Civics

Unit 2: The Rights of People

Overview

Students explore the key concepts of civil rights and human rights. They learn about events during the American Revolution that sparked concerns about rights, the way thinking about rights was documented in the Declaration of Independence, and how the protection of rights was written into the U.S. Constitution through the creation of the Bill of Rights. They also explore moments of rights violations, how rights have evolved over time, and how rights apply in schools.

The unit is built around a rights project. Students work in teams to produce an educational product (an educational video, an Instagram post, an infographic, etc.) to teach other people about a specific right and about why rights matter. Students select from 3 rights for the project: the right to free expression, the right to protection from unfair search and seizure, and the right to due process.

Time Frame: 19 Lessons