Tag Archives: constitution

Resources for Constitution Day Sept. 17

Posted on by
Reply

September 17th is Constitution Day. Did you know all U.S. public schools – kindergarten through university level – are required to teach about the Constitution on Constitution Day on Sept. 17?

According to ConstitutionFacts.com, the government mandate says “Educational institutions receiving federal funding are required to hold an educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year.” 

Here are some teaching materials available to assist you.

1. ConstitutionFacts.com  This site provides a series of free educational resources and Internet links to help educators comply with the new federal regulation requiring the development of student programming to celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th of each year. You can also read the Federal Register announcement of the Constitution Day Mandate.   www.constitutionfacts.com/
 

2.  Celebrate Constitution Day NIE Tab      

  

The Newspaper Association of America Foundation and the Bill of Rights Institute have produced this educational tab designed to help teachers and students celebrate this important milestone in the nation’s history. 

The tab is available for download by clicking on the following link:  http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/CONSTITUTION%20DAY%202011.pdf 

Note: if you are going to print this pdf, make sure to adjust your print setting to fit on page. The pdf is bigger than 8.5 x 11 (normal print size.)

3.  Constitution Day Newspaper Scavenger Hunt

 

Download the Constitution Day Scavenger Hunt by clicking on the following link:  legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/Constitution%20Day.pdf

Using the Newspaper to Teach the Five Freedoms of the First Amendment

Posted on by
Reply
 
Several studies have demonstrated that Americans lack comprehensive knowledge of the rights guaranteed them by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.  Here is a teaching activity guide called “First Things First: Using the Newspaper to Teach the Five Freedoms of the First Amendment.”  It was created by the 2001 winners of the Newspaper Innovators in Education Awards, sponsored by the Newspaper Association of America® Foundation and the Newseum. The goal of the guide is to provide a tool for teachers to build public awareness and understanding about the First Amendment in schools. Incorporating newspaper activities into the curriculum achieves this goal using each of the five freedoms as the vehicle for instruction.
 
Do you know what the five freedoms are that are guaranteed by the First Amendment?
1. Freedom of Religion:   The First Amendment prevents the American government from establishing an official religion. Citizens have the freedom to attend the church, synagogue, temple or mosque of their choice – or not attend at all. The First Amendment allows us to practice our religion the way we want to.
 
2. Freedom of Speech: The First Amendment keeps the American government from making laws that might stop us from expressing rational opinions. People have the right to criticize the government and to share their opinions with others.
 
3. Freedom of the Press:   A free press means we can get information from many different sources. The government cannot control what is printed in newspapers, magazines and books, broadcast on TV or radio or offered online. Citizens can request time on television to respond to views with which they disagree; they may write letters to newspaper editors and hope those letters will be printed for others to see. They can pass out leaflets that give their opinions. They can have their own Web pages and offer their opinions to others through the many means made available by the Internet.
 
 4. Freedom of Assembly:   Citizens can come together in public and private gatherings. They can join groups for political, religious, social or recreational purposes. By organizing to accomplish a common goal, citizens can spread their ideas more effectively.
 
 5. Right to Petition:   “To petition the government for a redress of grievances” means that citizens can ask for changes in the government. They can do this by collecting signatures and sending them to their elected representatives; they can write, call or e-mail their elected representatives; they can support groups that lobby the government. 
 
 The lessons in the guide will allow your students to analyze events in the newspaper and form conclusions incorporating the five freedoms of the First Amendment. Some of the skills developed by using these lessons are critical thinking, decision-making, summary writing, problem solving, researching, prioritizing, negotiating and organizing. 
 
 The five units are divided into Elementary, Middle and High School activities complete with goals and evaluations.

Download the guide by clicking the link below

 http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/FirstThingsFirstGuide1.pdf

 
 
 

NNW Part 1: Press Freedom

Posted on by
Reply

It’s National Newspaper Week and the Kentucky Press Association was kind enough to provide us with some educational material.  Each day, this week, we will have newspaper activities for you to do with your students.  The theme is Press Freedom.

AT ISSUE: NEWSPAPERS                                                                      Press freedom: whose right is it, anyway?

The freedom of the press guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution is meant as a protection for the people, not for the media. It was intended to guarantee that the public has ready access to information. Only well-informed citizens can make reasoned judgments about government.

Exercise your freedom …

Locate and read news stories and opinion columns about a national problem.
• How might these articles lead to citizen or government action?

• How do you think newspapers provide national leadership?

• Identify statements that oppose any action that may have been taken by government, public or private groups to address the problem.
 

This activity was adapted from a series produced by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Foundation Newspaper In Education Committee.