This collection has helpful ideas for teaching about the Constitution.
Constitution Day Fun Idea
Posted by: JRichard #116322
I am a social studies teacher--I LOVE history...and I have to say I was BORED TO TEARS by all of the lesson plans on the internet for Constitution Day. if I'm bored, what about the kids?
We teach the Constitution later in the year, so we are never overly concerned about teaching specific facts on this day. To me, it's more about celebrating the spirit of the Constitution on its anniversary.
In that light, our social studies teachers usually teach our students how to recite the Preamble in sign lanugage. It's a fun way to celebrate the diversity in our country through the Constitution.
This year, our U.S. History teachers decided they would ask their students to dress like colonials, or, if they could, a specific founding father. They are having a small party (du...
I'll be doing those lessons for grades 2-6 from my Computer Lab as well. I plan to use a website called "Ben's First Government for Kids."
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/index.html
My plans aren't complete but I think we will complete an Internet Treasure Hunt with the older students. The little ones will be harder for me simply because I don't have nearly as much experience with that age group.
I saw a news segment last week. A congressman became upset because Americans could not answer simple questions about our Constitution and how it came into existance. Most of what he was talking about I taught in 5th grade Social Studies, but we now have a mandate to teach lessons on the Constitution across the country on or around September 17.
My first grade team will be doing our Constitution Day presentation this year ( in our district it is REQUIRED that all schools do "something" on this day ). Anyway... we are thinking of having everyone wear either red, white or blue and we would each have a couple of students from each class (4 classes) say a fact about our flag/constitution etc. We were also thinking we'd let them sing Lee Greenwood's "I'm proud to be an American. " Does anyone have ANY other ideas, suggestions, websites, etc. HELP! Thanks in advance PT friends. :)
The is a Fantastic picture book that came out 2 years ago called The Constitution. The preamble is broken into phrases and illustrated to explain the meaning of the original language of the Constitution. It usually takes 2 45 minute segments for me to get through the book as I stop and discuss the illustrations and have the class re-phrase the wording. It's a staple in my bag of tricks.:)
We made picture books of the preamble to the constitution. They did a phrase on each page. It needed to be clear enough that a 3rd grader could understand what the phrase meant. They loved it! We also did Battle Books. For the Revolutionary War each child picked three battles to tell and draw about. We made little books to tell about them. We kept them in individual cereal boxes which was a neat way to keep them organized.
Constitution Day Activity
Posted by: Windalynn #116084
Here is a great website for k-3, 4-7, and 8-12. Just click on the appropriate link for your grade.
http://www.usconstitution.net/constkidsK.html
I actually copied and pasted the info. into a word document and I am going to use it during guided reading on Constitution Day. I am attaching a copy of the one I made for k-3.
ideas for Constitution and Bill of Rights
Posted by: Carolyn #37235
Once your children understand the purpose of both, why not let them write their own classroom Constitution and Bill of Rights? I always feel that kids need to experience what they learn. You can do the same with branches of government. My students wrote their own laws, decided if they were constitutional, and vetoed them if they weren't. They finally signed the bills into law. Good experience for all.
Constitution Day
Posted by: msamyb #124937
You might try to have each first grade class write their own "Classroom Constitutions" and have each child sign it at the bottom OR you could try to get one of these videos to watch:
Charlie Brown Birth of the Constitution This is America Charlie Brown
I read these books as well and then have my kids create and "sign" our own Constitution... I get some brown wrapping/packing paper (or a brown bag with no writing) and have that ready (probably 3 ft. by 4 ft). Then after reading... We the Kids: the preamble to the constitution we discuss what we need in our own classroom. I write on the board: We the students of Mrs. BXXX's room in order to form a more perfect classroom will... this is where they help by listing some things that we need to do to make it a great year. After we get it the way we want it I write it on the brown paper in "fancy" writing. Then we all "sign" it. I bought a HUGE feather from a craft store and I get black paint (watered down a bit) and they sign with that, just like they did years ago. They LOVE doing this! :D Aft...
Actually there is nothing strange about the date. Technically it is September 17th - the day the constitution was signed. They probably weren't thinking about the start of school then ;)
You didn't say which grade, so of course activities will vary from age to age. However, if you type Constitution Day activities and the grade, you will find a ton.
While it is not ideal to teach something out of context, the idea is to make students aware of the day - much like the fourth of July or Memorial Day, or Presidents Day.
I have written on this subject before, and I will share with this board again what we did in our room. We actually created groups of students to represent the three branches of government. We elected legislators to make up the laws (actually, for us, rules). Once the legislators made up the laws for the classroom, the cafeteria, and the playground, we had our "Supreme Court" decide if they were appropriate laws. (Of course, we had written a Constitution beforehand.) Kids looked over the Constitution of the classroom to decide to the rules were constitutional. They elected a president of the class who had the power to veto the laws made by the legislators.
I think that a good place to start would be to create a Constitution. Put it up on poster board, or bulletin board paper (may...
"We The People" is a federzlly funded program that helps teachers teach about the constitution. They will provide you with training and books. Contact your local person thru the web. Look up the Center for Civic Education, even if you can't take the training this year I'm sure they can give you some ideas.
Veteran's Day
Posted by: Jade #65752
You can have your students read from some famous documents such as The Gettysburg Address or the Constitution. Our school has a VFW or American Legion color guard, the elementary choir sings, and local veterans are invited as guests. Having them be family members of students or graduates of your school is a great idea.
