INTRODUCTION / TASK / PROCESS / RESOURCES / EVALUATION / CONCLUSION THE FIRST AMENDMENT A Web Quest for 4th Grade INTRODUCTION / TASK / PROCESS / RESOURCES / EVALUATION / CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION You and your classmates spent several weeks creating a newspaper for a class assignment, and now you have been informed by the Mrs. Diaz that it can't be published by the school due to questionable information in your editorial.  You are furious because you feel your first amendment rights (Freedom of the Press) have been violated.  However, you received an “A” on your project, and your group wants to take action.  I have arranged for your class to make a presentation to Mrs. Diaz to defend your newspaper.  Return to main menu

TASK Your task is to determine if the First Amendment guarantees your right to freedom of the Press.   To do this, your group will make a presentation to Mrs. Diaz.  Your presentation must show that you understand the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States. Return to main menu

PROCESS The class will be divided into groups determined by the teacher. Each group will responsible for researching the Constitution. As you research, you should complete a KWL chart to record facts and notes in your own words. Your group must include historical information that explains why the First Amendment was created and included in the Bill of Rights. You must cite all of your sources.   Return to main menu

RESOURCES There are many parts of the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment.  A great deal of information and resources are available on this topic.  Here are a few web sites that will help you with your research: http://www.usconstitution.net/constkidsK.html http://www.congressforkids.net/games/billofrights/2_billofrights.htm Return to main menu

EVALUATION (Rubric for Group Work) Skills 1 2 3 4 Points Helping:  The teacher observed the students offering assistance to each other. None of the time Some of the Time Most of the Time All the Time   Listening:  The teacher observed students working from each other's ideas. None of the Time Cooperative Group Work:        The teacher observed each student contributing to the project. Respecting: The teacher observed the students encouraging and supporting the ideas and efforts of others. Sharing: The teacher observed the students offering ideas and reporting their findings to each other. Completed Work: All assignments must be completed fully. Notebooks must be neat and in order. Incomplete assignments and notebook is messy- hard to read Completed some assignments Completed most assignments Completed all assignments and notebook is easy to read 24-20= A 19-16= B 15-12= C 11-8= D 7--0=  F Grade for the Group: Total Points for the Group = Return to main menu

CONCLUSION The first amendment is definitely an important aspect of the Bill of Rights.  It allows us to choose the religion of our choice, speak freely about any subject, and criticize, question and protest the actions and power of our government on all levels.  Now that you have a better understanding of the First Amendment, it is your job to make sure that you are heard and to let those in charge of our government know that you expect to be heard.  Stay in tune with our government, and remember it was voices of our past fellow Americans that inspired the creation of this amendment.  They expect you to make use of it. Will you?  Return to main menu