What do the words of the First Amendment mean?
Lesson Targets
Students will understand the different parts of the First Amendment and how it affects their lives.
Lesson Overview.
You are going to read about the 5 different parts of the First Amendment and understand how they affect your daily lives.
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 ofthe people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Freedom of religion
The First Amendment prevents the government from establishing an official religion. Citizens have freedom to attend a church, synagogue, temple or mosqueof their choice — or not to attend at all. The First Amendment allows us to practice our religion the way we want to.
Freedom of speech
The First Amendment keeps the government from making laws that might stop us from saying what we think. People have the right to criticize the government and to share their opinions with others.
Freedom of the press
A free press means we can get information from many different sources. The government cannot control what is printed in newspapers and books, broadcast on TV or radio or offered online. Citizens can request time on television to respond to views with which they disagree; they may write letters to newspaper editors and hope those letters will be printed for others to see. They can passout leaflets that give their opinions. They can have their own Web pages and offer their opinions to others through the many means made available by the Internet.
Freedom of assembly
Citizens can come together in public and private gatherings. They can join groups for political, religious, social or recreational purposes. By organizing to accomplish a common goal, citizens can spread their ideas more effectively.
Right to petition
“To petition the government for a redress of grievances” means that citizens can ask for changes in the government. They can do this by collecting signatures and sending them to their elected representatives; they can write, call or e-mail their elected representatives; they can support groups that lobby the government.
Task#1
Each scene below deals with a First Amendment right in an example from everyday life. Read each example. On a sheet of paper number 1-9 and write which First Amendment right the example illustrates:
religion | assembly | speech | petition | press |
1._________________ | Mark operated a newspaper in a large city. In her newspaper, she often disagrees with the mayor and city council and writes about it. |
2._________________ | Rick Jackson stood in front of an oil company’s office. He held a sign that said “Don’t buy oil from polluters.” |
3._________________ | Twenty-two high school students met in the park across from school to protest the firing of the basketball coach. |
4._________________ | Roland and Marybeth made posters to show support for political prisoners in South Africa. |
5._________________ | Mr. and Mrs. Stuart taught their three children at home because their church does not approve of public education. |
6._________________ | Jack and Maria refused to bow their heads during the prayer that began a session of the state legislature. |
7._________________ | Li Chen went from door to door, asking people to write letters to the president protesting government policies concerning the homeless. |
8._________________ | Ken printed and handed out fliers describing the unfair hiring practices of a local business. |
9._________________ BACK | Rachel and Tisha used the Internet at their public library to do research for a class assignment on the way the federal government works. |
Task#2
Directions:Think about the five freedoms of the First Amendment. How can you exercise each of the rights protected in the First Amendment in school?
Writ ean example for each of the 5 rights on your piece of paper.
Turn in your assignment to Mrs. Gilberg when we get back to school. Remember, you have up to 2 weeks after we have our e-Day to finish you lessons.