Power to the People
Beginning
In this lesson, you will investigate the rationale behind the Bill of Rights and the protections afforded by it, then consider the right of free speech and its limitations.
There are three activities to complete:
Spark Inquiry
Deepen Inquiry
Connect and Act
1. Spark Inquiry...
Answer these questions:
What rights do you have in your home?
What rights do you have in your classroom?
What rights do you think you should have but do not? Why?
Follow the directions provided by your teacher for submitting your answers, sharing as a class, and voting yay or nay for one or more of new rights suggested by you and your classmates.
Remember to come back to this page to complete the Deepen Inquiry and Connect and Act activities.
2. Deepen Inquiry...
The final draft of the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787 but did not officially become the supreme law of the United States until 9 of the 13 original states ratified, or approved, it. Some people thought that the Constitution did not protect some basic rights and, because of that, felt that it should be changed to protect those rights. Article 5 outlines how the Constitution can be changed. So Congress created a list of changes called amendments.
Watch the video Bill of Rights (Shake it off).
Take notes to learn what rights the first 10 amendments protect.
List any questions you have.
Check the notes that you've already taken and add to them.
Follow the directions provided by your teacher for submitting any questions you may have about the meaning of the amendments.
Remember to complete the Connect and Act activity.
3. Connect and Act...
You will be doing pantomime to act out scenarios related to free speech, which is guaranteed by the first amendment.
Pantomime is the art or technique of conveying emotions, actions, feelings, etc. by gestures without speech (Dictionary.com).
DIRECTIONS
Pick one of the Free Speech? scenarios below.
Brainstorm possible consequences to the action.
Create a pantomime that depicts both the scenario as well as the negative consequences of the action.
Scenario 1
You are in line at a store hoping to get the latest gaming system. You are afraid they will run out before you get to the front of the line. So, you and your friends decide to yell, “Fire, everyone get out!”
What are possible consequences of this action?
Scenario 2
Most of your classmates follow you on social media. You are just goofing around, but you accuse your friend of stealing a pair of jeans from a local store just to see how the rumor will spread.
What are possible consequences of this action?
Scenario 3
On the playground a bully yells in the face of a student, calling the student a big, fat, dumb slob and threatening the student’s sister.
What are possible consequences of this action?
Scenario 4
Some students are walking home from school. As they pass an attractive girl, one of the boys uses profanity and directs crude and embarrassing comments to her.
What are possible consequences of this action?
Follow the directions provided by your teacher for filming pantomimes and sharing with the class to receive both positive feedback and constructive criticism on improving your depictions.
