The U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment: Keep It Strong!

The U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment: Keep It Strong!
Fourth Grade First Amendment
Coloring/Activity Book
This coloring book was created in collaboration with the following Williamsville C.U.S.D. #15 teachers... Rashel Bayless Angela Chamness Joyce Cooper Kelly Groth Amy Haugh Laura Kennedy Julie Kittilstad Bev LaFrance Janis Lindsey
Peggy Lipe Karin McCarthy Janet McLay Jennifer Meister Pam Shanle Barbara Sullivan Donna Wade Melissa Willing
©2006 Illinois First Amendment Center. Recipient acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the following terms: The Illinois First Amendment Center (IFAC) has developed this coloring book for use in the elementary grades and other educational settings. Recipient (“Licensee”) acknowledges that the IFAC owns the copyright to this coloring book. In consideration for Licensee’s use of this coloring book in classrooms or other educational setting, the IFAC, as licensor, agrees to grand Licensee a non-exclusive license to the coloring book for the following uses, and only the following uses: To reproduce the coloring book in copies, the number of copies not to exceed the number of Licensee’s students enrolled in Licensee’s classes at any point in time; to distribute copies of the coloring book to students enrolled in Licensee’s classes; and to display the coloring book or any parts thereof in Licensee’s classroom(s) and on adjacent displays, including hallways and bulletin boards. In consideration for receipt of this coloring book and the granting of the aforementioned license, Licensee agrees to the terms of said license, including the uses of the coloring book. Licensee acknowledges that any other use of the coloring book is prohibited under this license without prior approval of the IFAC. Any commercial use of this product is expressly prohibited, and any effort to distribute for a commercial purpose or gain is likewise expressly prohibited. Unauthorized use of this coloring book may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and damages under the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 United States Code Section 101 et seq.
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How the First Amendment Came About
The U.S. Constitution
Our country is governed by a document called the Constitution. The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. It was created by the “framers” or “founding fathers” of our country. When the Constitution was ratified, or approved, in 1787, it did not contain a guarantee of individual rights. There were many who opposed ratification of the Constitution because they felt these individual rights needed to be enumerated, or listed, in the document that would form our American way of life.
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
Those who opposed ratification were called the Anti-Federalists. Those who did not oppose ratification were called the Federalists. The Federalists felt that listing the individual rights was not necessary. They favored approval of the Constitution as it was originally written.
Bill of Rights
After much debate, the Bill of Rights was adopted. To be adopted, the Bill of Rights needed to be ratified by a majority of the states at that time. On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights went into effect after ratification by the state of Virginia.
The Bill of Rights contains the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. This booklet covers the first of those ten, commonly called the First Amendment, or Amendment One.
Hi Kids! My name is Uno, and this is my dog, Freedom. I named my dog “Freedom” after the FIVE FREEDOMS contained in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
We are going to learn all about the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment and the “Five Freedoms” it guarantees all Americans. But first we have to learn how the First Amendment came about.
Color
The First Amendment The First Amendment consists of 45 words and guarantees five individual freedoms to all Americans. Those freedoms are bolded below:
“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.”
The Illinois First Amendment Center Page 4
Freedom of Religion The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees religious freedom to all Americans. Freedom of religion means that your family may choose how you practice your faith, which religion you follow, and which church, synagogue, temple, or mosque to attend.
Because of the First Amendment and this freedom . . .
Our American government is prevented from establishing a common religion that we all must follow. Our government is prevented from telling us where or how we worship.
In some countries, the people do not have religious freedom. They are told how to believe.
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Freedom of Religion Activity Page
Give an example of religious freedom. You may write, draw, or cut out and attach examples from newspapers or magazines.
Your example might include: a religious symbol, a religious building, a person who leads others in prayer, an article about a religious meeting or holiday, etc.
Freedom of Speech The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of speech. This freedom prevents our government from passing laws or doing other things that could keep us from expressing our beliefs, thoughts and opinions.
Speech, however, does not only mean spoken words. Speech includes how we express ourselves or express our individuality. Even our hairstyles are an example of individual expression or “speech.”
We are able to express ourselves in many ways. One example of freedom of speech in our country is our right to criticize the way our government runs our country. Expressing our opinions in a letter to an editor is another example of freedom of speech.
In some countries, people do not have freedom of speech. They are told what they can and cannot say. They cannot criticize their government or express their opinions – orally or in writing.
• What freedoms of speech do you use?
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Freedom of Speech Activity Page Give an example of freedom of speech. You may write, draw, or cut out and attach examples from newspapers or magazines.
Your example might include expression through speech or dress or thought. It could include someone giving a speech on TV, a political debate, someone’s letter to the editor. Your example might be your own letter, expressing your thoughts, to a newspaper editor.
Freedom of the Press The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. The “press” provides the news to us. Without the news, we wouldn’t know what is going on in our town, our city, our state, our country, or around the world.
The news that comes from our newspapers is part of “the press.” The news you watch on the television or hear on the radio is also part of “the press.” To find out what’s happening, we can turn on the TV or radio, go on the Internet, or read the newspaper.
Our government cannot control the way our news is reported. The press does not have to ask our government for permission to write about things that happen in our community, our state, or our country.
The American press is allowed to report ALL of the news, not just what our government says may be reported.
In some countries, the government restricts the news that the press may report. In those countries, the citizens might not know about things that happen in their country or in other parts of the world. • What is your favorite source of the news? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
Freedom of the Press Activity Page You receive your news from many different sources. Give an example of “the press.” You may write, draw, or cut out and attach examples of “the press.” You may want to draw your favorite source of the news.
Freedom of Assembly The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the freedom of assembly. This means that Americans have the right to come together and join groups.
We are allowed to join many kinds of groups. You may be a part of a sports team, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or other types of groups in or out of school. If you did not have the freedom to assemble, you would not be able to join these types of groups.
In some countries, people are not allowed to join groups.
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Freedom of Assembly Activity Page Give an example of freedom of assembly. You may write, draw, or cut out and attach examples from newspapers or magazines.
Your example might include a parade, a sports team, an all-school assembly, or an article about a group of people, etc.
Freedom to Petition the Government
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees Americans the freedom to petition our government for a “redress of grievances.” This means we may ask for laws to be changed or for changes in the way our government is run.
Because of the First Amendment and this Freedom . . .
We may write letters to our elected officials to ask them to support something we believe in or a change in a law that we want them to support.
In some countries, the people are not allowed to ask for change in their government. In those countries, changes will only happen if the government decides to make changes. Their government might even tell the people who they must vote for in an election.
• How would our life in America be different if we didn’t have this right?
Freedom to Petition Activity
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First Amendment Word Search Directions: The words in the Word List are hidden in the puzzle below.
Words may be side to side, backwards, up and down, upside down or at an angle.
Circle each word you find.
WORD LIST
American Amendment Assembly Freedom Petition Press Religion Speech Uno
E X E R F M O D E E R F F D A P Q T V A S S E K P R E S S B R Y O G P W E A V V D C E C E E O S T I P X L B L E S N X Y I E E Y O B I Y U E T C T Q P L T I G I X R N D I I R B G P I P O L E E O C S M I V O V R N M E N A I E L E N T Q E D R S N E S D N R M A M N Z S O N S R Y D N B Q E S V E C A N A C I R E M A H C E E P S Y B S S A Z
Fill In The Blank Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.
1. The Constitution was signed on what date?
2. What is the name of the group of people who wrote our Constitution? (2 words)
3. Those who opposed the ratification of the Constitution were called what?
4. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are known as what? (3 words)
5. How many words are in the First Amendment?
6. How many freedoms are contained within the First Amendment?
7. Which freedom guarantees that we may join groups?
8. Which freedom guarantees our right to (respectively) express ourselves?
9. Which freedom guarantees that all of our news may be reported?

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The U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment: Keep It Strong!