establishment

History of the First Amendment
Activity #2 – Orientation to the First Amendment - Whole Class Instruction.
Teacher’s Note: The charts that will be labeled in this activity will be used in the “Exercised or Threatened"
Activity and the Mapping Activity that follow.
Materials Needed:
Copies of the First Amendment from this unit, Highlighters and pens for each student,
5 sheets of chart paper, Colored markers
Procedure:
1. Distribute copies of the First Amendment (from this unit)
2. Using pens and highlighters, have students identify the Five Freedoms contained in the First Amendment.
3. Write the name of each freedom on separate pieces of chart paper.
4. Post the chart paper on the classroom walls.
5. Use a color coding system to note each freedom.
For example:
Red = Freedom of Religion
Green = Freedom of Speech
Blue = Freedom of the Press
Yellow = Right to Assemble
Orange = Right to Petition the Government
Activity #3 – Newspaper Activity: First Amendment Freedoms
Exercised or Threatened?
Skills – Students will be able to:
• Name the Five Freedoms.
• Distinguish between freedoms that are being “Exercised” and freedoms that are being “Threatened.”
Materials Needed:
Newspaper sections from various papers containing stories dealing with First Amendment freedoms,
Scissors for each student, Red pens for each student, Glue sticks for each student, The 5 pieces of
chart paper from Activity #2 containing each of the Five Freedoms
Procedure:
1. Distribute newspapers, scissors and red pens to students.
2. Label a piece of chart paper “Exercised” and a second piece of chart paper “Threatened.”
3. Have students scan the newspaper sections to find articles, letters to the editor, cartoons, etc., dealing with a First
Amendment Freedom.
4. As a small group or as a class, determine whether the freedom featured in the story is being Exercised or Threatened.
5. Using a red pen, write “E” (exercised) or “T” (threatened) in the margin of each article, letter, cartoon, etc.
6. After all items are labeled, glue the “E” items onto the “Exercised” chart; glue the “T” items onto the “Threatened” chart.
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