3 Exciting Bill of Rights Activities for Students
By Kirsten Hammond
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The Bill of Rights consists of the initial ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These amendments secure fundamental rights and civil liberties for American citizens, such as freedom of speech. They also reserve certain rights for both the people and the states.
Although drafted separately from the initial seven articles of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights has become an integral part of our Constitution. It’s extremely important to teach the Bill of Rights well, as it shows how these amendments safeguard our freedoms and protect us from government intrusion in our daily lives.
In this article, I will share with you information about some interesting facts to know, as well as 3 activity ideas to implement with your students!
What are some interesting facts about the Bill of Rights?
Here are a couple of interesting facts: initially, there were twelve proposed amendments to the Constitution, but only ten were ratified, forming the Bill of Rights.
The most recent amendment, the 27th, was ratified on May 2, 1992. It was initially proposed in 1789 but wasn’t part of the original Bill of Rights. This amendment pertains to compensation for members of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Another tidbit is that although it was ratified by three quarter state majority on December 15, 1791 when Virginia became the tenth to agree, three states had not yet accepted. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Georgia formally ratified in 1939, largely as a symbolic gesture.
What are some fun activities to teach about the Bill of Rights?
While the Bill of Rights might initially seem dry or uneventful with confusing lingo, there are actually some ways you can teach about this important topic that is still palatable for upper elementary students! Let’s explore three fun activities to help teach about the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Activity 1: Take a Stand (Grades 4-5)
Before introducing the Bill of Rights, have your students express their opinions on statements related to the first 10 amendments. These statements can echo the principles of the Bill of Rights without quoting them verbatim.
An example statement could be “People should have the right to express their opinions, even if it offends others.”
Encourage students to share their views and provide 10-20 minutes for individual opinion writing.
Conduct a group discussion with statements projected on a screen, and let students physically move to show their agreement or disagreement.
Make sure the discussion remains respectful and moderated by you.
Activity 2: Bill of Rights Webquest
In this activity, provide students with a kid-friendly website to learn about the Bill of Rights. They should use a recording sheet to paraphrase each of the first ten amendments in their own words. Students can work independently or in pairs.
Following the webquest, conduct a class discussion to ensure their understanding aligns with the amendments’ meanings. This activity is featured in the U.S. Constitution Webquest!
Activity 3: Bill of Rights Blog Post
Challenge students to select one of the first ten amendments and write a blog post supporting that right. Their posts should contain the right’s definition, historical context, reasons for inclusion in the Bill of Rights, current issues related to the right, and efforts by various groups to protect it.
This activity promotes both research and critical thinking. Students can also illustrate and share their blog posts with the class.
Putting it All Together
These 3 activities are extremely valuable for teaching the Bill of Rights. To further enhance your teaching, check out the Smart and Simple Social Studies Membership, which offers ready-to-use lesson plans and activities for these topics. You can also find the Constitution Webquest in my Teachers Pay Teachers store, where you’ll discover additional content.
I also highly suggest you join the waitlist for the Smart and Simple Social Studies Membership, where you’ll gain access to comprehensive resources for teaching social studies. It’s a fantastic way to stay informed and take your social studies lessons to the next level!
kirsten hammond
Kirsten is a former 3rd and 5th grade teacher who loves helping upper elementary teachers by creating resources and sharing ideas that are engaging, research-based, and TEKS-aligned. She is a work-from-home mama of 3 rambunctious little ones and loves running, true crime, and lots of coffee.
