Resources

In this Teaching for Justice lesson, students focus on the First Amendment Right to peaceably assemble. Students will interpret what it means to assemble peacefully through a reader’s theater activity, assess and summarize various, major protest movements in the United States, investigate songs, art, and/or poetry as other ways to protest, and critique why the right to assembly is essential for a healthy democracy. To be most effective, the lesson should also be taught after lessons/discussions/an overview of the Constitution and its amendments.

This site offers extensive lessons on a variety of immigration-related historical topics. It includes full lesson plans, worksheets, and links to articles and videos. While designed for grades 6-12, it could be used in an advanced English or GED class.

This site offers extensive lessons on a variety of immigration-related historical topics. It includes full lesson plans, worksheets, and links to articles and videos. While designed for grades 6-12, it could be used in an advanced English or GED class.

Part of the Annenberg Classroom website, this resource displays each section of the Constitution, followed by an explanation of the meaning in modern (though still advanced-level) English. It may be beneficial for an advanced English or GED class, or teachers can simplify further for other levels. The site also includes other civics and political science lesson plans.

This reading/writing lesson plan was created by Pennsylvania Adult Education Resources for intermediate or advanced students based around a NewsELA article about the Bill of Rights. The difficulty of the article can be adjusted based on class level. NOTE: Requires NewsELA account to view the article.

Classroom resources (lesson plans, handouts, videos) from the National Constitution Center for teaching about topics like the First Amendment, judicial review, executive power, etc. Published by a non-partisan nonprofit. Intended for K-12 students but could be adapted for more advanced ABE classes.

NewseumED provides a wide range of resources related to the First Amendment and media/information literacy. Along with an extensive lesson plan library, the site has created "EDcollections," which brings together archival materials, primary sources, interactives, and standards-based lesson plans for all levels of students. Activities related to free speech, media literacy, women's suffrage, the First Amendment, the Civil Rights Movement, and decoding elections are found in these EDcollections. Other useful resources include an artifact library where users can download and view impactful images from history. In addition, the site also has a number of videos related to media literacy topics such as bias and objectivity, and each one is accompanied by a related lesson plan.

The Social Studies: Integrating Reading & Writing Curriculum Framework is a free resource that incorporates social studies content with various reading and writing skills. The curriculum is designed for HSE teachers but lessons and activities could be adapted for other levels. Units 1-3 all include lesson plans and supporting materials and cover the colonial period, the Constitution, and westward expansion. Each provides topical social studies content and then uses it to reinforce reading, writing, and vocabulary skills. For Units 4-12, while there are no lessons or materials, there is a curriculum map with guidelines. Also included is a comprehensive resource guide for HSE social studies.

PBS Learning Media includes an extensive collection of free, leveled teacher resources for all subject areas. The lessons represent diverse perspectives, are aligned to national and state standards, and are designed to supplement classroom instruction by incorporating video segments and interactive resources. Users can filter by grade level and/or by the many resource types such as lesson plans, interactive lessons, or just video. In addition, many lessons highlight current events and can be shared to Google Classroom or directly shared with students.

The goal of the Bill of Rights Institute is to provide a better understanding of the Constitution and Bill of Rights through 4000 resources that are free and generally leveled for the middle/high school classroom. Educators can access primary source-based lessons and and current event articles that are frequently updated. There is also an extensive collection of videos and podcasts to introduce and engage students on a variety relevant topics. Moreover, teachers can pull individual lessons from ready-made curricula that are generally based on America's founding principles. For professional development, the site provides eLearning for teachers to support their planning and delivery on topics related to U.S. Government.

Voices for Suffrage is a free, interactive resource that tells the story of women's suffrage from the Seneca Falls Convention to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. The resource is computer/tablet-based on can be projected as a whole class activity or worked on individually or in small groups. Students interact with primary documents, videos and other sources to explore the suffrage movement, nationally and by state, through time lines and guided tours. Students can also become part of the suffrage movement by determining what they would do in certain situations. Other supplemental resources are available to make this resource easy to adapt.

Find free materials from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Materials include downloadable flashcards and study booklets, interactive practice exercises, videos, and a practice test.