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 of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Five for the First

A Short Daily Lesson Plan About the First Amendment: by Jane M. Blystone

School/City/State: North East High School, North East PA

Title of Lesson Plan: The First Amendment – so what?

Overview and Rationale Based on the Knight Foundation Report on what student think about the First Amendment

Goals for Understanding

• Essential Questions
• Can you name all five freedoms guaranteed to you as an American citizen in the First Amendment?
• Why would knowing all five of these freedoms be relevant to teens today?
• Why is it important for teens to study the First Amendment?
• What does our state constitution say about student freedom of expression?

Resources/Materials

• The report on which this lesson is based: The Knight Foundation Report - http://www.knightfdn.org/annual/2004/download.asp
• The PA School Code on student Freedom of Expression http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter12/s12.9.html

Activity

• Read and annotate the Knight Report for a class discussion.
• Discuss why you think the PA state school code is an important document for student journalists to know.
• Write an editorial about the impact of the Knight Report might have on the teaching of the First Amendment in public schools.

Assessment

• Students participate in the discussion and offer their opinions on why it is important to know and defend all five freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment.
• Students write an editorial defending the importance of teaching and supporting the First Amendment to students in public schools.

References Recommended

http://firstamendmentfuture.org/
http://jeapressrights.org
http://www.splc.org/