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…

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…

Describes a four week simulation of the U.S. Constitutional Convention in which ninth grade students use problem-solving and decision-making skills to debate the issues of the convention. Students are assigned identities and interest areas to stimulate the writing of a class constitution which is then compared with the U.S. Constitution. (LS)

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…

The lesson's goal is to enhance student understanding of basic civil rights and liberties through a comparison of the basic documents undergirding the laws of the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany. The lesson contains: (1) a quiz on the basic rights in the United States and West Germany; (2) an outline of the civil rights and…

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)

Although the collection of papers known as "The Federalist" (first published in 1788) has offered enduring wisdom to lawyers, judges, politicians, and scholars about principles and issues of constitutional government, this classic work has not occupied a prominent place in high school history and government courses. "The…

The uses of modern technology present a challenge to constitutional rights. Computer technology is viewed as a serious threat to privacy, electronic bugging devices are available to everyone, and the United States government is the largest user of electronic surveillance. The fact that databases are pervasive is evidenced by the realization that…

Maintains that constitutional law is the cornerstone of an undergraduate public law curriculum. Asserts that there is a welcome trend toward teaching the subject over a two-semester sequence, instead of only one. Describes course content and teaching strategies used in a college constitutional law course. (CFR)

Directed to secondary school teachers of history, government, and civics, this book is designed to fit common educational objectives in secondary school curriculum guides that call for teaching and learning about the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. The volume is intended to encourage careful reading, analysis, and classroom…