Five short definitions open this 5th grade social studies worksheet on the First Amendment: religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. Students then read eight everyday situations, such as a family going to a mosque on Friday or citizens signing a petition for a crosswalk, and write which freedom each one uses. Part 2 has two written questions. The 4-page file ends with an answer key that lists all eight freedoms and a sample answer.
“Name the five freedoms protected by the First Amendment and say what each one allows.”
The cards on page 1 define each freedom, and Part 1 asks students to apply them to eight situations.
“Explain why the First Amendment freedoms matter in a democracy.”
Part 2 question 2 asks why the founders listed these freedoms first.
Five cards, each naming a freedom and saying what it protects, for example "Assembly: People can gather peacefully in groups for meetings, marches, or protests."
A table of eight situations with a blank Freedom column. Students write religion, speech, press, assembly or petition for each, including a family celebrating Hanukkah and a blogger posting about the school board.
Two written questions. One asks which freedom is used when you sign a petition, and the other asks why these freedoms were listed first in the Bill of Rights.
The freedom for each of the eight situations, the answer for petition, and a sample answer for the question about why the freedoms come first.
Reference cards
Let students keep page 1 beside them while they fill in the table, then ask them to cover it and check three answers from memory.
Two religion items
Items 1 and 6 both use freedom of religion. Ask what the two situations have in common, then ask for a third example from your own community.
Write a ninth
After checking the key, have each student write a ninth situation for a partner to label. A clear press example is harder to write than it looks.
Get started today
