TheConstitutionintheClassroom:TheFirstAmendmentandJudicialReview
Agraduate-level,continuingeducationcourseinpartnershipbetween
ThePennLiteracyNetworkofTheUniversityofPennsylvaniaand
TheNationalConstitutionCenter
FeaturedLegalScholars:JudgeMarjorieRendellandProfessorMichaelGerhardt
PLNFacilitator:Mrs.LaraPaparo
Audience:Educators,Grades5-12
Location:TheNationalConstitutionCenter
JohnC.BogleChairman’sConferenceRoom,525ArchStreetPhiladelphia,PA19106
CourseDates/Times:August9,10,and11(9:00am-3:30pm)andSaturday,October15(1:004:00pm),onlinecoursework,ajobembeddedassignment,andacurriculumwritingfinal
projectalignedwiththecontestnotedbelow(***OnlyPennsylvaniaeducatorsareeligible
forthecurrentcontest).
Cost:$950perperson(3.0graduatelevelcontinuingeducationcreditsfrom
TheUniversityofPennsylvaniauponsuccessfulcompletionforaDecembergrade)
ThisdynamiccoursetakesacloserlookattheroleofjudicialreviewanditsimpactontheFirstAmendmentasit
explorestherelationshipbetweeninquiry-basedlearningandinnovative,research-basedclassroompracticesfor5th–
12thgradeeducators.ParticipantsinvestigateThePennLiteracyNetworkframeworksofTheFiveReadingWriting
TalkingProcessesandTheFourLensesofLearningandusetheminconjunctionwiththeNationalConstitutionCenter’s
engagingeducationresourcestofurtherexploretheinterpretationoftheFirstAmendmentanditsroleinschools.
Throughoutthecourse,educatorslearnavarietyofpracticalstrategiestoencouragestudentengagementusingrich,
standards-basedliteracypractices,withaparticularfocusonhowtheFirstAmendmenthasbeenshapedthroughout
theprocessofjudicialreview,examiningthebalancebetweenfreedomofexpressionandschoolresponsibility.
EducatorshavetheopportunitytotakeacloserlookatkeySupremeCourtcasesandlearnnewwaystoincorporate
themintotheclassroom.TheteachingandlearningfocusincludesemphasisonTheNationalConstitutionCenter’scivic
learningframeworkandfeaturesavarietyofclassroom-readyresources,includingvideos,lessonplans,andactivities.
Teachersengageinlearningexperiencesthatarerichinproblemsolving,criticalthinking,andlogicalreasoning.
PLNcourseactivitiesandassignmentsalignwithandsupportparticipants’potentialinvolvementinTheNational
ConstitutionCenter’sCivicLiteracyCurriculaPlanningContestwhichchallengespublicandindependentPennsylvania
teacherstodevelopmulti-yearplanstoimproveconstitutionalliteracy,withthechancetoearncashprizesto
implementtheplansintheirschools.Seehttp://constitutioncenter.org/experience/programs-initiatives/daily-museumprograms/templeton-contests/civic-literacy-curricula-planning-contestformoreinformationaboutthecontest.
Registeronlineatwww.gse.upenn.edu/plnbyApril16,2016.BesuretoindicatethatyouareregisteringforPLN33.Ifyou
donothaveaPPID,enter7zerosinthatfield.PleaseemailMarleneRydernotingthatyou’veregistered:
marlener@gse.upenn.edu
$950isduebyJuly9,2016withapost-datedcheck-datedAugust1,2016.PleasesendyourpaymenttoIrisSanchezatThe
PennLiteracyNetwork,3700WalnutStreet,Philadelphia,PA19104.ChecksneedtobemadeouttoTheTrusteesofThe
UniversityofPennsylvania.IrisSanchezcanbereachedatheremail(sanchezi@upenn.edu)orcall215-898-1984.Formore
informationaboutTheNationalConstitutionCenter,visitconstitutioncenter.org.
Thisgraduatecourseisapartnershipbetween
ThePennLiteracyNetworkofTheUniversityofPennsylvaniaandTheNationalConstitutionCenter.