December 15th is Bill of Rights Day, an opportunity to help your students connect the foundational freedoms of the U.S. Constitution to their everyday lives. This year, bring the Bill of Rights to life in your classroom with a hands-on, persuasive writing Bill of Rights activity. It can be a fun way to explore civic values, student voice, and the democratic process.
Use persuasive writing to create a classroom Bill of Rights
Start by explaining to students that the framers of the Constitution understood it would need to evolve over time. Since its ratification, 27 amendments have been added. The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, protect essential freedoms like speech, religion, the press, and the right to assemble.
To introduce the topic, try showing this video from the National Constitution Center about the creation and ratification of the Bill of Rights. Short on time? Try this three-minute video explainer from TED-Ed instead.
Steps to creating your classroom Bill of Rights
Challenge your students to write a Bill of Rights for your classroom. The document should include 10 of the rights they expect in the classroom, whether that’s in person or online. This Bill of Rights lesson activity encourages collaboration and critical thinking.
- Brainstorm as a class.
Ask students: What rights and freedoms should we all have in this classroom?
Offer a few examples to get them started: Students have the right to express their opinions, as long as they do so respectfully. Students have the right to ten minutes of free time every day, as long as they follow rules. - Draft and revise.
Collect student ideas and compile them into a shared document. Encourage persuasive language and thoughtful reasoning. Revise the document together until three-fourths of the class ratifies it, just like the real Constitution! - Sign and celebrate!
Once finalized, have each student sign the new Classroom Bill of Rights. Display it proudly in your classroom or virtual space as a symbol of shared values and mutual respect.
Extend your Bill of Rights lesson plan with a downloadable worksheet
Want to take the Bill of Rights lesson plan idea further? Middle and high school students can deepen their understanding with a free downloadable worksheet that includes vocabulary practice, true/false questions, and critical thinking prompts. These Bill of Rights activities are perfect for reinforcing key concepts.
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This activity was originally published in 8 Fun Constitution Day Activities for Students.
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