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February 23, 2021

First Amendment

Bullying and Speech Policies in Your School and Community

Students use a poem to discuss bullying and then explore policies within their school, community, and state.

Fahrenheit 451 and Censorship

Students will examine their ideas about censorship by looking at its practice in the dystopian society depicted in Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953), make connections and distinctions between the novel’s society and their own, and apply newly acquired knowledge of First Amendment law to public concerns about suitability of particular books for young people and public policies designed to address those concerns.

Fundamental Freedoms

This lesson uses three Supreme Court cases to illustrate the difficulty in balancing our rights as citizens with the authority of a governmental body. Students will learn what our rights are, where they come from, and how far they extend.

Residential Property Signs

This lesson uses City of Ladue v. Gilleo as the basis for discussion of First Amendment rights. Students will argue for both sides of the case, and a group of students will serve as the city council; they will questions both sides and ultimately decide whether the ordinance should be upheld or not. The resource person might then lead a discussion on local laws regarding signs, posters, and handbills.