Classroom Resources By Topic
Civil Dialogue Primer
Introduction
A fundamental aspect of the First Amendment Project is civil dialogue. Materials are provided to empower students to have and host civil dialogues. The Day 2 lesson begins with a video of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer talking about what it means to have a civil dialogue and how the justices of the Supreme Court keep their deliberations civil and productive—even with some of the most difficult cases. Students use this video lesson to establish classroom norms for discussion, creating a foundation for conducting their own civil dialogue. Then they are ready to engage in specific content and civil dialogues on the clauses of the First Amendment. On Day 3 they will begin by exploring freedom of speech.
Big Questions
Video: CIVIL DIALOGUE INTRODUCTORY VIDEO
National Constitution Center master teacher Carl Ackerman explains how the way arguments are conducted can make a big difference.
Video: JUSTICE BREYER ON CIVIL DIALOGUE VIDEO
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer at a special 2015 Constitution Day appearance talks about the basic processes used by the Court to reach decisions in the cases it hears.
Classroom Materials
Discussions That Make A Difference
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer: Video Analysis Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan
Other Classroom Resources
Activity Sheet
Download (.pdf)
Civil Dialogue Toolkit
Download (.pdf)
Explore Civil Dialogue Primer Questions
Plans of Study
First Amendment
The Drafting Table
Coming soon for this provision! Until then, you can use Writing Rights to explore key historical documents, early drafts and major proposals behind each provision, and discover how the drafters deliberated, agreed and disagreed, on the path to compromise and the final text.
