Bill of Rights Cloze Worksheet
Sharon Haigler
Overview
- This worksheet is adapted from “Activating the Schemata [Resource]” by Sharon Haigler.
- This worksheet is based on the Bill of Rights from the United States Constitution. More about the Bill of Rights can be found by clicking this link.
- By the end of this activity, students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the First, Second, and Third Amendments of the Bill of Rights by completing a cloze exercise, using context clues and prior knowledge to fill in key terms without referencing their notes.
Introduction: Cloze Exercises
A cloze exercise is often highly effective for ESL students as well as native English speakers when making connections of previously learned vocabulary or terms with new content in reading. The student is actively involved with the content of the pre-reading exercise while attempting to create meaning of the print. Key words are missing, and the reader must supply words drawing on previous knowledge. Oftentimes, it may be helpful for two or three students to collaborate on the exercise, especially if there is an ESL student who may be more reticent to take a risk with vocabulary. The student may not find the exact word from the original document, but one close in meaning can be acceptable for purposes of this activity.
Worksheet
Directions (for students): We will be continuing our study of the Bill of Rights by reviewing those amendments previously discussed. There are missing words, though, that you will need to fill in within the bracketed spaces. Do not look at your text or notes to find the missing words but read the surrounding text to find a word that makes sense. You may not find the exact missing word but think about the purpose of the Bill of Rights to find a word that would complete the meaning.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no [1. ] respecting an establishment of [2. ], or prohibiting the free [3. ] thereof, or abridging the [4. ] of speech, or of the press, or the [5. ] of the people to assemble, and to [6. ] the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well-regulated [7. ], being necessary to the [8. ] of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear [9. ], shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No [10. ] shall, in time of peace be quartered in any [11. ], without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of [12. ], but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Click here to download a Word Doc version of this worksheet:
Bill of Rights Cloze Worksheet
Attribution:
Haigler, Sharon. “Bill of Rights Cloze Worksheet.” Strategies, Skills and Models for Student Success in Writing and Reading Comprehension. College Station: Texas A&M University, 2024. This work is licensed with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
