The Bill of Rights -- Issue 16 -- April 15-21
This week's standards: Students identify key ideals of the United States democratic republican form of government. (Social Studies: Civic Ideals & Practices) Students identify examples of rights and responsibilities of citizens. (Social Studies: Civic Ideals & Practices)
Activities:
- Make a set of First Amendment trading cards. Write one of the five freedoms - speech, press, assembly (meeting), petition (talking to the government), and religion on the back of a card. Write a sentence telling why you think that freedom is important. On the front of the card, draw a picture that shows that freedom.
- Share the Bill of Rights with family members and friends. Ask each person to name the amendment he/she thinks is most important. Ask that person to explain his/her choice. Share your findings with your friends.
- Which amendment in the Bill of Rights (a) lets you own a gun, (b) makes sure you can have an attorney at a trial, (c) says that you don*t have to testify against yourself at a trial, and (d) says the police can*t search your home without a good reason and without permission from a court.
- Find newspaper stories that demonstrate each of these freedoms: (a) the right to a trial, (b) the right to criticize a decision made by the government, and (c) the right to have an attorney. Explain how each story shows one of our rights.
- Select one of the freedoms or rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Now imagine what life would be like if citizens did not have that right. Write a story about your family living in a country without that guaranteed right. Describe how life would be different. Describe how the government would be different.
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
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