Often described as a living document, the Constitution is constantly being interpreted …
Often described as a living document, the Constitution is constantly being interpreted and reinterpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court, federal appeals courts, and Congress in order to address the ever-changing needs and demands of the people. While many argue that "We the People of the United States" refers only to legal citizens, the Supreme Court and lawmakers have consistently disagreed, and for longer than you may think.
Docs Teach is the online tool for teaching with documents, from the …
Docs Teach is the online tool for teaching with documents, from the National Archives. * Choose from thousands of primary sources for use in classroom activities. * Find and use activities crafted by educators using documents from the National Archives. * Create your own interactive learning activities.
The National Archives provides primary source sets, educator resources and articles, and …
The National Archives provides primary source sets, educator resources and articles, and printable primary sources analysis sheets. This page on the site outlines how to analyze primary source documents. Document analysis is the first step in working with primary sources. Teach your students to think through primary source documents for contextual understanding and to extract information to make informed judgments.
The purpose of this lesson is to assist student exploration of several …
The purpose of this lesson is to assist student exploration of several of the primary source documents related to the creation of the executive branch. Through independent reading followed by a round robin assignment and an essay to explore current application of executive power, students will develop their historical inquiry skills and understand the scope and meaning of executive power under the U.S. Constitution.
In this activity, students analyze various primary documents related to presidential decisions. …
In this activity, students analyze various primary documents related to presidential decisions. After examining the documents, they determine which president was involved and place the document on a map. They decide if decisions made were part of domestic or foreign policy. Through discussion and analysis, students are led to understand that the decisions a president makes are part of his legacy. Requires a basic knowledge of key historical events. Online resource, includes discussion questions. Complex.
Provide excerpts from Montesquieu's, ÒSpirit of LawsÓ, the Magna Carta, the Mayflower …
Provide excerpts from Montesquieu's, ÒSpirit of LawsÓ, the Magna Carta, the Mayflower Compact, and the English Bill of Rights. Have students read and summarize each excerpt and then have them identify and describe a key Constitutional principle found in the excerpt. This is a discussion of where did the ideas possible come from. For example the English Bill of Rights is a good example of separation of powers and checks and balances, as it describes things the King is not allowed to do without the consent of Parliament. Some of the excerpts require a good understanding of the context to really understand the principle so that may be required as part of the reading. A document analysis worksheet from the national archives Text/HTML may be a good tool as students are reading the document.
Inquiry based lesson plan allows kids to explore governments around the world: …
Inquiry based lesson plan allows kids to explore governments around the world: who is in charge, how they are chosen, and what happens when leaders make unfavorable choices. Includes supporting questions, articles, and activities.
John Dickerson discusses how the sitting president's party typically performs in midterm …
John Dickerson discusses how the sitting president's party typically performs in midterm election years. John Dickerson is co-host of CBS This Morning. He was previously CBS News' Chief Washington Correspondent, Political Director and anchor of Face The Nation. Dickerson is also a contributor to Slate's Political Gabfest and to The Atlantic. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Dickerson moderated CBS News' two presidential debates. Prior to CBS, Dickerson was Slate Magazine's Chief Political correspondent and covered politics for twelve years for Time magazine.
The Dama is the rite of passage for the men of the …
The Dama is the rite of passage for the men of the Dogon tribe. Conditions must be just right before a Dama can take place, and in the village of Tireli, in Mali, it is the responsibility of the oldest man in the village, the revered "Keeper of the Masks," to determine the timing of the Dama. In this video segment from the series Africa, young men in Tireli feel suspended between boyhood and manhood because there has not been a Dama in the village in 20 years. There is a conflict. A spirit told the village fortune teller that the next Dama would herald the village elder's death, and so the old man believes that if he organizes a Dama he will die.
Dr. Stephen O'Brien of the National Cancer Institute discovers a 700-year-old mutation …
Dr. Stephen O'Brien of the National Cancer Institute discovers a 700-year-old mutation that makes a person resistant to HIV infection. From Evolution: "Evolutionary Arms Race."
Students will investigate a series of maps depicting a voyage by Sir …
Students will investigate a series of maps depicting a voyage by Sir Francis Drake which involved attacks on the Spanish settlements off the coast of Africa (Santiago), Caribbean (Santo Domingo), South America (Cartagena), and North America (St. Augustine). Students will then examine a map of the entire voyage. Students will look closely at the details of each of these depictions and draw conclusions about the individual events as well as the entire voyage.
At a time when the country was in deep conflict over slavery, …
At a time when the country was in deep conflict over slavery, the Supreme Court decided that Dred Scott was not a “citizen of the state” so it had no jurisdiction in the matter, but the majority opinion also stated that Dred Scott was not a free man. This resource includes teacher materials, guides, and activities for teaching about this Supreme Court case.
In this lesson, students will evaluate contradictory viewpoints concerning liberty and security. …
In this lesson, students will evaluate contradictory viewpoints concerning liberty and security. They will evaluate Supreme Court decisions regarding fair trials, due process, and the war on terror and evaluate whether the Constitution takes on different meanings during wartime.
This three-part lesson asks students to investigate and think critically about the …
This three-part lesson asks students to investigate and think critically about the nature of the War Powers identified by the Constitution. Beginning with the historical and philosophical foundations of the War Powers as they are written in the Constitution, students will be asked to explore why the Founders identified the War Powers as they did, using primary sources to back up their arguments. Students will then consider how War Powers have changed over time, evaluating the evolving dynamic of powers between the three branches of government.
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