Bill of Rights Day
Celebrate the Bill of Rights – the First Ten Amendments to the Constitution – on its anniversary December 15 and throughout the month.
Bill of Rights Day is Every Day
Raise awareness of the rights that have a direct impact on the quality of American life every day with conversation-starting videos featuring judges and spotlighting students. The videos are supported by resources on the rule of law and its impact on individual rights.
Video and Discussion Prompt
What freedom in the Bill of Rights is most important in your life? Why?
This 50-minute activity includes showing a three-minute, thought-provoking video.
Students Sound Off About the Bill of Rights. Supporting materials are ready for immediate use in courtrooms and classrooms with no additional research or reading required.
The video stimulates students to think about an Amendment that has a significant impact on what is important to them in their lives. It is followed by a question-formation activity that sets the stage for students to get invested and involved in critical thinking and civil discussion. The activity can be facilitated by a teacher, a federal judge, or an attorney.
Students choose their favorite Amendment and talk about why it’s important to them.
Objectives
Students watch the video and participate in a facilitated discussion about it.
- To give students experience with the vital skills of 1) forming and asking questions and 2) engaging in civil discussion on controversial issues with peers and adults.
- To give students the experience of claiming their personal stake in the Bill of Rights and the role of the courts in protecting those rights.
Activity Overview
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Agenda (docx)
- Participants: High school students
- Teacher/Student Preparation: None
- Judge/Lawyer Preparation: 10 minutes reviewing the video and the guidance tips.
- Activity Duration: 50 minutes
- Location: Courtroom or classroom.
- Centerpiece Resource: 3-Minute Video -- Students Sound Off About the Bill of Rights
Distribute the handouts. Give participants a one-page list of the Bill of Rights. Because students are most likely to show interest in the First Amendment and Fourth Amendment, they should receive two handouts that focus on these two Amendments -- word clouds for the First Amendment (pdf) and the Fourth Amendment (pdf) are springboards for students’ questions.
Video and Discussion Prompt
Judges make connections between the concept of the rule of law and the preservation of the Bill of Rights.
What does the concept of the rule of law have to do with the Bill of Rights?
In the five-minute Court Shorts: Rule of Law video, federal judges make the connection between this founding fundamental and the Bill of Rights. They offer insights into their thinking about the rule of law and describe the balancing of individual rights and community interests. Explore these principles found in landmark Supreme Court cases, discussion prompts and activities that are ready for immediate use in classrooms and courtrooms.
DISCLAIMER: These resources are created by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts for educational purposes only. They may not reflect the current state of the law, and are not intended to provide legal advice, guidance on litigation, or commentary on any pending case or legislation.