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8th grade · Social Studies · Unit 2 of 12

Rights & Amendments

The Bill of Rights and beyond

What your child practices

What the first ten amendments protect, the Reconstruction Amendments, and why rights come with limits and responsibilities.

Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: 8.C2.2; 8.C2.3 · the rights and responsibilities of people in a democracy, and the rule of law

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments: the First protects speech, religion, press, assembly and petition; the Second is about keeping and bearing arms.
  2. Later amendments added rights: the 13th ended slavery, the 14th made people born in the US citizens, the 15th protected voting regardless of race.
  3. Match each amendment by its number and the right it protects.

Example: Which amendment protects freedom of speech? Freedom of speech is in the Bill of Rights. It is listed with religion, press and assembly. That is the First Amendment. Answer: the First Amendment

Rights & Amendments in Arizona

In the Arizona Academic Standards, this is unit 2 of 12 in 8th grade Social Studies, after Founding Ideas and before Taking Part.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Arizona Department of Education

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    The Fourteenth Amendment (1868)…

    • Made people born in the US citizens and promised equal protection of the laws
    • Gave 18-year-olds the vote
    • Created the Senate
    • Ended slavery

  2. Question 2

    Which amendment guarantees a speedy and public trial with a lawyer?

    • The Sixth Amendment
    • The First Amendment
    • The Tenth Amendment
    • The Fourth Amendment

  3. Question 3

    Why do rights have limits?

    • Rights don't exist
    • Limits are random
    • Only the president has rights
    • One person's rights can't harm others' rights or safety

  4. Question 4

    A citizen sends a letter asking Congress to change a law. Which right is this?

    • The right to bear arms
    • The right to petition
    • The right to a lawyer
    • Freedom from cruel punishment

  5. Question 5

    Which right is protected when a student writes a newspaper article criticizing the mayor?

    • Freedom from quartering
    • The right to a jury
    • The right to bear arms
    • Freedom of the press and speech

  6. Question 6

    Why might people disagree about a school rule that limits what students can wear?

    • It balances freedom of expression with the school's need for order
    • Rights never apply in schools
    • Everyone always agrees
    • Clothes are not expression

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