Our Courts
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, in cooperation with Georgetown University and Arizona State University, is helping to develop a Web site and interactive civics curriculum for seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade students. The site is scheduled to become fully operational this fall; limited content is available now. With "Our Courts" Justice O'Connor hopes to foster a deeper understanding of American government among schoolchildren. The site will have two parts, an explicitly educational component for use in schools and a more entertainment-oriented module that will more closely resemble games.

Orb and Effy
A complete lesson on authority from the Orb and Effy Learn about Authority book. In this lesson, children learn that when people have a right to tell others what to do in certain situations, they are exercising authority. When they do not have that right, they are exercising power without authority. Children learn some ways in which people earn the right to exercise authority. The lesson also illustrates problems that are likely to arise in the absence of effective authority. Children learn how and why authority is useful in society.

Children’s Literature with Social Studies Themes
This is an excellent resource from the Delaware Center for Teacher Education, Delaware Social Studies Education Project at the University of Delaware. Books are listed for grades K-2, 3-4 and 5-6 in the categories of History, Geography, Economics and Civics. Civics books are further categorized into Government, Rules and Laws, Values and Principles, Citizen’s Rights and Privileges and Participation in Civic Life.

New Constitution Day Videos feature Supreme Court Justices Talking with Students about the Constitution

No ordering, just turn on your PC or Internet-connected big screen.

Viewers will get firsthand perspectives on how the Supreme Court decides what the Constitution means when they watch a 37-minute conversation with Justices Antonin Scalia, Stephen Breyer and a group of high school students. The taped discussion explores different theories of judicial interpretation and how they affect not only the outcomes of cases but democracy and daily life.

Since schools accepting federal funds, as well as federal agencies, were mandated by Congress in 2005 to provide Constitution-related educational materials on Constitution Day, the annual Supreme Court production has become an anticipated part of the national educational celebration in courts and schools.

There is no need to order a video or CD-ROM. The video is available now on the Educational Outreach pages of the federal courts’ Internet site at http://www.uscourts.gov/outreach/index.html and can be shown on a large screen.

Courts have found it easy to host high school students to watch the program in a courtroom. A judge facilitates the follow-up discussion of the issues using an optional, prepared discussion guide found at http://www.uscourts.gov/outreach/resources/constitutionday.html#discussion

Additional Constitution Day resources are available on the site now and a video of federal judges discussing separation of powers and the role of the courts will be posted in coming weeks for use in Constitution Day programs.

Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society at Susquehanna University
The Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA engages in a number of community outreach programs including projects to support social studies teachers interested in enriching their students’ understanding of the justice system. In June 2008 they held their first summer institute for teachers. They are already planning another institute for the summer of 2009 (watch their Web site for more information). During the 2008 institute, Nancy Peterson, an Iowa educator, focused on both justice system learning and how to present a lesson to students with diverse learning styles. The Adams Center has developed a lesson plan for Constitution Day and is planning to look for other ways to support social studies teachers interested in enriching their students’ understanding of the justice system.

Be sure to visit their “Upcoming Events” page for some excellent professional development opportunities for teachers, lawyers and the public.

“America's Legislators Back to School Program” from the National Conference of State Legislatures
The program kicks off in September and runs throughout the school year giving legislators and teachers flexibility in scheduling classroom visits. Information is available on the NCSL Web site and includes lesson plans that outline for students the importance of representative democracy, the message that their voice counts and the valid role of special interest groups in the process. The plans complement the NCSL publication "Your Ideas Count," a student booklet used by legislators as a "leave behind" resource after their classroom visit. Teachers are invited to download the lesson plans and use them as appropriate in their classrooms. There are lesson plans for high school, middle school and elementary school classes. Many other resources are available on NCSL’s America's Legislators Back to School Program Web page.

The Dirksen Congressional Center
Lesson Plans about Congress on the Web
A Classroom Lesson on Developing the Federal Budget
Grade level 11-12
Time required: 2 class periods
During the Dirksen Congressional Center's annual Congress in the Classroom workshop participants are asked to introduce the lesson plans, resources, and techniques that have proven successful in teaching about Congress in their classrooms. A 2005 participant, Lori Dumerer, R.L. Turner High School, Carrollton, TX, presented a lesson entitled, "The Saga of the Money Trail: Developing the Federal Budget." In this lesson, students trace the steps in the federal budget-making process. They will recognize the complexity involved in the budget process, including the competing demands for funds. Students will analyze how compromise leads to the final budget.

PBS - Public Broadcasting Service
Why Celebrate Constitution Day?
A lesson Plan for grades 9-12 from PBS.

George Washington and the Rule of Law
George Washington and Civic Virtue
And there are others on topics like slavery, religious liberty, equal protection of law, government by consent, constitution and idea of compromise, and more.

Inside the Voting Booth
What a difference one vote makes - an historical look at how elections would have been changed by one vote.
Step into a voting time machine - would you have been able to vote in another time in history?

You Make the Rules
Small groups of students form their own clubs then determine their mission and common goals, a name for their club, and a logo. Then each group writes a charter which specifies their goals, decision-making procedures, meeting times, and so on. Upon completion, each group member signs the charter.

The Online NewsHour Extra-designed for teachers and students

Supreme Court Watch

Bill of Rights Institute
Celebrate Constitution Day, September 17, with these activities provided by the Bill of Rights Institute.

National Constitution Center

Scholastic

We the People Lesson Plan from Scholastic

Justice by the People
These easy-to-use, turnkey lesson plans and student reproducibles are designed to help you teach students about the Sixth and Seventh Amendments to the United States Constitution and the critical importance of the right to trial by jury.

Landmark Cases
This site was developed to provide teachers with a full range of resources and activities to support the teaching of landmark Supreme Court cases, helping students explore the key issues of each case.

Education World Lesson Planning for Constitution Day
Education World has gathered dozens of lesson ideas and other resources to help you recognize Constitution Day, whether you teach kindergarten or college.

Below are some links to coloring pages for you to evaluate for your use in teaching about the Constitution and other U.S. history, government and civics lessons. We welcome resources and ideas from you that you would like to share with your colleagues.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/presidentsday/color/ (For “Celebrate the Constitution” you could use George Washington and James Madison the only two presidents to sign the Constitution)
http://www.freekidscoloring.com/american/presidents
http://www.usconstitution.net/constpix.html#color
http://www.freekidscoloring.com/famous_people_benjamin_franklin-612.php (Benjamin Franklin)
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/coloring-pages/famous-americans-in-history/ben-franklin.html
http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/learn/leaders/
http://www.illinoisfirstamendmentcenter.com/pdf/CB_2ND_ENG.pdf
http://www.abcteach.com/USA/unit/proudcolor.htm
http://www.lawforkids.org/Teachers/Lessons/LessonsPage.cfm?ID=445

Resources
PennCORD
Pennsylvania Bar Foundation
LEAP-Kids (Law, Education & Peace for Children)
American Bar Association
Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society at Susquehanna University
Center for Civic Education
Bill of Rights Institute
National Constitution Center
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago
Youth for Justice
Landmark Cases
StreetLaw

Archives of past PBA Celebrate the Constitution Programs and Lesson Guides

2007      Lesson Guide      Program Overview
2006      Lesson Guide      Program Overview
2005      Lesson Guide      Program Overview
2004      Lesson Guide      Program Overview
2003      Lesson Guide      Program Overview
2002      Lesson Guide      Program Overview
2001      Lesson Guide      Program Overview
2000      Lesson Guide      Program Overview
1999      Lesson Guide      Program Overview
1999      PBA Wins National Outreach Award