Constitution Day 2012 lessons
Constitution Day Lesson Plans for Sept. 17, 2012
The Scholastic Press Rights Commission works to provide information and resources on legal and ethical issues to journalism students, teachers and administrators. SPRC members also work to promote the First Amendment rights of students across the nation. It is a commission of the Journalism Education Association.
Our Constitution Day lesson plans provided here are designed to help students celebrate the Constitution and Bill of Rights, as mandated by Congress. Legislation requires schools to offer lessons on the Constitution and how it affects all Americans. Our lesson plans emphasize the First Amendment and particularly the freedoms of speech and the press. We’ve also included the applicable Common Core standards for most of the lessons.
Read MoreA birthday to celebrate and honor
Today is the 22oth birthday of the Bill of Rights, a time to celebrate through our actions and our recommitment to what it means.
• Today, we should show our support for our First Amendment rights online at #FreeToTweet and check out other important information on the First Amendment.
• Today, we should follow activities at the Newseum in its live webcast announcement tomorrow afternoon of a teacher’s guide called “Using social media to teach about the First Amendment” produced by the First Amendment Center. This will be a part of the Newseum’s Bill of Rights Day celebration, which includes the webcast of a musical program as well. Details are available here. The program also includes a panel discussion on the Future of the First Amendment.
• Today, we should applaud the Toledo Blade for its editorial titled “Courageous Journalism” supporting student journalists in Sylvania, Ohio, for their editorial exploration of student views on homosexuality. Students there now face the specter of prior review because of their coverage. The Blade wrote, “School officials took a teachable moment and made the message: Stay in the closet. Shame on them for lacking courage, integrity, and a commitment to basic freedoms.” This is the kind of celebration of the First Amendment we need from more commercial media – and continuously from students at all levels.
• Today, we should rededicate ourselves to maintaining and growing our active support for the Bill of Rights and especially the First Amendment rights of students in public and private schools.
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Celebrate the Bill of Rights
Today is the 219th birthday of the Bill of Rights. Take time to celebrate our freedoms on this day this and every year. Support for this celebration comes from 1 for all. Check out their website for more materials and information.
