Bill of Rights Lesson Plans

Fifth graders examine and identify the values and purposes of the Bill of Rights. They complete a class KWL chart, participate in a class jigsaw activity, write and illustrate a book about the first ten amendments, participate in a mock trial and guided discussion, and play the Bill of Rights Bingo game.

Students analyze the U.S. Bill of Rights. They conduct research on an amendment of the Bill of Rights, complete a worksheet that matches scenarios to amendments of the Bill of Rights, and write a letter to their Congressperson.

Learners are introduced to the Bill of Rights and US Constitution. In this US government activity, students encounter multiple aspects of the Bill of Rights. Learners will engage in an on-going encounter with the national anthem, the pledge of allegiance, posters, images and websites about how the Bill of Rights keeps us safe.

Students discuss the government as a whole and then each amendment is examined. They complete a Bill of Rights test in groups or on their own. Answers are gone over in class and discussion is encouraged.

Students work in collaborative groups to research an amendment of the Bill of Rights. They then design and present a skit that demonstrates and communicates the core values and concepts of the amendment to the class.

Students explore what the United States would be like today if the Bill of Rights had never been written.  In this exploring the constitution lesson, students research Supreme Court cases that were heard in the early years of the U.S. Constitution, write about the specifics of the case and share their findings with the other students.

Students explore the concept of the Bill of Rights. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students discover what the Bill of Rights is and where it came from. Students work independently or in groups to discuss questions about the Bill of Rights.

Learners explore the Bill of Rights. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students discuss the Bill of Rights. After becoming familiar with the bills, learners break into two groups and play a game with phrases from the Bill of Rights.

Students identify the basic freedoms of citizens in the United States.  For this Bill of Rights lesson, students act out scenarios about the Bill of Rights.  Students create a picture book describing the rights they've acted out.

Examine conflicting viewpoints in this lesson, in which middle schoolers write their own proposal for including a Bill of Rights in the Constitution. As a class, they discover how the Bill of Rights was not a planned document to be included but needed by the Founding Fathers. They share their thoughts and opinions with the class.