In Mrs. Terry’s 8th-grade class, students have been exploring the Bill of Rights to better understand the important freedoms and protections it provides for all Americans. Through discussions, hands-on activities, and real-life examples, they examined how each amendment affects their daily lives—from expressing their own opinions to ensuring fairness in the courtroom. After studying each amendment, students worked in groups to write a CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) paragraph about which amendment they felt was the most important. They supported their ideas with evidence from class materials and explained their reasoning clearly. This unit helped students think critically about the right they value, why these protections, were created, and how they continue to support a strong and active democracy today.
Tracey Terry
Leestown Middle School
Fayette County
Grades 6-8
