An American Primer: The Founding Documents The curriculum, Being an American: Exploring the Ideals that Unite Us,

was made possible by a generous grant from the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation.

Being an American: Exploring The Ideals That Unite Us

Six core lesson plans with extension activities Understand the importance of the American experiment American HeroesCharacter Cards Declaration of Independence

Being An American: Exploring the Ideals that Unite Us Lesson Overview Quote Summary Objectives Materials List

Lesson Plan Background Warm-Up Activity Homework Extensions Handouts

Answer Key Founding Documents Suggested Readings

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies 8. Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts, including the application of constitutional principles and use of legal reasoning (e.g., in U.S. Supreme Court majority opinions and dissents) and the premises, purposes, and arguments in works of public advocacy (e.g., The Federalist, presidential addresses). 9. Analyze seventeenth-, eighteenth-, and nineteenthcentury foundational U.S. documents of historical and literary significance (including The Declaration of Independence, the Preamble to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Lincolns Second Inaugural Address) for their themes, purposes, and rhetorical features.

The Bill of Rights

1. Is the source of the freedoms government gives to citizens.

2. Gives a complete list of the privileges Americans enjoy.

3. Protects liberty by limiting the power of government. 4. Grants government additional powers to protect citizens. 5. not sure

The Bill of Rights Scenarios

Analyze the Bill of Rights

Lesson Plan p. 9
Government should be formed to secure and to enlarge the exercise of the natural rights of its members James Wilson

James Wilson, by Robert S. Susan, (1936)

Strategies for Teaching the Bill of Rights

What techniques do you use to teach about the Bill of Rights? Review the Bill of Rightssee p. 127.

Enrich the expertise of other teachers

7

The Bill of Rights Scenarios

Work in 12 groups. Use the Bill of Rights Appendix p. 127, and consider/discuss each of the 12 scenarios, Handout B, beginning on p. 13. Designate a recorder to number 1-12 on a sheet of paper to keep track of your responses for each scenario. Work efficiently!
Which right, if any, is being violated in the scenario? Which Amendment, if any, would offer protection against such a violation?

1. Gennie, an eighteen-year-old college student, is arrested for stealing a classmates designer sweater and selling it on eBay. When she appears before the judge, she asks for a lawyer. The judge tells her if she is smart enough to be in college, she knows enough to defend herself. Besides, she is not charged with a felony, so the stakes are not very high.

A. No Violation B. Second Amendment C. Fourth Amendment D. Fifth Amendment E. Sixth Amendment

6th Amendment right to counsel; Gideon v. Wainwright, (1963)

2. Susette bought a house and spent years restoring it. She loves her home. One day, she gets a notice that the local government will take her property in order to turn her land over to a private company. The local government says it can do this because of the public benefit of new jobs and tax revenue.

A. No Violation B. Fifth Amendment C. Sixth Amendment D. Seventh Amendment E. Eighth Amendment

Depends on the state. Kelo v. New London (2005) allowed for a similar taking under 5th Amendments public use/eminent domain clause.

3. Carolyn is arrested for shoplifting a candy bar from a neighborhood convenience store. At trial, she is found guilty. The judge decides that the appropriate punishment is to cut off Carolyns hands so that she will not be able to shoplift again. 8th A. No Violation Amendment protection B. Third Amendment against cruel C. Fifth Amendment & unusual punishment D. Seventh Amendment E. Eighth Amendment

4. Congress wants to find ways to cut costs because of the soaring budget deficit. Congress passes a law to require American citizens to house U.S. soldiers in their homes during peacetime.

A. No Violation B. Third Amendment C. Fourth Amendment D. Fifth Amendment E. Sixth Amendment

3rd Amendment protection against forced quartering of troops in peacetime

5. Bretts science teacher asks the class to exchange papers to correct last nights homework. Brett refuses to do so and is sent to the principal.
A. No Violation B. Fourth Amendment C. Fifth Amendment D. Sixth Amendment E. Ninth Amendment

No violation: Owasso Independent School District v. Falvo (2001)

6. Concerned about rising crime, lawmakers for the District of Columbia ban all handguns in the city, and require that shot-guns be kept unloaded and/or disassembled.
A. No Violation B. Second Amendment C. Fifth Amendment D. Sixth Amendment E. Ninth Amendment

2nd Amendment right of the people to keep and bear arms; District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)

7. John, a fourteen-year old public school student, wears a shirt to school that says, Be happy, not gay. to express his belief that homosexuality is wrong. His dean tells him he must change his shirt or be suspended from school. John refuses, and is suspended for a week.

A. No Violation B. First Amendment C. Fourth Amendment D. Fifth Amendment E. Sixth Amendment

1st free speech, or No Violation. Tinker v. Des Moines (1969): students may wear politically expressive clothing at school, as long as it does not disrupt school discipline. However, some lower courts have upheld dress code rules.

8. Thirteen-year-old Marianne is a freshman in

high school. She is an honor student and wants to sing in the choir. The teacher tells her she must take a drug test to participate. She refuses and is kicked out of choir.
A. No Violation B. First Amendment C. Fourth Amendment D. Sixth Amendment E. Eighth Amendment
No violation. Board of Education of Pottawatomie County v. Earls (2002)drug test requirements are ok for all extracurricular activities.

9. A man suspected of a violent crime is brought in to the police station. The alleged victim picks him out of a lineup as the man who attacked her. Police inform him that he has the right to refuse to answer questions, but they do not offer to let him speak to a lawyer. After being questioned for two hours, the man admits the crime.
A. No Violation B. First Amendment C. Fourth Amendment D. Sixth Amendment E. Eighth Amendment
5th Amendment freedom from self incrimination and 6th Amendment right to counsel; Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

11. Members of Congress are unhappy with students standardized test scores. They pass a federal law that abolishes local school boards and requires a standardized national curriculum.
A. No Violation B. First Amendment C. Fourth Amendment D. Ninth Amendment E. Tenth Amendment 10th Amendment power reserved to the states

12. A public school principal smells smoke in the hallway, and believes it is coming from the girls restroom. She walks in and finds Susan standing by the sink. She suspects Susan has been smoking, and demands to search her purse for cigarettes or other evidence of smoking. A. No Violation B. Second Amendment C. Third Amendment D. Fourth Amendment E. Fifth Amendment No violation. Reasonable suspicionNew Jersey v. TLO (1985)

The Bill of Rights

1. Is the source of the freedoms government gives to citizens.

2. Gives a complete list of the privileges Americans enjoy.

3. Protects liberty by limiting the power of government. 4. Grants government additional powers to protect citizens. 5. not sure

We Want YOU

To use our curriculum

To let us know how these resources work in your classroom

To pilot or evaluate our curriculum