Students in Angel Oliver’s 5th grade Social Studies class at Swainsboro Elementary School enjoyed Police Chief Randy Ellison’s help in understanding how citizens' rights are protected under the U.S. Constitution. Students were actively engaged in their learning by working in small groups to write their own Bill of Rights. Each group presented their work to the class. In this unit, students are expected to explain how the Constitution was designed to establish a basic system of government for the United States and protect its citizens' rights. Students understand their basic rights as determined by the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Mrs. Oliver proudly expressed how her students have awesome curiosity. She said, "I always want my students to feel safe to be able to express their thoughts and opinions. I've learned over the years that to truly touch a student’s life is to get to know their interests, hobbies, and what they do outside of school. That way, they feel comfortable talking with me and let me know when they need help. After that, I let the students know that it's okay not to know how to do something or make a mistake. Mistakes make us smarter, and that's why we have pencils to erase the past. They are our future, and to me, their opinions matter.”
