Prompted in part by recent survey results showing that Americans neither know nor care very much about the First Amendment to the Constitution nor the press's role in defending and exercising the rights it guarantees, a teaching unit was designed to increase students' understanding and appreciation of the First Amendment and its implied responsibilities. The three-week unit was fashioned in content and format by responses given by high school and university journalism educators to a survey concerning the teaching of press law in the secondary schools. Topics covered in the unit include (1) the premise and promise of a free press; (2) prior restraint, censorship, and government authority; (3) libel; (4) invasion of privacy and copyright; (5) confidentiality and free press/free trial; (6) obscenity, responsibility, and codes of ethics; (7) student rights and responsibilities; and (8) advertising and broadcast regulations. A content outline and lists of discussion questions and activities are offered with each topic. The unit concludes with compilations of pertinent court cases; a list of resources, such as the names of appropriate professional organizations and periodicals; and an annotated bibliography of press law materials. (The unit and an annotated list of resources are included.) (FL)