About This Lesson
In this 90 minute lesson, students will build their social-awareness, self-management and relationship SEL skills while evaluating their individual rights via the Bill of Rights and related Supreme Court cases. The lesson begins with an attention grabbing video that helps students easily be able to recall each one of the Bill of Rights by using hand gestures. The class will review them, and discuss exceptions and questions about each. The students will work cooperatively to analyze a Supreme Court case that is relevant to one of the first ten amendments. Students will then write a persuasive (or claim) paragraph, as if they are a lawyer representing the side of their choice in the case, and orally present it to the class. Students will bolster their public speaking skills, while also focusing on being a good audience member. The students will take an assessment on the Bill of Rights to gauge their recall and understanding. The lesson concludes with a self-evaluation on their presentation skills, and SEL reflections about their rights and their limits. The lesson includes handouts, answer keys, and rubrics for all activities. This lesson is aligned to the Common Core Standards for History/Social Studies and the Ohio State Standards for American Government.
