Citizenship: Duties, Rights, and Liberties
Session 11 and 12: First Amendment Freedoms

Materials

• Textbook
• Handout: “Is a Good Constitution Enough?” (Attachment H)
• Handout: “First Amendment Freedoms” (Attachment I)
• Computer with Internet access

Instructional Activities

NOTE: The following Web sites may be helpful during the study of civic responsibilities:
•    “What Responsibilities Accompany Our Rights?” We the People. <http://www.civiced.org/index.php?page=Lesson_21>.
•    Bill of Rights Institute.
< http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org>.

1. Distribute the student handout, “Is a Good Constitution Enough?” (Attachment H). Have students recall the lists of the duties and responsibilities of citizenship.
   
   
2. In a class discussion, have students consider these questions:
   •    Do most people understand the responsibilities of citizenship and the importance of fulfilling them?
   •    How do young children learn these responsibilities?
   •    Would they add any other responsibilities to the list?
   •    Which responsibilities do they think are the most difficult to fulfill?
   
   
3. Divide the class into five groups: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of petition. Print the questions in “First Amendment Freedoms Handout” (Attachment I). Cut the strips apart, and give each group its topic for discussion. Ask one group member to lead the discussion and another to take notes on what is said. Ask a third person to be the spokesperson in the class discussion. Other group members should be assigned roles as appropriate.
   
   
4. Have groups report back to the whole class. Discuss the importance of these rights. Conclude class by discussing the ways rights, responsibilities, and duties are related.