Applying Rights & Liberties

Applying Rights & Liberties

Most people are familiar with freedom of speech and freedom of religion, but there are other rights and liberties that benefit us every day. In this unit, students learn the difference between civil rights and liberties and identify them through analysis of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other primary sources. Students also gain an understanding of how their rights and liberties can be expanded or limited by the government.

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Lesson Plan

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Meet the superhero legislation of civil rights. Students are introduced to eleven categories of civil rights protections with a focus on Title VII, which bans discrimination in the workplace. Students gain an understanding of how the Civil Rights Act affects people’s lives and apply civil rights protections to real-life scenarios.How to use this lesson: Use this lesson by itself or pair it with more iCivics resources, like the Supreme Court case EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch (2015) or lessons from our Civil Rights unit. For more suggestions, see the downloadable teacher resources below.
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Lesson Plan

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Students examine the key voting rights protected by this landmark civil rights law. This mini-lesson also provides an overview of the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the law in the case, Shelby County v. Holder (2013). Students analyze how the Act has affected voter behavior and provide a written reflection on the Shelby County v. Holder case.How to use this lesson: Use this lesson by itself or pair it with more iCivics resources, like The Road to Civil Rights, Voting Rights, or Voting: Will You Do It? For more suggestions, see the downloadable teacher resources below.
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Lesson Plan

Give Us Liberties and Give Us Rights

We’ve all got rights, but where do we find them? In this lesson, students learn the difference between civil rights and civil liberties. Students also discover how these freedoms are protected by the Constitution, its amendments, federal laws, and the courts. This is the introductory lesson for the unit, and it touches on some of the topics that are covered by other lessons in the unit.
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Lesson Plan

First and Foremost: Five Freedoms of the First…

Which civil liberties are in the First Amendment, and how do they impact you? In this lesson, students take a deep dive into the five freedoms protected by the First Amendment. Students also explore the limitations of these freedoms and how and why the government may restrict them.
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Lesson Plan

Freedom of the Press

Can a constitutional democracy function if the people don’t know the issues? In this lesson, students learn what freedom of the press means and why it was considered so important that it needed to be protected in the First Amendment. Students analyze today’s media coverage and consider how the expansion of digital media continues to raise new challenges about how to keep people informed.
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Lesson Plan

Nothing Absolute About Rights

Nothing is set in stone. And that includes our rights. In this lesson, students learn how and why the courts can limit people’s civil rights and liberties. Students take on the role of Justice to analyze and rule on several real Supreme Court cases.
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Lesson Plan

Accused? Know Your Rights

From cutting in line to hurting someone’s feelings, everyone's been accused of something. But what happens when people are accused of breaking the law? In this lesson, students learn about the rights of the accused and why the Framers prioritized them in the Bill of Rights. Students analyze protections granted to the accused and consider how those protections have been expanded over time.
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Lesson Plan

Expanding Protections

How are civil rights and liberties extended to more people and groups over time? In this lesson, students explore the various ways that civil rights and liberties can be expanded. Students also learn how the expansion of rights is based on the values embedded in our founding documents.
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Lesson Plan

Valuing Our Rights

What are our nation’s fundamental values? In this lesson, students learn what our nation’s core values are and what influenced them. Students examine primary documents and historical speeches to identify our nation’s values and recognize their influence on social movements, national unity, and federal laws.
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Game

Do I Have a Right?

Run a law firm and test your knowledge of constitutional rights.
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Lesson Plan

Speech and the First Amendment

What does the right to free speech actually mean? Students examine the types of speech the Supreme Court has interpreted as protected by the First Amendment, and those that have not. This mini-lesson also explores issues raised by the defamatory speech of students online, and the power of public schools to discipline for it.How to use this lesson: Use this lesson by itself or pair it with more iCivics resources, like First Amendment cases from our Landmark Library or our lesson Stipulating Speech. For more suggestions, see the downloadable teacher resources below.
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Lesson Plan

Religion and the First Amendment

The First Amendment includes a two-for-one deal in its protection of religious freedom. This mini-lesson explains the difference between the Establishment and the Free Exercise clauses. Students practice applying the clauses to scenarios and take on the role of judge to evaluate if the Establishment clause applies. How to use this lesson: Use this lesson by itself or pair it with more iCivics resources, like the Supreme Court cases Minersville v. Gobitas (1940) or our game Do I Have a Right? For more suggestions, see the downloadable teacher resources below.
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