Bryna and Valeta's Best Ideas for Teaching Patriotism
Unit Plan: Patriotism
Lesson Plan Title: Bill of Rights
Grade Level: 3–5
Duration: Two, 40–50 minutes sessions
Student Goals:
- Students will be able to identify why the Bill of Rights is so
important to our freedoms.
Student Objectives:
- Students will be able to write some of the important rights included
in the Bill of Rights.
Materials:
Set Up and Prepare:
- For each student make copies of the Bill of Rights, Bill of Rights
test
Directions:
PART I
Step 1: Begin the lesson by explaining and discussing that when
the idea of having a government over the people came up and the Constitution
was being written, people got very nervous that the government would
take too much power and people would lose important rights. Say, "In
our country, we have added to the Constitution amendments that change
the Constitution. The first 10 of these were added right away and are
called the Bill of Rights. Because of the Bill of Rights, we enjoy many
freedoms that other countries do not have. What are some things we are
free to do that some people in other countries are not?" (Students might
come up with freedom of religion, freedom to say what you think about
the government, freedom to have a jury trial, freedom to have your privacy
protected, the necessity of warrants, etc.)
Step 2: Pass out the simplified version of the Bill
of Rights. Ask students if they have ever heard of some of these
before. Discuss. Go over what each amendment means.
Step 3: Hand out and go over the Bill
of Rights Test. They can work on their own, as partners, or in groups.
Go over the answers in class.
Assess Students:
As students work on these, you can monitor
their discussion and adjust the lesson if they need help.
Evaluate Lesson:
Do the students understand the various rights?
Can they use their sheet to help locate which rights apply? Do the students
discuss their answers using the Bill of Rights? Do they seem to understand
how important, and different, our rights are from the rights of people
in many other countries?
Assignments:
Student completes the worksheet. Ask the students to share what they
have learned with their family at home and discuss the next day in class.
