The Bill of Rights

 

Activity 1:

Text Resource: The Bill of Rights for Kids

This video describes the different rights on the Bill of Rights and what rights they defend. This connects to the topic of equal rights in the Constitution because it goes over the rights that all people are supposed to have the right to in America. 

Standard 2.2.1: Explain that the United States government is founded on the belief of equal rights for its citizens.

Activity: Before watching the video, have the kids make a list of 10 things everyone should be allowed to do. Then, watch the video. After the video, the students can turn to a neighbor and discuss if anything on their list matched the 10 rights on the Bill of Rights. Then, have the pairs talk about how the US Constitution was made under the belief that all citizens should have these freedoms. Come together as a class and have the students share why they believe it is important for everyone to have rights. As a challenge, mention that while the Bill of Rights said it was for all citizens, it took a very long time to get these freedoms for all people. This can start to build student interest in what future lessons/text activities will focus on.  

Activity 2:

Text Resource: This Land Is Your Land

This book is about the many unique landscapes of America and how we share all the different beautiful spaces. This text is relevant to the US Constitution because it talks about how America was made for you and me, and the Constitution was written to create a land for the people by the people. 

Standard DI.K-2.6: I like being around people who are like me and different from me, and I can be friendly to everyone.  

Activity: Call on students to make a list of all the different places the book talks about. Then make a chart of ways that those locations are similar and different from where they live now. Then discuss how even though all of those places are similar, they also have things in common, and part of what makes America so cool is how diverse it is. Have kids create a picture of a cool, unique place they would like to go that is different from everyone else’s in the classroom and create a unique patchwork quilt drawing of all of the class’s pictures. Tell kids they can draw a place they would like to visit or a place they’ve grown up or visited. Finish the lesson with talking about how cool it is that the class has so many different perspectives and people, yet we all make up one, unique class. 

Additional Resources

Text Resource: Bill of Rights Poster

This document lists the 10 rights on the Bill of Rights in a kid-friendly visual. This relates to the Constitution because it is an easy-to-read and understand summary of what the Constitution states citizens’ rights are.