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)

Recounts a high school teacher's experiences in simulating the Constitutional Convention of the United States. Includes part of the script used which the students designed. (JDH)

Discusses a teaching unit which enables high school students to see the connections between the specific grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence and the structural prohibitions in the U.S. Constitution. Predicts that 27 grievances will be identified as students become more familiar with these two documents. (GEA)

A series of articles celebrating the Bicentennial of the Constitution is presented in two volumes. The first article in Volume 1 is an interview by Bernard Murchland with Barbara Jordan discussing the effectiveness of the original Constitution. The second article, "If I Were President," is an interview by Bernard Murchland with Studs…

Describes eight resources for teaching about the United States Constitution available from ERIC. Described are instructional materials for junior and senior high school students on such topics as (1) the role of the U.S. Supreme Court, (2) freedom of the press, (3) the history of the United States Constitution, and (4) problems of the…

Twenty-eight lesson plans developed by California teachers who attended a summer institute on Congress and the Constitution are presented in this document. Sample lesson plan titles are: (1) "Geopolitics and the Constitution," (2) "Judicial Review," (3) "Electoral College and the Constitution," (4) "First…

Separating George Washington the man from Washington the legend is difficult for historians and students alike because his fame complicates historical scrutiny. Washington owned slaves and ambitiously sought power, yet he freed his slaves upon his death and he used his power to forge a democratic nation. Throughout this unit students examine…

Offers an eight-day unit on search and seizure for high school students. Includes condensed versions of famous court decisions, teaching materials, and day-by-day teaching procedures. (JDH)

Provides a list of 23 activities which demonstrate how constitutional issues and law are manifested in current events. Maintains that the activities help students gain a working knowledge of the U.S. Constitution in addition to seeing it as a relevant, living document which inspires critical and creative thinking. (JDH)

Project '87, a joint effort of the American Historical Association and the American Political Science Association to commemorate the bicentennial of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, is preparing classroom materials for use at various levels. These materials are described, and a sample lesson for secondary students is provided. (RM)

Developed for eighth grade students reading on or above grade level, this self-correcting unit covers the background of the Constitution, the Preamble, the seven articles, and the amendments. Material is divided into two sections. The teacher section outlines activities, materials, evaluation options, and follow-up activities. A crossword puzzle…

Designed to provide elementary teachers with practical materials for the study of the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the U.S. Constitution, each of the 10 lessons provided in the unit includes objectives, materials, procedure, and answer keys where needed. The 10 lessons are: (1) The Bill of Rights; (2) Amending the Constitution; (3)…

This supplement to the "Bicentennial of the Constitution" highlights the process of the U.S. Constitution's ratification. Chapter 1 provides a chronology of national ratification history dates, a list of state ratification dates, and a list of the individual states' bicentennial ratification commemoration dates. Chapter 2 describes…

Provides a six day unit of instruction designed to help senior high students understand the civil rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. Based around provided summaries of famous court cases, the unit includes instructional objectives, suggested teaching procedures, and evaluation aids. (JDH)

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)