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The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. It lists Americans’ rights and liberties promised to them and protected by their government. On December 15 each year, we commemorate the ratification of this document and acknowledge how it shaped the foundation of our nation.
You can bring a Bill of Rights activity (or 5!) into your classroom to teach students more about this historical document and how its principles still apply today.
On December 15, 1791, Congress adopted the Bill of Rights. Anti-Federalists pushed for these amendments to the Constitution, claiming it didn’t have enough limits on federal government power. Students can explore what rights are protected with this document and explain them in their own words.
You can introduce your youngest students to the Bill of Rights by helping students understand what rights are and why they matter. Explore the definition of a right, some of the freedoms protected in the document, and historical figures who championed the protection of these rights.
Dig into the rights and freedoms protected by the amendments that are still in practice today with this activity. You can check students’ understanding of the amendments’ application to court cases, privacy laws, and other related areas.
Though the U.S. Constitution has 27 amendments, adding a new one can be a long and complicated process. Test students’ knowledge of what it takes to propose and ratify new amendments and how the ones we currently have got passed.
Let students practice the amendments of the Bill of Rights independently with a practice set. This set includes 10 cards, one for each amendment, and asks students to study what rights each one protects. Students can practice in flashcard, match, quiz, or write mode.
The Formative Library has a variety of free, pre-made activities developed by our curriculum experts and educators like you. You can use these templates as-is or customize them to fit your instructional needs. Use the library’s sort filters to browse content by subject and grade level to find what you want.
Create your own if you don’t see a template that matches your instructional needs! Log in to your Formative account and choose how to customize your lesson or assessment. You can create new slides with various multimedia, including audio and video, import content from Google, enhance a PDF or existing document, or ask Luna to help.
Don’t have a Formative account yet? Sign up for Formative for free today to start creating activities for Bill of Rights Day and beyond!
