As birthright citizenship and the core protections of the 14th Amendment face renewed political attacks, it is critical that educators—especially those teaching U.S. government, civics, and history—have the tools to teach these foundational principles clearly and confidently.
We’re proud to partner with the Asian Law Caucus to create impactful K–12 educator resources that support the teaching of the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship. Through standards-aligned lesson plans and professional development workshops, we will help teachers illuminate the often-overlooked role of Asian Americans in shaping U.S. immigration and citizenship law, from exclusionary policies to landmark Supreme Court decisions like United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which affirmed birthright citizenship. Students will be empowered to ask, “Who gets to be an American, and why?”
Educators from all backgrounds and regions are invited to participate. If you’re joining us from outside New Jersey, please contact us to learn more about how you can bring this work into your classrooms or communities.
“These constitutional rights aren’t just legal text sitting on a shelf. They’re promises to us that we have to fight for in the streets, in the classrooms, at the ballot box.”
–Roslyne Shiao, Co-Executive Director of AAPI New Jersey
We offer a 60–90 minute workshop on teaching students in grades K–12 about birthright citizenship, covering its history, significance, and real-world implications, drawing on ALC’s narrative campaign centering impacted students and families.
If you would like to schedule a workshop in your school, organization, or community, please reach out to us at isabella.kasegrande@aapinewjersey.org.
If you would like to schedule a workshop in your school, organization, or community, please reach out to us at isabella.kasegrande@aapinewjersey.org.
The following lesson plans have been developed to help teachers to easily incorporate birthright citizenship into their curriculum. These lessons align with Common Core learning standards and are mapped to New Jersey state learning standards.
Grades 6–8
This 2-day lesson plan on the Fourteenth Amendment engages students in primary source analysis to make connections between historical and present-day fights for citizenship and access to education.
Grade 10-12
This lesson plan dives into the 200+ years of birthright citizenship, from the U.S. Constitution and Dred Scott v. Sanford case to Wong Kim Ark, Executive Order 14160, and present-day legal challenges.
Grades 10-11
Students will conduct a primary source analysis comparing Frederick Douglass’ Composite Nation, Chinese Exclusion Act documents, and Wong Kim Ark’s court case. This two-part lesson plan includes reading, poetry, and writing exercises.
Grades 7-8
Students will research and analyze three landmark Supreme Court cases, Ozawa v. United States, United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind, and United States v. Wong Kim Ark, and their implications for the 14th Amendment right of birthright citizenship.
Grades 3–5
This 3-day lesson plan includes a read aloud, primary source analyses, and discussions on pathways to U.S. citizenship, the importance of birthright citizenship, and connections to the present day.
Grades K–2
”I Am An American“ tells the story of Wong Kim Ark, whose Supreme Court case secured Birthright Citizenship under the 14th Amendment. This 3-day lesson plan includes historical context on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, an interactive read-aloud, and a primary source activity.