NAME DATE CLASS

Handson History Chapter Project

The Constitution

Project Overview

Project Goal
To learn about the key components of the U.S. Constitution and the
basic principles reflected in the document. Students will research one
part of the U.S. Constitution, demonstrate an understanding of its main
ideas and guidelines, locate related images or multimedia, and explain
the basic principles found in that part of the document in a Web page.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
How do governments change?

Skills Addressed
collaboration; responsibility and accountability;
decision making;
information and communication technologies literacy; creating
displays
cross-cultural skills
historical interpretation; analyzing primary sources
making comparisons; drawing conclusions

Materials Needed
Student Edition
Access to school library and computers for research
Hands-On Chapter Project Worksheets

Duration Copyright by McGraw-Hill Education.

2 independent work days and 1 class day

NAME DATE CLASS

Handson History Chapter Project

The Constitution

Project Steps

Step 1: Introduce Project

Tell students they will create educational Web pages on the main parts
of the U.S. Constitution for an audience of middle-school students. Each
group will develop a Web page on one of those parts; their job is
researching information about their assigned part, summarizing it for
their intended audience, and designing an attractive and user-friendly
Web page.
Activate Background Knowledge Hold a class discussion about the
features that make an educational Web page interesting and useful to help
students think about ways they can develop and design their Web pages
about the U.S. Constitution.

Possible responses include:

uses color
is visually appealing
is organized and structured
is easy to navigate
text is easy to understand and proofread
includes pictures or multimedia
includes links to other resources
has a page title
all parts of the Web page related to the topic
is not too busy

Step 2: Plan the Web Page

Copyright by McGraw-Hill Education.
1. Organize Groups
Organize students into groups of three for the duration
of the project. Assign each group to one of the topics listed below.
You may need to assign more than one
group to a topic.
Article I
Article II
Article III
Articles IVVII
Amendments IX
Amendments XIXXVI
NAME DATE CLASS

Handson History Chapter Project

The Constitution

2. Discuss the Project Plan

Distribute and read Worksheet 1 and review the plan steps found
on the worksheet with students.
Tell students you will provide a Web page template with the
required guidelines for their pages. They will create their actual
pages on a separate piece of paper, and may add other clever
and creative touches. Distribute Worksheet 2 to each group and
review the Web page template with students.
Share suggested resources on the Web, such as websites
related to:
National Constitution Center
National Archives: Constitution of the United States
Center for Civic Education: Multimedia Resources

3. Discuss Web Page Assessment

Distribute Worksheet 3 to each student and review the rubric with
students. In this project, their Web pages will be graded on overall
quality as well as accuracy. Each student will also be graded on
personal contribution and performance.

Step 3: Present the Web Page

Ideally, all group Web pages should be presented at the same time
so each group or class has the opportunity to learn from others.
Possible ideas include:
Post the Web page designs on walls or a bulletin board and
conduct a gallery walk during class or lunch.
Compile the Web pages in a booklet or PowerPoint presentation
that can be duplicated and distributed to groups for their review.
Copyright by McGraw-Hill Education.
Create an actual Web site where students design their pages
online.
NAME DATE CLASS

Handson History Chapter Project

Worksheet 1: The Constitution

Project Plan

Directions: Complete the graphic organizer below to develop and design

your Web page on your part of the U.S. Constitution.

Our group's topic is:

Group Task List

1. Read about the U.S. Constitution in your student edition.

2. Conduct personal research on your assigned topic.
3. Find photos, drawings, graphs, multimedia, or links for your Web page.
4. Meet with your team to organize the research and determine what will be
included on the Web page.
5. Discuss with your team the design and content of the Web page and
divide duties.
6. Create the Web page.
7. Add any clever or creative touches to make the Web page more authentic.
8. Complete your rubric assessment.

Copyright by McGraw-Hill Education.

My Task List

Due Date
 NAME

Page Title

Excerpt that shows a key idea

Visual or Multimedia
(photo, graph, illustration,
video, podcast, audio)
Worksheet 2: The Constitution
Handson History Chapter Project

Summary of the main ideas

(4 6 sentences)
DATE

Link to outside resource with

title and brief description
CLASS

Identify one basic principle you think is illustrated by

this part of the Constitution and explain how.

Copyright by McGraw-Hill Education.

NAME DATE CLASS

Handson History Chapter Project

Worksheet 3: The Constitution

Assessment Rubric

Research and Collaboration and

Points Presentation
Content Time Management
Research extremely All required elements Effective division of
thorough and facts included; Web page project tasks; strengths of
accurate and detailed; extremely well organized; each group member used
words and visuals words and visuals clearly well; Web page shows
5 relevant and display and cleverly presented; obvious group
quality information; presentation highly collaboration; team
discussion of basic engaging and easy to organized and
principle extremely well understand demonstrates skillful time
explained management
Research thorough and All required elements Task responsibility shared
facts accurate and included; Web page well equally; all members
somewhat detailed; words organized; words and contribute ideas,
and visuals relevant and visuals clearly presented; research, and help
4 display important presentation interesting designing and developing
information; discussion of and easy to understand Web page; in-class
basic principle well research time used
explained effectively
Research lacks depth and All required elements Responsibility for tasks
facts not detailed; most included; Web page balanced among group
words and visuals organized; most words members; most members
3 relevant and display and visuals clearly fulfill responsibilities;
important information; presented; presentation in-class research time
discussion of basic interesting and mostly generally productive
principle explained easy to understand
Little research conducted 1 or 2 required elements Responsibility for tasks
and some facts missing or missing; Web page unbalanced among group
inaccurate; few words and somewhat organized; few members; in-class
visuals relevant and/or words and visuals clearly research time productive
2 display important presented; presentation at times
information; discussion of somewhat interesting but
basic principle not difficult to understand

Copyright by McGraw-Hill Education.

explained
NAME DATE CLASS

Handson History Chapter Project

Worksheet 3: The Constitution

Assessment Rubric Cont.

Little research conducted 3 or more required Responsibility placed
and most facts missing or elements missing; Web primarily on 1 or 2 group
inaccurate; words and page not organized; members; group
visuals irrelevant and/or words and visuals not members do not use
1 display unimportant clear; presentation lacks in-class research time
information; discussion of creativity and difficult to effectively or they disrupt
basic principle not understand other groups
included
Self
Assessment
Teacher
Assessment

Copyright by McGraw-Hill Education.