First Amendment and Free Speech Lesson Plan

Applies to:  Understanding and Participating in Community, Social Awareness

Purpose:  To better understand our first amendment rights and why they matter.

Objectives:

Refresh that our government and laws were created through the US Constitution

• The Bill of Rights is an important part of the Constitution
• The First Amendment is crucial to our rights as Americans, we cannot be American citizens without it.

Materials needed:

• Worksheet with word bank containing definitions of key terms related to the First Amendment.
• Paper, markers, colored pencils.

Activity Steps:

1. Review the text of the First Amendment. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
2. Abridging freedom of speech or freedom of the press is when a government tells its citizens what they are allowed and not allowed to say or write, and punishes them if they express something different. How would you feel if it was against the law to say or write what you believe? Why is freedom of speech important to you? What is something you believe in that you are proud to say or write?
3. ‘The right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” means that we have the right to gather together and protest when the government does something that goes against our values and beliefs. What is something that is so important to you that you would protest because of it?
4. Celebrate your freedom of speech!  Think of three different things you’re glad to have a right to say. On a blank sheet of paper, create a sign that you might hold at a protest that says one thing that you believe is important to say.