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Development of the Constitution

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Discussion

Primary Source

Assessment

Slide Deck Color Key

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Essential Question

How can the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights inspire us to establish justice in our classroom?

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Guiding Questions

How does the Constitution assign and limit power to government?

What are the rights and responsibilities of citizens in the United States?

How can I act justly at school?

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Learning Objectives

Using multiple sources, I can complete a graphic organizer illustrating the branches of government and their functions.

I can investigate the Bill of Rights and write a paragraph identifying my most important rights.

I can create an action plan inspired by the Bill of Rights to act justly in my classroom.

I can use civic skills to co-create a classroom Constitution and Bill of Rights with my teachers and peers.

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Content Objectives

I can explain the reasons for the development of the Constitution.

I can identify key ideas in the Constitution, including its purposes and the function of the three branches of government.

I can explain the role of compromise in the creation of the Constitution.

I can explain the significance of the Bill of Rights.

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Vocabulary “Snowball” Fight

Class Constitution Reflection and Quiz Game

Fair or Unfair Game

Constitution Organizer, Writing task

Bill of Rights Stations, Stations Reflection

Justice at School Skits, Individual Justice Plan

Class Constitutional Convention and Bill of Rights

Lesson Overview

Anticipate

Engage

Explore #1

Explore #2

Reflect

Assess

Explore #3

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Anticipate

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Vocabulary Word �Study

Fill out the graphic organizer with the definition of the word and its illustration.

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Vocabulary Snowball Fight

You will have an assigned word, definition, or illustration to write on a blank piece of paper.

It is very important to follow your assigned role, or the game won't work correctly!

You will then crumple your paper into ball, and line up with your team.

You will have 30 seconds to throw snowballs at the other team.

When time is up, find a snowball and open it. Find the person in the room with the matching snowball.

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Engage

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Fair or Unfair

Listen to the scenario.

Move around the room to demonstrate your answer.

Be able to defend your answer.

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Discussion Questions

Which scenario had the most people disagree or answer “it depends”?

Which scenario made it the hardest to choose?

Are you surprised by the scenario that had the most people agree/disagree on the answer? Why or why not?

Did your classmate’s explanation of their answers ever change your mind?

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Explore

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Reading and Constitution Organizer

Read Handout B.

Fill out Handout C as you go along.

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Writing Prompt

How does the U.S. Constitution assign and limit power?

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Sentence Stems

The U.S. Constitution assigns powers to the government like ______. It limits powers like______.

Powers are assigned or limited in the U.S. Constitution. Examples of this are ______.

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Rubric

Evidence of Mastery	Expectations	Room For Growth
	Organization Writing has a clear message and can be understood easily.
	Content Writing is historically and factually accurate.
	Writing Quality Writing is neat and easy to read. It uses capital letters and periods in all sentences.

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Explore

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Bill of Rights Stations

Follow the instructions on Handout D in each station.

Station 1: Bill of Rights Primary Source

Station 2: Bill of Rights and Beyond

Station 3: Bill of Rights and Beyond

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Stations Reflection

Fill out the reflection questions on the bottom of Handout D.

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Rubric

Evidence of Mastery	Expectations	Room For Growth
	Organization Writing has a clear message and can be understood easily.
	Content Writing is historically and factually accurate.
	Writing Quality Writing is neat and easy to read. It uses capital letters and periods in all sentences.

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Explore

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Discussion Questions

If the rights of the Bill of Rights are important to us and others, how should that shape our behavior toward others?

Justice is upholding what is right and fair and respecting the rights and dignity of all. Does this describe how we should treat others?

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Justice at School Skits

Brainstorm with your group places and situations where you can ensure justice by upholding what is right and fair and respecting the rights of others.

Create a 30-second skit portraying students ensuring justice at school.

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Individual Justice Plan

Use Handout E to create your own Justice Plan.

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Assess

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Let’s Review

Discuss the compromises made during the Constitutional Convention.

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Creating a Class Constitution

Follow the instructions and create your own Constitution Plan.

Make sure your plan outlines:

Distribution of power
Limits of power
Responsibility of the individual
The 3 most important rights

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Class Constitution Gallery Walk

With your partner:

1. Walk around the room and look at each proposal.

2. Discuss which proposal would be best for the class and would meet your interests.

3. Individually, mark your top three plans.

4. Sit at your seat when you are finished.

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Class Constitution Consensus Building

Read aloud the most popular plans based on our voting.

Come to a consensus about our best plan.

If we can’t come to a consensus, it’s time to compromise!

Agree on 3-5 powers that are the most important.

2/3 agreement becomes a Constitution.

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Class Bill of Rights

Read aloud Part 3 of the top voted Constitution plans.

Come to consensus on 10 class rights.

A 2/3 majority is needed to pass and make these rights our Classroom Bill of Rights.

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Reflect

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Class Constitution Reflection

Complete Handout G.

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Quiz Game

In your small group:

Write one quiz question on each piece of paper.

Write the correct answer on the back.

Multiple choice, true/false, short answer

Be creative!

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Quiz Game

Let’s Play!

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Discussion Questions

Which questions were challenging? Why?

What did you learn from the questions?

How did this activity reinforce what we learned?