We the People: An Introduction to Our Constitution

Presented by: Diane Hewitt

Subject Area(s):

Grade Level(s):

Description:

This lesson is designed students grade 5-8 as an introductory lesson to research to be taught collaboratively between the library media specialist and classroom teacher and integrated into a unit on the Constitution. Students will work in groups for acrivities of this lesson which include researching and identifying the parts of the Constitution, writing and sharing information orally.

Goals & Objectives:

Instructional Goals:

 

Students will

 

Learning Objectives:

 

Students will

 

 

Motivational Goals:

 

Students will gain confidence in researching, retrieving, and processing information to fulfill an information need.

 

 

Materials:

www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/freedom/indes.html

www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/constitution/confath.htm.

www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/constitution/conmain.htm.

 

Literature

Fritz, Jean. (1998) Shh!We're Writing the Constitution. New York:  Harcourt Brace.

 

Johnson, Linda Carlson. (1994). Our Constitution (I Know America). New York:  Millbrook Press.

 

Levy, Elizabeth. (1996). If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution. New York:  Paper Star.

 

Maestro,Giulio. (1997). A More Perfect Union:  The Story of Our Constitution. New York:  Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books.

 

Quiri, Patricia. (1998). The Constitution:  A True Book. Danbury, CT:  Children's Press.

Procedures:

Content

Day 1

  1. Upon their arrival, welcome students and ask them to imagine what school would be like without rules and regulations. Allow a brief reflection
  2. Display the Constitution on the Smart Board.
  3. Explain that after the Revolutionary War, it was found that the Articles of Confederation had several weaknesses.
  4. Read aloud the preambleof the Constitution, and model a "think aloud" by discussing how you highlight key words and decipher difficult words.
  5. Ask students to write a preamble for their class.
  6. Discuss with the class what is important

Assessment:

-Ask students to write a preamble for their class.

-Worksheet#1 and 2



Learning Assessment Method:



1.For technology aspect of this project the worksheet will be evaluated for

completeness and for information accuracy.

2.For the print resource students will be evaluated for completeness and

accuracy

3.Group observation

Supporting Files:

Standards: