Available to be taught starting September 15, 2025:
Sleuth for the Truth – Media Literacy, the First Amendment & Fake News
During this 45 minute interactive lesson, students will discover where “fake news” and the first amendment intersect, and learn that in many cases “fake news” is protected speech under the First Amendment. Students will learn what factors to look for when determining the quality of sources of information to improve their media literacy skills and be informed media consumers. To round out the lesson, students will practice what they’ve learned in an activity designed to help them spot the real news from the fake.
Social Media & the First Amendment
Students will learn how the First Amendment and social media intersect through exploring Elonis vs US, the first time the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case involving the constitutionality of prosecuting potential threats in a social media context. Students will then participate in an activity to better understand what the First Amendment allows or restricts for social media posts and explore the question, “Even though you can, should you?”. This 45 minute lesson can be taught as a stand-alone or modified as an add-on to the Sleuth for the Truth lesson.
Exploring Freedom of Assembly & Petition in Maine
This lesson will dive into the process for legally creating a petition in the state of Maine and the proper steps for peacefully assembling as allowed for by the First Amendment. Students will work in teams through the process of creating a petition or request for assembly and in determining whether or not it is legally allowable depending on the topic.
Contact us for more information: connect@firstamendmentmuseum.org