History Kids: Constitutional Amendments

Gr 7 Up—This program presents a quick overview of the Bill of Rights, focusing on the first five amendments. The historical background of each is introduced with a few period drawings. Several modern-day applications, including a few court cases, are addressed, such as Miranda v. Arizona (which established the right to an attorney) and Engblom v. Carey, which involved the quartering of soldiers. The Fourth Amendment is considered in relation to school searches (Safford v. Redding). Each amendment explanation is completed with three multiple choice questions. The film is great for a quick review, and vocabulary words are defined on-screen. Students may be bored by the lack of live-action, but there are some attention-getting graphics; for example, George III is portrayed wearing headphones to symbolize his reluctance to hear the colonists' protests. The language is simple and easy to understand, and each section can be shown independently.