Project provides information about the status of the project's four components, success of the project, replication of the project in other schools, and the project budget. The four component areas described include the skills laboratory, Homework Assist Program,…

The first of these two booklets illustrates the presenting of an elementary class play about the U.S. Constitution. It can be used to give young children some basic information about the U.S. Constitution or as a guideline for presenting a program about the U.S. Constitution. The story provides important information about the Constitutional…

Discusses the educational benefits of cooperative learning, critiquing cooperative learning techniques and approaches. Identifies steps involved in successful teacher implementation of cooperative learning. Provides an elementary and secondary cooperative lesson plan and activities from the Learning Together approach on the U.S. Constitution,…

An activity-based approach to learning the U.S. Constitution through a series of clues that describe the amendments and articles is presented in this lesson plan. The articles and amendments are placed in envelopes and put in different locations throughout the school. The clues given to the students partially describe the Constitution and…

Outlines instructions for conducting a student-organized open discussion of a proposed 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Provides student instructions and eight character role descriptions. Includes a ballot on the issue designed to be sent to the American Bar Association. (CFR)

Introduces two recently published books helpful to those teaching about the U.S. Constitution. Includes an annotated list of five other ERIC resources for teaching about the Constitution. (AEM)

Activities are described for helping students celebrate and learn about ratification and the historical debates preceding the Constitution's acceptance. (CB)

Designed to work with and be integrated into the existing curriculum, this learning packet contains activities that encourage discussion and critical thinking by students about the U.S. Constitution. The first activity teaches fundamental principles of government while the second asks students to explain how the Constitution was written through…

These learning materials are centered around the idea that each individual should "sign" the U.S. Constitution. A facsimile of the U.S. Constitution is included in each learning packet for students to sign. Section 1 contains five teaching modules on the constitutional process that can be used with any subject. The first two modules,…

Classroom activities to help children learn about and celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the United States Constitution are described, including making up a class constitution, teaching about becoming a United States citizen, and researching details of a specific state's ratification of the Constitution. (CB)

Asserts that social studies teachers generally agree that critical thinking and cooperative learning skills are two primary instructional goals. Describes a class activity utilizing roleplaying and the cooperative "jigsaw" approach to study the U.S. Constitution. (CFR)

A teacher recalls how an entire elementary school became involved in the planning of a school-wide celebration and reenactment of the Constitutional Convention. Resource tips and activities are described. (CB)

Offers a learning activity in which secondary students are given background on Supreme Court jurisdiction. Students are then presented with various situations in which they must decide "if the court would hear the case" or not. (BSR)