Constitution

Topic: The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States. This lesson will explore the origins, key provisions, and future of the Constitution and its influence on American government and society.Topic: The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States. This lesson will explore the origins, key provisions, and future of the Constitution and its influence on American government and society.

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify the origins of the Constitution and its key provisions.
• Students will be able to explain the future of the Constitution and its influence on American government and society.

Materials

• Copies of the Constitution for each student
• Handouts with key provisions and facts about the Constitution
• Art materials (optional)

Warm-Up

• Have students pair up and ask them to think about what they know about the Constitution. Have them share their thoughts with a partner and discuss any misconceptions they have.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the topic of the Constitution and explain that it is the supreme law of the United States.
• Show the students the Constitution and explain that it consists of seven articles and 27 amendments.
• Ask the students to read the Preamble and have them discuss what it means.
• Go through each article of the Constitution and discuss the key points and concepts in each one.
• Ask the students to read the first amendment and have them discuss what it means.
• Go through each amendment and discuss the key points and concepts in each one.

Guided Practice

• Divide the students into small groups and give each group a copy of the Constitution.
• Have the students read through the Constitution and underline or highlight the key points and concepts.
• Have the students come back to the class and present their findings to the class.

Independent Practice

• Have the students choose one of the clauses they underlined or highlighted in the Constitution and research the meaning and historical context of the clause.
• Have the students create a visual representation of their findings (e.g. poster, flannel board, mural, etc.).

Closure

• Ask the students to reflect on what they have learned about the Constitution.
• Ask the students to share one thing they learned about the Constitution and why it is important.
• Ask the students to share one thing they learned about themselves through the process of learning about the Constitution and why it is important.

Closure

Assessment

• Observe the students during the lesson and the independent practice to assess their understanding of the material and their ability to apply it in an independent practice.
• Collect the students' written reflections and use them to assess their understanding of the material and their ability to apply it in an independent practice.