Below are instructional tips and ideas relating to the "The First Amendment" lesson. This page is divided into "Implementation strategies" and "Teacher tips."

Implementation strategies

This lesson works best either individually or with students working in pairs. As they read about each landmark case, have students reflect on the details and how they would apply their understanding of the First Amendment. You might consider having students research additional cases with similar themes, then create summaries of those cases or comparisons with the other rulings in this lesson.

Teachers can also facilitate this lesson as a whole class discussion (perhaps by using one-to-many mode), reviewing each case in detail.

For discussing the First Amendment:

• Discuss how the five freedoms work together
• Ask student to share their experiences with the Pledge of Allegiance
• As student to share their experiences with political speech in school
• Practice listening to alternative viewpoints

For analyzing the First Amendment

• Categorize examples of student speech as protected or not protected
• Write a description of life in the U.S. if a decision had gone the other way
• Create a report outlining the state of the First Amendment.

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Teacher tips - coming soon!

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Lesson overview: The First Amendment

Full lesson guide: The First Amendment