Soical Studies Lesson Plan

Overview:
Overview: When a Sacramento teen put the words, “Kill Bush” under a cartoonish collage of the president, she received a visit from the Secret Service. Although true threats to the president are against the law, was hers really a threat? And why did the agents question a 14-year-old girl without parents or any adult present?

Suggested time allotment: One week to explore the rights of students and others to make statements about the President. One week to prepare an informative lesson about related laws — what is and what is not legal — to the rest of the class.

Objectives

Students will:

1. Read background about this situation and others like it.
2. Explore current laws in the country.
3. Present the findings to class through multi-media, oral reports or a debate.

Curriculum Standards from the National Council for the Social Studies: Thematic Strands, from “Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies.”
• VI — Power, authority and governance. Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of how people create and change structures of power, authority, and governance…. High school students develop their abilities in the use of abstract principles. They study the various systems that have been developed over the centuries to allocate and employ power and authority in the governing process. At every level, learners should have opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills to and participate in the workings of the various levels of power, authority, and governance.

• X – Civic ideals and practicies. Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ideals, principles, and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic….High school students increasingly recognize the rights and responsibilities of citizens in identifying societal needs, setting directions for public policies, and working to support both individual dignity and the common good. They learn by experience how to participate in community service and political activities and how to use democratic process to influence public policy.

Resources and materials:
Web sites with information:
• CBS News Web site ran the story, “Teen Questioned On MySpace Bush Threat; Secret Service Question Calif. Teen About Online Threats to President,” Oct. 14, 2006. The end of the article includes reader comments.
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• The Minneapolis Star Tribune ran a news story about the situation, titled “Girl questioned after threatening Bush on MySpace,” Oct. 13, 2006.
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• The Cornell Law School provides access to the U.S. Code collection. This includes TITLE 18. PART I. CHAPTER 41. § 871. Threats against President and successors to the Presidency
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• Explore what the American Civil Liberties Union says about students’ free speech and expression in general. A special section of that group’s Web site is for students.
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• Stop Bullying Now is aimed at younger students with games to play and Webisodes that help explain the problems for both victims and the bullies themselves.
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