The study-in-progress examines the treatment of the U.S. Constitution in U.S. history textbooks at the fifth, eighth, and eleventh grade levels. The study focuses on how textbook authors treat: (1) the background and historical setting from which the U.S. Constitution emerged; (2) the writers of the Constitution and the process they went through…

Offers a lesson plan for teaching fifth graders about the concept of a constitution as a contract between the government and the people. The lesson begins with direct instruction on the concept of contracts and then has students look at the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. (JDH)

Offers a lesson plan to teach grades four through six about the Constitutional amendments dealing with civil rights. The lesson covers four to five class periods and uses scenarios to demonstrate civil rights concepts. (BSR)

Presents a lesson which will help students see the importance of the Bill of Rights in their everyday lives and learn the first ten constitutional amendments. Outlines the procedures for a five-day teaching unit, assignment of a student project, and discussion of two problems dealing with freedom of expression. (GEA)

California State Standard 5.7 is delineated in the following manner: "Students describe the people and events associated with the development of the U.S. Constitution and analyze the Constitution's significance as the foundation of the American republic." Students answer six questions about the Constitution and present suggestions for…

This document from the Virginia Department of Education reports on a project to enable public schools to meet requirements of two laws. The first law required public schools to emphasize instruction on the documents of Virginia and United States history and government. The second requested that all public schools be urged to display copies of the…

Violence-Prevention Outcomes in Civic Education (VOICE) is a curriculum program for elementary social studies that incorporates conflict resolution, law-related education, and service learning. These three elements are among those considered to have promise in addressing youth violence. The VOICE curriculum is designed to complement the…

In recognition of the need for suitable materials for the teaching of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to young children, this book suggests model lessons, methods, and activities teachers can use. The book is divided into two sections. Section 1 consists of model lessons demonstrating the use of the newspaper to study the Constitution and…