The Bill of Rights is the name for the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. James Madison drafted them, and they were ratified on December 15, 1791, to protect individual freedoms from government overreach.
In this lesson, students learn what each of several key amendments protects, including freedom of religion, speech, the press and assembly in the First Amendment, and the right to a fair trial. They connect each right to examples from their own lives and talk about why the founders thought written protections were important.
Lesson at a glance
- Grades 4–5, about 30–45 minutes
- Skills: reading informational text, connecting history to daily life