Sweeny Independent School District
September 15 – 19th 2014
Information about the "Celebrate Freedom Week" law in Texas:
(Effective September 1, 2001)
Text of the enrolled Bill in the Texas Legislature: "AN ACT relating to the
establishment of Celebrate Freedom Week in public schools."
Instruction should include study of:
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The intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence and
the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, in their historical
context.
The study of the Declaration of Independence should include the relationship
of the ideas expressed in that document to subsequent American history,
including but not limited to:
o the relationship of its ideas to the rich diversity of our people as a
nation of immigrants,
o the American Revolution,
o the formulation of the United States Constitution,
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the abolitionist movement, which led to the Emancipation
Proclamation and the women's suffrage movement.
During Celebrate Freedom Week, a school district may require students in
grade levels 3 through 12 to study the text quoted below:
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that
among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness--That to secure
these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just
Powers from the Consent of the Governed . . . ."
Celebrate Freedom Weekly Announcements
During the daily school announcements, you may use the following prepared
announcements which are aligned to the TEKS/TAKS and the state law.
Announcements Download
Source: ESC Region 13
Grade: 3-12
Who Am I? - 10 minute Activities
For this activity, the student will use a graphic organizer to analyze and answer a
“Who Am I?” question concerning Celebrate Freedom Week. There is a question for
each day of the week and the activity should only take 10 minutes.
Download
Source: ESC Region 13
Grade: 3 - 12
The Principles of the Declaration of Independence
In this lesson, the student will explain how the principles of government are
reflected in the beginning of the Declaration of Independence.
Download
Source: ESC Region 13
Grade: 3 - 12
ESC Region 13 Constitution Day Web Page
Activities and web sites are aligned to the requirements of the Celebrate Freedom
Week state law.
Visit our Constitution Day page... (opens a new window)
Source: ESC Region 13
Grade: 3 - 12
ESC Region 13 Women's Independence Web Page
Activities and web sites are aligned to requirements of the Celebrate Freedom
Week state law.
Visit our Women's Independence Day page... (opens a new window)
Source: ESC Region 13
Grade: 3 - 12
Law Focused Education
Activities, games, and lessons focused on "Celebrate Freedom Week" can be found
on this web site.
http://www.texaslre.org/
Grade: 3 - 12
"Women, Their Rights, and Nothing Less"
Library of Congress American Memories Collection
Women obtained the right to vote nationwide in 1920. Before 1920, only criminals,
the insane, Native Americans, and women were denied the vote. The modern
woman's suffrage movement began in the 1840s with the Seneca Falls Convention.
You've come a long way, baby. How did it happen and why? Students will
understand the importance of primary sources in historical inquiry and describe
and compare methods used by suffragists to pass the 19th amendment at the
national level.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/99/suffrage/intro.html
Source: Library of Congress
Grade: All Grades
Constitution Day Resources – for September 17th
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C-SPAN Classroom has a number of helpful resources to help you teach your
students about the Constitution.
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Bell Ringers: Constitutional Foundation
Over 30 short video clips related to the Constitution, including related
vocabulary and discussion questions.
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Lesson Idea: Constitution Day
In this lesson, students will explore the history of the Constitution and the
Framers' intentions, Constitutional interpretation, as well as relevant
examples of how the Constitution affects our lives today.
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Lesson Idea: Constitution Clips Quest
A lesson in which students can search for their own Constitution Clips using
C-SPAN’s Video Library.
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Video Clips: Constitution Clips
Short video clips that feature Presidents, Members of Congress, Judges, and
historians discussing specific aspects of the Constitution. The videos are
linked directly from the text of the Constitution for easy navigation and
access.
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Video Clip: James Madison - Father of the Constitution
A 5 minute clip of Richard Brookhiser discussing James Madison's role in the
creation of the Constitution.
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Video Clip: The Living Constitution vs Originalism
A 4 minute clip of Supreme Court Justices Breyer and Scalia discussing their
views on Constitutional interpretation.
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Video: U.S. House Reading of the Constitution
A 1 hour long program of U.S. House members reading the Constitution
aloud on the House floor.
Center for Civic Education Lesson Plans
http://new.civiced.org/resources/curriculum/constitution-day-and-citizenship-day
New York Times Constitution Lessons
New York Times Constitution Lessons
The Constitutional Sources Project
The Constitutional Sources Project is hosting a Constitution Day Essay
Contest. See the website for the essay contest details and lesson plan resources for
teaching the Constitution.
http://www.consource.org/
Links organized by topic area for Freedom Week
The American Revolution
1. Liberty! The American Revolution by PBS
2. Virtual Marching Tour of the American Revolution
The Declaration of Independence
1. CSUSM: The Declaration of Independence - text version of the Declaration
including the list of colonial representatives who signed it.
2. A good list of events leading up to the Declaration from About.com
3. Declaring Independence: Drafting the Documents - see a chronology of events
in the creation of this famous document from the Library of Congress.
The US Constitution
1. The US Constitution online - includes hyperlinked definitions for many words
2. Creation of the U.S. Constitution - contains a very complete account of the
Constitutional Convention. (from the US National Archives)
The Abolitionist Movement
1. The Underground Railroad @ nationalgeographic.com - this site lets you
follow the footsteps of Harriet Tubman, who led hundreds of runaway slaves
to freedom. The site includes a short interactive journey, maps, a timeline,
and more.
2. Abolition Documents - Library of Congress collection of slavery and
important antislavery publications from the period. Includes actual images of
broadsides, sermons, handbills, newspapers, and more.
3. Slavery and Politics: 1517 - 1863 from The Encyclopedia Britannica Guide to
Black History
4. Harriet Tubman: American Abolitionist - biography of this great woman who
singlehandedly led over 300 slaves to safety in the years 1850 to 1860.
5. Sojourner Truth - American Abolitionist - biography of this former slave who
fought against slavery.
6. Frederick Douglass: Abolitionist - biography from the Gale Salutes Black
History Month site.
The Emancipation Proclamation
1. The Emancipation Proclamation - Learn about this document that
transformed the character of the Civil War and became one of the great
documents of human freedom. See the original too, from the National
Archives and Records Administration.
2. Emancipation Proclamation from Encyclopedia Britannica - learn about this
edict issued by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, that freed the
slaves of the Confederate states in rebellion against the Union. See an image
of the original document too.
3. African American Odyssey: The Civil War - historic archives explore black
history during this turbulent era, including slaves as "contraband" and
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
4. African-American Mosaic (Library of Congress): Conflict of Abolition and
Slavery
The Women's Suffrage Movement
1. The Women's Suffrage Movement from the US National Archives
2. Leaders in the Women's Suffrage Movement from Worldbook.com
3. One Woman, One Vote - A PBS documentary
Other Resources
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Biographies from the Age of Revolution
U.S. Founding Documents - Full text versions and scanned copies of the
originals
The Avalon Project: Documents in Law, History, and Diplomacy from Yale
University
George Washington at War (Smithsonian artifacts)
The Star Spangled Banner website (Smithsonian)
Recommended iPad apps for Social Studies: www.tcea.org/ipad
Tap the Social Studies tab for categories. Shaded titles are free in the iTunes store.