Bill of Rights Institute

Mission

The mission of the Bill of Rights Institute is to educate young people about the words and ideas of America's Founders, the liberties and freedoms guaranteed in our Founding documents, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. We accomplish this mission by developing instructional materials for the classroom and conducting Constitutional Seminars for Teachers across the country.

Achievements

Printed Instructional Material - Reaching 25,000 teachers

• The Bill of Rights and You - This teacher's guide and video set helps teachers educate young people about the fundamental rights and principles of our constitutional government.
• Citizenship and Character: Understanding America's Civic Values - This ten-unit teacher's guide and interactive CD-ROM leads students to appreciate America's civic values and helps them develop personal strategies on how to apply these values to their own lives.
• Being an American: Exploring the Ideals That Unites Us - This five-unit teacher's guide instills in students an understanding of America's constitutional heritage and leads them to develop a personal response to the challenges of American citizenship.
• Founders and the Constitution: In Their Own Words - This two-volume teacher's guide and poster set focuses on 24 Founders and their individual contributions to American freedom and the Constitution.
• The Bill of Rights for Real Life - This teacher's guide and video set helps less academically-inclined students understand the first ten amendments and to see the link between their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

Online Educational Resources

• Weekly Newsletters - Reaching 11,000 Teachers Weekly - These teachers have voluntarily signed up to receive the Bill of Rights Institute's weekly e-mailed newsletters such as "Landmark Supreme Court Cases," "Bill of Rights in the News," and "American Lives." Our newsletters provide teachers with additional lesson plans that help them develop young people into educated and engaged citizens.
• Web-Based Resources - Reaching on Average 75,000 Visitors Each Month - Our web site provides teachers with access to units from already developed curriculum, a calendar of the Bill of Rights Institute seminars and presentations, and links to state standards, as well as the "Bill of Rights in the News," which is updated daily and helps teachers demonstrate to their students the relevance of our Founding documents.

Educational Programs for Teachers - Attended by 3,797 Teachers

• The Bill of Rights Institute's training programs include day-long Constitutional Seminars for Teachers, week-long Summer Institutes, and partial-day presentations at teacher conferences. Each program provides teachers with the background knowledge, teaching strategies, and instructional tools they need to develop informed and responsible citizens among the next generation.

Contact Information

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