Author:
Tracy Rains
Subject:
Reading Informational Text, U.S. History
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Level:
High School
Grade:
9, 10, 11, 12
Tags:
  • Bill of Rights
  • Constitution
  • Freedoms
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial
    Language:
    English
    Media Formats:
    Downloadable docs, Interactive, Text/HTML, Video

    Know Your Rights!

    Know Your Rights!

    Overview

    As American citizens, you are born with rights, but do you even know what those rights are? In this seminar, you will learn about the creation of the Bill of Rights and how those freedoms are still protected by the United States government today.  

    Standards

    5.1.9.D Compare and contrast the basic principles found in significant documents: Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, PA Constitution.

    5.1.12.E Analyze and assess the rights of people as written in the PA Constitution and the US Constitution.

    CC.8.5.9-10.B Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.

     

    Engage

    Introductory warm-up activity.

    In this lesson, you are going to learn about your Constitutional rights. I’m sure you’ve heard a character “plead the fifth” in a movie or TV show. Watch this comedy skit about a man who really enjoys pleading the fifth. After watching the short clip, what do you think it means to plead the fifth?

    Explore

    Read or watch the resources to learn about this concept, then do the practice activity.

    Read

    Watch

    Do

    Read this Bill of Rights overview.  While you read, take notes of the amendments with examples of how they pertain to your life.

    Watch The Bill of Rights Overview.  While you watch, take notes of the amendments with examples of how they pertain to your life.

    This strategic card game allows you to test your knowledge of the Bill of Rights and how they apply to your life.  Make sure you watch the tutorial before you start playing.  It will help if you take notes of your correct answers as you play.

     

    Explain

    Discuss your ideas / opinions / understandings.

    Directions:

    Does the Constitution give you the right to wear whatever clothing you want to school?  What if the clothing is controversial or disruptive?  Use your knowledge of the Bill of Rights to provide evidence to support your answer.

    Evaluate

    Now it is time to self-check how much you have learned about the this topic.  If you do not know as much as you thought, go back to the “Explore” section of this seminar and reread, rewatch, or redo the activities listed.  See your facilitator if you have questions.

    Click here to take the quiz online. You do not have to log into the quiz site in order to take this quiz. If a window pops up asking you to sign up for the quiz site, just close the sign-up window and start your quiz.

    Elaborate

    This is a task or project where you can show what you know.

    This culminating activity will provide you the opportunity to make a real-world connection by analyzing newspaper articles about contemporary Bill of Rights issues. You may choose one of the articles below or use another article of interest (have your instructor review the article before you start):

    After reading the article, you will create an audio/visual presentation. The presentation should include a brief description of the article, including what constitutional right is in question, your position on the issue, and your opinion as to whether the issue violates that particular right. The presentation should be 3-5 minutes long and can be created in Powtoon, Google Slides, PowerPoint, or any other program you like.  

    Express

    Complete this wrap-up activity where you reflect on your learning.

    Explain how this learning process helped you gain a better understanding of your rights as outlined in the U.S. Constitution.