Jan. 17, 2007: Our First Amendment

The Mini Page is a syndicated, four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in the Rocky Mountain News. This issue of The Mini Page is available through the eEdition Archive to registered eEdition subscribers. Click here to learn about subscribing to the eEdition at no cost to you (for Colorado teachers).

Activities:

1. Draw a picture showing you exercising one of the freedoms in the First Amendment. Write a sentence or two telling about your picture.

2. Cut out newspaper words and pictures to make a collage about the First Amendment. Include these examples on your collage: religious services, news about the state or national government, and news about a community meeting.

3. Find a news story about a decision made by a local government group, such as a city council or school board. Write a paragraph explaining what will happen to people in your community because of that decision.

4. Which of the First Amendment freedoms would protect your right to (a) put a Christmas nativity display on your lawn, (b) hold a peaceful demonstration outside a government office, (c) write a letter to the editor of this newspaper, and (d) ask a state legislature to propose a new law?

5. Find a news story about a decision made by the national government. Identify different groups who will support the decision and write a brief paragraph explaining why each group supports the decision. Identify different groups who will oppose the decision and write a brief paragraph explaining why each group opposes the decision. Now write several sentences stating your position on the decision.

This week's standards:

• Students understand the purpose of government. (Social Studies: Power, Authority and
  Governance)
• Students identify key ideals of the United States' democratic republican form of government. (Social Studies: Civic Ideals and Practice)
  
  

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)