Save The Bill Of Rights!

Introduction

URGENT NEWS!! The government of the United States is wanting to do away with the Bill of Rights! This means that if congress passes to eliminate the Bill of Rights then the United States citizens will no longer have the Bill of Rights in one week.It is now your job as an United States citizen to convince congress to keep the Bill of Rights. Congress will not be easily persuaded because they are pretty confident in their descision so you will need to be well prepared to defend them! Please act fast so that we do not go without our Bill of Rights!

Kentucky Core Content:  SS-05-1.3.2

Students will describe specific rights and responsibilities of individuals. 

Task

As a young American, you have to get informed! Our lives would be a lot different without the Bill of Rights. Get informed by researching the Bill of Rights and its importance. Congress needs to hear your voice and opinion on why the Bill of Rights is an important document and needs to remain in existence, not only today, but for all generations. Get ready to explain your reason for why the Bill of Rights is important to our heritage!

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/government/b…

https://www.icivics.org/games/bill-of-rights

http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

Bill of Rights Worksheet

Directions: Read each situation below very carefully. Next name the amendment or Bill of Right that is being exercised in each of the following situations in the space provided:

  1. Arturo was stopped by a police officer on his way home from school. The police officer wanted to search Arturo’s backpack because he heard a teenage boy had just robbed the candy store on the corner. Arturo said to the officer, “Do you have a warrant?” The officer said, “no.” Tigran informed the officer that he could not search his bag because it violated his rights.__________________________________

  2. Esperanza arrived home one evening to find a member of the United States navy sitting at the dining room table eating dinner with her parents. Esperanza quickly turned to her parents and said, “Why is there a military person in our home?” Esperanza’s parents said, “We were told we had to house this soldier.” Esperanza quickly kicked the soldier out and said to him, “Read the Bill of Rights.” _______________________________________

  3. Rafi is upset over the current curfew effecting teenagers throughout Glendale. Rafi decided that he was going to collect as many signatures as he could on a petition and present it to the city government’s office._______________________________________________

  4. Joseph, a recent immigrant to the United States, was driving around the city of Los Angeles and noticed that there were churches and temples from several different religions located throughout the city. He was amazed at the fact that people in the United States could practice and worship any religion of their choice._____________________________________________

  5. On January 10, 2002, Gerard was arrested for trespassing on his neighbor’s property. When he appeared before the judge to set his trial date, the judge told him his trial would take place on January 24, 2006. Juan immediately informed the judge that this date was unacceptable.___________________________

  6. Nowhere in the Constitution does it talk about what part of the federal government is in charge of education. Today each individual state controls and sets the standards for their state’s educational system.______________________________________

  7. Mary was caught littering in the park one day after school. When she went to trial, the jury found her guilty since there was a ton of evidence showing her guilt. The judge decided to give Mary a special sentence. He wanted Mary to walk from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. Along her journey across the country, Mary had to fill up 1 million bags of trash with litter she found along the roads. Mary quickly informed the judge she did not have to fulfill this sentence.__________________________________

  8. Stephanie was told that she could not wear her favorite shirt anymore. Instead she had to wear shirts that were only approved by the federal clothing agency. Stephanie knew that this rule could not possibly be true because she learned about the Bill of Rights in school.___________________________________

  9. Elias wrote a nice lengthy article for the Daily News describing the changes students would like to see at Roosevelt Middle School. The principal tried to stop Elias’s article from being published in the local newspaper, but she was unsuccessful.__________________________________________

  10. Nancy visited one of her elderly neighbors and noticed that she had a gun locked away in one of her cabinets. During the visit, Nancy turned to her neighbor and asked, “Why do you have a gun in your

house?” Her neighbor simply said, “I am exercising my right to own a gun legally.”_________________ 

Process

1. You will first go to the first link provided in the task portion of the webquest. This will be a chance to read over the Bill of Rights and get aquainted with each one. The information given on the website will help to answer the questions on the worksheet given in the task portion. 

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/government/b…

2. Click on the second link provided and play the game "You Have a Right." Complete the game by using your knowledge of the Bill of Rights to tell your clients whether they have a case or not based on the Bill of Rights.  

https://www.icivics.org/games/bill-of-rights

3. After doing your research and playing the game you need to write a letter to your local congressman persuading them on your opinion on the importance of our Bill of Rights. Your letter will contain your reasoning as to why it would be wrong to eliminate the U.S. Bill of Rights.

4. Once your letter is complete, go online and find who your local congressman would be. Finished letters are to be placed in an envelope and addressed to the local congressman. 

http://www.house.gov/htbin/findrep?ZIP=42728&Submit=FIND+YOUR+REP+BY+ZIP

5. Once you have finished your letter you will begin drawing an illustration of what you think America would be like without the Bill of Rights. These illustrations will be collected to be displayed in the hallway and will not be included in the evaluation process.

Evaluation

Letter-Writing : Save the Bill of Rights!

      Teacher Name: 

Ms. Hadley

       




    Student Name:     ________________________________________



CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Salutation and Closing Salutation and closing have no errors in capitalization and punctuation. Salutation and closing have 1-2 errors in capitalization and punctuation. Salutation and closing have 3 or more errors in capitalization and punctuation. Salutation and/or closing are missing.
Envelope Complete, accurate return address and recipient address. Addresses in correct positions. Complete, accurate return address and recipient address. Position may be slightly off. 1-2 errors in return address. Recipient address is correct. Addresses are incomplete and/or inaccurate.
Grammar & spelling (conventions) Writer makes no errors in grammar or spelling. Writer makes 1-2 errors in grammar and/or spelling. Writer makes 3-4 errors in grammar and/or spelling Writer makes more than 4 errors in grammar and/or spelling.
Content Shows distinguished knowledge of the Bill of Rights and effectively communicates persuasive tone. Shows proficient knowledge of the Bill of Rights and adequately communicates persuasive tone. Shows poor knowledge of the Bill of Rights and/or inadequately communicates persuasive tone. Shows little or no knowledge of the Bill of Rights and does not communicate persuasive tone.

Bill of Rights Worksheet Answer KEY

Directions: Read each situation below very carefully. Next name the amendment or Bill of Right that is being exercised in each of the following situations in the space provided:

  1. Arturo was stopped by a police officer on his way home from school. The police officer wanted to search Arturo’s backpack because he heard a teenage boy had just robbed the candy store on the corner. Arturo said to the officer, “Do you have a warrant?” The officer said, “no.” Tigran informed the officer that he could not search his bag because it violated his rights._______Amendment IV______________
  2. Esperanza arrived home one evening to find a member of the United States navy sitting at the dining room table eating dinner with her parents. Esperanza quickly turned to her parents and said, “Why is there a military person in our home?” Esperanza’s parents said, “We were told we had to house this soldier.” Esperanza quickly kicked the soldier out and said to him, “Read the Bill of Rights.” ______Amendment III________________
  3. Rafi is upset over the current curfew effecting teenagers throughout Glendale. Rafi decided that he was going to collect as many signatures as he could on a petition and present it to the city government’s office._______Amendment I____________________
  4. Joseph, a recent immigrant to the United States, was driving around the city of Los Angeles and noticed that there were churches and temples from several different religions located throughout the city. He was amazed at the fact that people in the United States could practice and worship any religion of their choice.____________Amendment I_____________
  5. On January 10, 2002, Gerard was arrested for trespassing on his neighbor’s property. When he appeared before the judge to set his trial date, the judge told him his trial would take place on January 24, 2006. Juan immediately informed the judge that this date was unacceptable.____Amendment VI__
  6. Nowhere in the Constitution does it talk about what part of the federal government is in charge of education. Today each individual state controls and sets the standards for their state’s educational system._______Amendment X________
  7. Mary was caught littering in the park one day after school. When she went to trial, the jury found her guilty since there was a ton of evidence showing her guilt. The judge decided to give Mary a special sentence. He wanted Mary to walk from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. Along her journey across the country, Mary had to fill up 1 million bags of trash with litter she found along the roads. Mary quickly informed the judge she did not have to fulfill this sentence.___Amendment VIII_____________________
  8. Stephanie was told that she could not wear her favorite shirt anymore. Instead she had to wear shirts that were only approved by the federal clothing agency. Stephanie knew that this rule could not possibly be true because she learned about the Bill of Rights in school._________Amendment I_______
  9. Elias wrote a nice lengthy article for the Daily News describing the changes students would like to see at Roosevelt Middle School. The principal tried to stop Elias’s article from being published in the local newspaper, but she was unsuccessful._________Amendment I___________
  10. Nancy visited one of her elderly neighbors and noticed that she had a gun locked away in one of her cabinets. During the visit, Nancy turned to her neighbor and asked, “Why do you have a gun in your

house?” Her neighbor simply said, “I am exercising my right to own a gun legally.”______Amendment II___________

 

Conclusion

By the end of this activity students will be very well aquainted with the Bill of Rights and the rights in which they protect. They will have gone through many different scenarios in which a person's right has been jeopardized and this will help them to effectively write their persuasive paper to save the Bill of Rights. Students will understand the importance of these rights to the American citizen.

Credits