The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights Institute
For high school teachers of civics, government, and law

June 17-21, 2002
Minnesota Judicial Center
St. Paul Minnesota
9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Institute Goals

• Increase your understanding of the content of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, including the specifications contained in the High School U.S. Citizenship standard.
• Become skillful at using effective strategies that teach the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, including strategies (mock trials, moot courts, case studies, discussion, mock public hearings, etc.) that
• Examine the foundational documents
• Examine persisting public issues
• Engage students in governmental processes (actual and simulated)
• Learn by doing—with opportunities to practice, reflect, and participate in peer review
• Using authentic instruction, assessment, and student performance research, assist in developing instructional units focused on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Sponsors
Minnesota Council for the Social Studies
Minnesota Center for Community Legal Education/University of Minnesota
Minnesota Supreme Court

Faculty
Faculty will include political science, history,  and constitutional law professors, judges, and experienced classroom teachers.

Location
This institute will meet in the Minnesota Judicial Center, the home of the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Minnesota Court of Appeals, which is located across the street from the State Capitol. Lessons with simulated governmental processes will come alive!

Registration/Honorarium
A grant from the Department of Children, Families, and Learning supports the registration fee. In addition, participants will receive a $200 stipend at the completion of the Institute. Course materials will be provided by the Institute.

Lodging, Meals, and Parking
Up to 30 participants traveling a distance will receive per diem up to $73/day. All participants will receive complimentary continental breakfast, lunch, breaks, and parking.

Credit
Participants can register for graduate level credit. Tuition will be the participant’s responsibility. Contact the Minnesota Center for Community Legal Education for more information.

Application
The institute is limited to 40 participants. Participants will be selected according to these criteria/goals:

• Subject and  grade level taught:    Preference will be given to high school teachers (grades 9-12) of  government, civics, and law courses.
• Geographical representation:   One goal of the Institute is to include teachers from throughout the state. To make this possible, teachers will be selected with some consideration given to their geographical location.
• Teaching experience:    The Institute will combine approximately 20 experienced classroom teachers with 20 new teachers.
• Teams:    To enable support after the Institute, teams of teachers from individual    school buildings that include both experienced and teachers new to the    subject area will be given preference.

Applications will be considered until the recruitment goals of the Institute are met.  Although there is no formal deadline for applications, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Institute Application (PDF file)

For more information contact: Debra Berghoff, 612/624.8112