
The Constitution
Students will learn how our Constitution was created and what some of its key characteristics are. They will also explore key amendments to the Constitution and their application in protecting citizens' rights.
Students find out how the three branches of government interact with each another. Through the process of creating a healthy school lunch menu, students role-play each branch’s responsibility in the law-making process. They then compare the simulation activity to a real-life example of a bill that became law.
Students learn where the federal government gets its power and that government power in the United States is split between states and the federal government. They learn about express and implied powers, distinguish between federal powers and those reserved to the states (as well as shared powers), and contrast the federalist system of government with other choices the Founders might have made.
We suggest teaching our lesson "State Power: Got a Reservation? back-to-back with this lesson.
Does the Constitution guarantee students the right to wear whatever clothing they want to school? What if that clothing is controversial or disruptive? In this Drafting Board issue, students explore those questions and more through the lens of Ben Brewer. They must decide whether Ben’s controversial band t-shirt can be banned by Principal Carter. Whichever side they choose, students must support their claim with relevant evidence and sound reasoning. The fate of Ben and his shirt hang in the balance!
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Constitution Day is September 17, the day in 1787 when our U.S. government was born. Meet your Constitution Day education requirement with this free and engaging lesson plan. This interactive lesson gives students a quick snapshot of the Constitution, including the purpose of each article, the powers of the three branches, how a bill becomes a law, and the concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances.
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This lesson guides volunteers through a great Constitution Day class activty.
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Learn how the American idea of government evolved from a revolutionary response to monarchy to a unified nation. The sources will illustrate the effort taken to reach “a more perfect union” through a close read of our founding documents.
View the Constitution from the perspective of its foundational principles. Consider the Founders' intentions and the Constitution itself as you discover how the constitutional principles are critical to a free society.
Discover the debate that surrounded the Constitution before it became the law of the land. Excerpts from Federalist 84 and Anti-Federalist 46 offer insight into both sides of the debate while offering a better understanding of how our government developed in its early years.
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Jump into the big debate over the Bill of Rights, and see how the Federalists and Anti-Federalists battled over the fate of the U.S. Constitution. Where did the idea come from? How did they decided on the first ten amendments and a focus on individual rights?
In 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention decided that it was time for a change. A new plan for government was outlined in the Constitution, and it was George Washington's job to present this document to Congress. As with any important document, the Constitution was delivered with a letter of introduction. Part background, part persuasion, Washington's cover letter provides a behind-the-scenes look at how a new government came to be designed.
Make your students’ gameplay more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for Do I Have a Right?. We included tips and practice that help make differentiated instruction a breeze. And, best of all, new instructional scaffolds now mean this lesson is adaptable for a wide range of learners!
Do I Have a Right? and its Extension Pack are correlated according to WIDA's methodology using the WIDA PRIME V2 Inventory. To see how these materials best meet your ELL students' needs, click here. (Note: PRIME stands for Protocol for Review of Instructional Materials for ELLs.)
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Learn how the Constitution has changed over time and what methods created those changes. Analyze specific examples of change including amendments, Supreme Court decisions, and legislation.
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This WebQuest takes you on a fast tour of our Constitution. You'll find out why it was written, how it's structured, what it does, and even how it can be changed. All the essentials are right here!
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