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Summary and Objective
Students will understand that the U.S. Constitution is a document of great historical significance, and that the Constitution is the foundation of our country and our system of government. By examining images pertaining to the Constitutional Convention and the words of the framers regarding the Constitution, the children will gain insight into the historical context of the founding of our country and the values and beliefs upon which our country was founded, and that the Constitution established government by the people as opposed to government by a king. By examining the Constitution itself, and learning important phrases and principles embedded in this document, students will begin to understand the rights and freedoms granted to us by our founders.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Display images of the Constitutional Convention. Ask the children the following questions: What do you notice? What do you think is happening? Do you think something important is happening? Did this happen in the present or long ago? How can you tell?
Step 2.
Explain the Constitutional Convention and share quotes of the framers to help children understand what the founders wanted to accomplish regarding the government of our country. Explain that the Constitution established government by the people, as opposed to government by a king.
Step 3.
View "Remarks and Observations" by Justin Hitchcock from the digital collection. Share the remarks on page 77 regarding the Constitutional Convention. Explain that the phrase "by the sword" means that people had the government forced upon them, were ruled by a king, and did not have a choice or a say in the matter.
Step 4.
View the images of the Constitutional Convention again, and share Justin Hitchcock's remarks about the convention ("a novel scene a great people sending their greatest men to form for them in a peaceable and tranquil manner a form of government which was to be binding on them and their Posterity And they happily succeeded"). Ask the children the following questions: What are the men in the picture doing? Why was this considered a new idea? Why was this a good idea?
Step 5.
Examine a replica of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Read and explain the preamble, and share key phrases and principles contained in this document. Discuss our form of government, the three branches of government, and the rights and freedoms guaranteed to us by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Through discussion, develop the students' understanding.
Step 6.
Share "The Ratification of the Constitution by Massachusetts" from the digital collection. Explain what ratification means, and that the Constitution had to be voted on by each of the states. Ask the children the following questions: How is this different than government by a king? Why do you think the bells in Boston were rung for 2 hours after the Constitution was ratified?
Step 7.
Read the book "We the Kids" by David Catrow. Discuss the images and the meaning of the words.
Step 8.
Create a replica of the preamble, and have students sign this. Then make each child a copy which they can take home.
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