Students brainstorm freedoms that they enjoy. Then they watch a video about the Bill of Rights and create a summary chart of each right. Then they analyze the First Amendment and identify examples of limitations it puts on the government. Finally they evaluate freedom of speech, and whether there are limits to this freedom.
Students are introduced to Celebrate Freedom Week and the role of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights in protecting freedoms. They review the lesson objectives and respond to a word cloud prompt by naming a freedom they enjoy in a word or short phrase. They then read that many rights in the United States are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.
Teacher MovesPresent the overview of the experience, highlighting key vocabulary and objectives. Invite students to share and compare their word cloud responses, drawing out both personal and general examples of freedom, and connect their ideas to the concept of rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
Students view an image of Lady Justice and learn that the Bill of Rights consists of ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. They watch A 3-minute guide to the Bill of Rights and use a cartoon summary as a reference while completing a graphic organizer in which they restate each of the ten amendments in their own words.
Teacher MovesClarify that the Bill of Rights is made up of ten amendments and briefly discuss the symbolism of Lady Justice. Guide students through the video and cartoon summary as needed, then facilitate a class discussion to review and refine student summaries of each amendment, ensuring that the main ideas are accurate and clearly understood.
Students take a closer look at the full text of the First Amendment and identify its “five freedoms”: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. They complete a drag-and-drop activity matching each freedom to an example of how it limits government power.
Teacher MovesRead or review the First Amendment text with students, emphasizing the five freedoms it protects. Support students as they complete the matching activity, then prompt them to generate additional real-world examples of each freedom and how it restricts government actions.
Students consider the question “What is protected by freedom of speech?” and read about how the Bill of Rights, though written over 200 years ago, still shapes American life and remains the subject of debate. They respond to a poll about which scenarios they think are protected free speech, then examine examples from the resource What Does Free Speech Mean? showing how Supreme Court decisions have defined the limits of free speech. Finally, they post to a class wall explaining whether they think it is fair that there are some limits on freedom of speech.
Teacher MovesFrame freedom of speech as both foundational and sometimes controversial, and administer the poll without indicating right or wrong answers. After students review the Supreme Court examples, invite them to reconsider and, if they wish, revise their views. Facilitate an open discussion around students’ wall posts, encouraging respectful dialogue and highlighting that the conversation itself is an exercise of free speech.
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