OBJECTIVE:   Students will:

examine their own thinking and biases about the Bill of Rights by examining the Bill of Rights through primary sources and a video, and also exploring  Supreme Court cases involving the Bill of Rights.

examine the original meaning as set down by the founding fathers by looking at such a comparison document

compare, contrast , analyze and evaluate editorial cartoons involving the Bill of Rights

form an opinion and present that opinion about one issue involving the Bill of Rights

individually, or in pairs, design an editorial cartoon on an issue that is important to them

write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper explaining their cartoon

     TEACHER BACKGROUND

Many adult students are aware of the Bill of Rights only through what is said and done by the media.  By reading the actual documents and exploring landmark Supreme Court cases involving the Bill of Rights, adult students can learn about their rights and how they�re applied to their lives.

The following are some sites the teacher can visit before the actual lesson takes place.  Also see Resource page

http://www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/billrights/billrights.html
This is an easy reading site of the Bill of Rights.  (Primary source)

http://www.founding.com/home.htm
Guide to Declaration of Independence
Neat readings on the Bill of Rights and their applications and original meanings of the founding fathers.  Use for comparing today�s interpretation to those of the founding fathers.

http://oyez.at.nwu.edu/
US Supreme Court Database (Recent Cases)

http://cagle.slate.msn.com/teacher/
site for teachers with lesson plans about editorial cartoons

http://www.sunspot.net/content/archive/
The Baltimore Sun on-line

http://www.afroam.org/history/scott/scotts.html
Document involving equal justice for all. (Afro-American Museum)

http://www.nara.gov/education/teaching/analysis/cartoon.html
Cartoon analysis worksheet.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Access to internet or access to internet materials
On Common Ground video by Intelecom (Intelligent Communications)
Handouts for background brainstorming on Bill of Rights
Handouts for comparing/contrasting/evaluating editorial cartoons
Notebooks or journals to keep track of gathered information
Pencils, color pencils, drawing paper

Assessment
         and
      Rubric

Home

Lesson Plan

Resource