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Picture Books and the Bill of Rights

Adapted from a lesson plan submitted by Theresa Dinius, Charleston County Schools.

CATEGORY
Bill of Rights

GRADE LEVEL
Elementary

DISCIPLINE
US Government, Law, Social Studies, Language Arts, Art

STANDARDS
Standard V – Grade PreK - 2

RECOMMENDED TIME
1-2 class sessions

OVERVIEW
This lesson is designed to acquaint students with sections of the Bill of Rights through the use of Caldecott Medal Books and other picture books.

OBJECTIVES

• Explain some of the basic freedoms and rights that Americans have, which are outlined in the Bill of Rights.
• Students will learn these freedoms through the use of Caldecott Medal Books and other picture books.

MATERIALS

• Resource list of books (attached)
• Paper
• Pencils or markers.

PROCEDURE

PREPARATION
To prepare for the lesson select and read the books ahead of class to determine which freedoms and sections of the Bill of Rights to emphasize.

Day One
Discuss that every citizen in America has certain rights or freedoms and ask the students
to listen to the story of Uncle Murray in Dayneu or How Uncle Murray Saved the Seder by R. Schilder (Summary: Deciding that a Passover seder (Passover meal) is too much work, Uncle Murray and Aunt Helene decide to skip some of the things they do every year. However, one thing leads to another and soon a joyous celebration is underway.)

If that story is not available, another selection may be used as the introductory story, such as Look for Daniela by S. Kroll (Summary: Daniela, a rich merchant's daughter, is kidnapped from her home. Antonio, a street performer who admires Daniela, must use his talents in juggling, tightrope walking, and guitar playing when he rescues her from bandits and tries to get her home again.)

Another suggestion is The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.
(Summary: A young boy goes to sell his cranberries and has to face an angry king in the palace. The king is angry because Bartholomew does not remove his hat for the king. Each
time he tries to remove his hat another one appears. The king wants him punished.)

After the introductory book is read, ask the students to tell what rights and freedoms the character has and is allowed to do in the story. Continue with several books listed in the pages that follow this lesson so that several freedoms are exemplified.

ACTIVITIES:

1. Role play the story, concentrating on one freedom or right.

2. Students will make up "What If" questions about the story,
concerning the freedoms being discussed. For example, What if the
king in The 500 Hats did not have a rule that stated, that
everyone must remove their hat before being punished?

3. Write a letter or make an imaginary phone call to the main
character telling him/her about his/her rights that are
guaranteed for all Americans.

4. Students can brainstorm different television shows that have
something similar to the stories and tell how the shows and
stories are alike and different. SEE VENN DIAGRAM

5. Think-Pair-Share Activity: Students will think about a right
they would not like to give up (could be at home or school). Then
they will pair up with a partner and share their ideas with that
partner and then act our the right and have the class to guess what they are sharing.

6. Have the class will compose a vertical poem called Freedom or rights.

HANDOUTS
Please click on the "Printable Lesson Plan" link below for the Graphic Organizer handouts.

EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT
Please click on the "Printable Lesson Plan" link below for the assessment handouts.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
The following books may be used to lead to a discussion of the
freedoms and rights in the Bill of Rights

1st - Freedom of speech and religion
Dayenu or How Uncle Murray Saved the Seder by R. Schilder

2nd - Right to bear arms or own guns
The Happy Hunter by Duvoisin
Mister Billy's Gun by Hader
The Tomatoe Patch by Wonderiska
Wooden Man by Bolliger

3rd - The Quartering of Soldiers
Stone Soup by Brown
Steadfast Tin Soldier by Anderson
Soldier, Soldier Won't You Marry Me? by Langstaff
Drummer Hoff by Emberley

4th - The Right to be Secure in your own Home
Look for Daniela by S. Kroll
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by Steig
Where the Wild Things Are by Sendak

8th - Cruel and Unusual Punishment Shall Not Be Inflicted
The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss
The Thief and the Blue Rose by U. Schaeffler

For additional information on topics you may use A to Zoo Subject
Access to Children's Picture Books by C.W. Lima.

The National Constitution Center's Warren E. Burger Repository of Lesson Plans
www.constitutioncenter.org

RELATED LINKS
 Printable Lesson Plan