EGP 335

Lesson Plan
Lesson Title: The Constitution
Day Number:10
Author: Jessica Miller
Unit: Houghton Mifflin Unit 2- Americas Early Communities
Grade Level: 3
Background Information
Expected Duration: 45 minutes
This lesson plan will take place they day after the class has learned
about the Declaration of Independence. After learning all about how
America was found, the class will dive in to how it was first governed
and briefly touch on how that government changed over time.
Concept:
o Culture
o Rules
Vocab:
o Democracy: government by the people or their elected
representatives
Skills
o Creating
o Applying
1.1 Integration of Learning Outcomes
Students will demonstrate understanding of a constitution by working in
groups to create their own classroom constitution.
Student will participate in a classroom vote to understand basic key
concepts (voting) as key parts of our democracy.
1.2 Standards PA Civics, History, Economics, Geography & NCSS
Themes I-X
PA Standards
Civics and Government 5.1.3.A Explain the purpose of rules, laws and
consequences.
Civics and Government 5.1.3.B Explain rules and laws for the classroom
community
NCSS
Standard 5 :Individuals, Groups and Institutions
help learners analyze groups and evaluate the influences
of institutions, people, events, and cultures in both
historical and contemporary settings;
Standard 6: Power, Authority and Governance
c. give examples of how government does or does not
provide for needs and wants of people, establish order and
security, and manage conflict;
1.3 Anticipatory Set

As an introduction to the Constitution the teacher will play the song The
Preamble from School House Rock (with the lyrics) up on the screen. When
the song is done the teacher will ask kids what words and phrases they
recognized in the song and what they thought it meant. Following this
discussion, they will listen to The Preamble one more time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHp7sMqPL0g
1.4

Procedures
o The teacher will discuss some key ideas about the Constitution
o The Constitution contains laws (or rules) that everybody living
in America must follow
o It was created by the people, for the people. This basically
means that it was created by those who live in our country so
that everybody could live peacefully together.
o The teacher will ask student to take what they just discussed and
apply it to the classroom. If they were to write a Classroom
Constitution what would be in it? Then, explain that today they will
be writing a classroom constitution in small groups.
o The teacher will divide students in to groups of 3-4 and hand each
group a large piece of paper and a marker.
o The teacher should explain that, over the next fifteen minutes, the
groups will be working together to write down their Classroom
Constitution on their giant piece of paper. The teacher should
remind the students that this means they need to come up with
laws that will keep everybody in the classroom safe and keep the
classroom running smoothly.
o At the conclusion of fifteen minutes, the teacher should call the
class back together and have each group shared the rules they
came up with.
o After all groups have shared, the teacher will announce that they
will be voting on which Constitution they would like to enact.
o Before allowing student to vote the teacher should discuss some
key ideas about the concept of voting.
o Voting is done to make a decision in a way that everybodys
opinion gets taken in to consideration. Which ever option
receives the most votes by the people is the option that is
selected.
o Not everybody has the right to vote. You need to be of age
and an American Citizen.
o In the past, only white males where allowed to vote, but over
time changes had been made to The Constitution to allow
women and other races to vote.
o It is both a right and a responsibility to vote. Why do you think
this is so?
o Who in our class should be allowed to vote?

o After discussing these key point the teacher will lead the class in a
vote.
o Teacher will announce the winner and ask for volunteers to explain
why they thought this Classroom Constitution was the best.
1.5 Differentiation
For groups that may be struggling, the teacher can provide an example
of a previously made classroom constitution for them to base their
constitution off of. They can also come up with prompting questions to ask
the groups to steer them in the right direction. This questions could include:
What do your classmates do that make you feel safe and happy?
What could they do to make you upset?
What rules can we write to make sure they do what makes you
feel safe and do not do what makes you upset?
For groups that are excelling, the teacher could prompt them to write
down their reasoning behind each rule as well.
1.6 Closure
Will ask a series of three questions to the class. Get 1-2 students to
respond.
Someone tell me why did the founding fathers create the
constitution?
What type of government do we live in?
How has voting changed over history?
1.7 Formative/ Summative Assessment
Formative assessment will occur through observation of students in
groups. The teacher will be observing to see that students actively
participate in their group discussion and that the groups create a
Constitution that is relevant to the day to day classroom routine.
The summative assessment will come with the unit test at the end of the
unit.
1.8 Materials/Resources
A. Student Resources
o Video of The Preamble by School house rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHp7sMqPL0g
o Large pieces of paper
o Markers
o Blank sheets of paper
B. Teacher Resources
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/constitution
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=9
C. Teacher Content
See appendix A
1.9 Technology

 Video of the The Preamble music video from School House Rock.
2.1 Reflection on Planning
This lesson was to introduce the concept of the Constitution and
Democracy to the students. The Preamble video and song will provide an
attention getter for students. Creating a Classroom Constitution will allow
students to connect the material to their everyday life. Reflecting and
discussing the importance of the Constitution at the end of the lesson will

A New Constitution
In 1787, American leaders met in Philadelphia to write a constitution, a plan for
the government. Have students write their own Constitution for the classroom.That
summer, Benjamin Franklin and other leaders discussed the government and decided
that America would be a democracy. A democracy is a government in which people
govern themselves.
The Constitution
The constitution was finished in 1787. George Washington became the first
president in 1789. Today, about two hundred years later, we still follow the Constitution.
A few changes have been made to the Constitution to guarantee freedom to all
Americans.
Have students take a virtual tour of Independence Hall, where the Constitution and
Declaration of Independence were signed.