THE BILL OF RIGHTS -- PLAIN AND SIMPLE
Learning Objectives: The students will
1. Explain the meaning of the amendments in the Bill of Rights.
2. Enhance their critical thinking skills by creating visual representations of
the concepts expressed in the Bill of Rights.
TEKS: SS 3.16C,E, 3.17B, 4.22B, 4.23A,D, 5.21, 5.25B, 5.26D
Materials: Copies of the “Bill of Rights” attachment for each student, “The Bill of
Rights—Plain and Simple PowerPoint Presentation or overhead
transparencies of the “Bill of Rights” attachment, numbered slips of paper
with the numbers 1-10 (each number may be used more than once so that
there are enough slips for every student in the class), copies of the scroll
attachment
Vocabulary: Arms, assembly, Bill of Rights, crime, expression, jury, petition, press,
religion, search warrant, speech, testify, trial
Teaching Strategy:
1. Give each student a copy of the Bill of Rights attachment. Using the Bill of
Rights—Plain and Simple PowerPoint Presentation or overhead
transparencies of the “Bill of Rights” attachment, lead a class discussion
concerning the meaning of each of the amendments.
2. Have each student draw a slip of paper with a number (1-10). Explain that
the number they draw represents the amendment that they are going to
illustrate. (Students should not tell anyone which amendment they chose.)
3. Give each student a copy of the scroll attachment. Instruct students to
create a visual representation by drawing pictures and/or symbols to
depict their assigned amendments. They should not, however, list the
number of their amendments anywhere on the scroll because their
classmates are going to try to figure out which amendment is represented
on their scrolls. Students should write the number of the amendment on
the back of the scroll, along with their names.
4. After students have completed their scrolls, display them on the wall or
chalkboard and label each scroll with a number. Using their copy of the Bill
of Rights, students should record which scroll depicts which amendment.
Students should write their answers on notebook paper and may work with
a partner, if desired.
