The document summarizes the key rights protected by the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution as understood by second and eighth grade students. It explains that the first four amendments protect freedom of expression, religion, assembly, press, and the right to petition the government. The next four amendments outline rights of the criminally accused like due process, a speedy trial, legal representation, and not self-incrimination. The remaining amendments cover the rights to bear arms, protection from soldiers in private homes, and protection from cruel/unusual punishment and excessive bail.

1. What the U.S. Constitution Means to Us! A collaborative effort by the second and eighth graders of WDS

2. The Bill of Rights is part of the Constitution and protects the rights of individuals.

3. The Bill of Rights has ten amendments—the first four amendments protect peoples’ rights.

4. The first amendment says that people can express their feelings, choose what religion to follow, and have meetings. Also, newspapers can report the news and people can complain to the government.

6. The second amendment says that grown-ups can own guns.

8. The third amendment says the government can’t force anyone to let soldiers stay at their house.

10. The fourth amendment says that police can’t search your house without permission from a judge.

12. The next four amendments protect people that are accused of breaking the law or committing crimes.

14. The fifth amendment says you can’t go to court for the same problem twice. Also, you don’t have to tell on yourself in court.

16. The sixth amendment says if you get into trouble, you must have a chance to defend yourself in court quickly. You must be allowed to have a lawyer, and your lawyer can question the people that say you did something bad.

18. The seventh amendment says that if you are charged with a crime you can choose to be judged by people that are like you.

20. The eighth amendment says a judge can’t charge a huge amount of money to get out of jail or give you cruel punishments.

22. The ninth amendments says that even though the Constitution is a list of rights, people can still have other rights not on the list.

24. The tenth amendment says that anything not covered in the Constitution can be decided by the states.

26. The Bill of Rights is part of the Constitution and protects the rights of individuals. The Bill of Rights has ten amendments—the first four amendments protect peoples’ rights. The first amendment says that people can express their feelings, choose what religion to follow, and have meetings. Also, newspapers can report the news and people can complain to the government. The second amendment says that grown-ups can own guns. The third amendment says the government can’t force anyone to let soldiers stay at their house. The fourth amendment says that police can’t search your house without permission from a judge. The next four amendments protect people that are accused of breaking the law or committing crimes. The fifth amendment says you can’t go to court for the same problem twice. Also, you don’t have to tell on yourself in court. The sixth amendment says if you get into trouble, you must have a chance to defend yourself in court quickly. You must be allowed to have a lawyer, and your lawyer can question the people that say you did something bad. The seventh amendment says that if you are charged with a crime you can choose to be judge by people that are like you. The eighth amendment says a judge can’t charge a huge amount of money to get out of jail or give you cruel punishments. The next two amendments make sure people keep other rights not listed in the Constitution. The ninth amendments says that even though the Constitution is a list of rights, people can still have other rights not on the list. The tenth amendment say that anything not covered in the Constitution can be decided by the states.