Special Features

Printable Version

• The student will gain an understanding of the U.S. Constitution.
  
• The student will describe the necessity for rules and laws.

• pencil
  
• We the Kids, by David Catrow
  
• paper

CIVICS/GOV'T STANDARD 1: The student uses a working knowledge and understanding of governmental systems of the U.S. and other nations with an emphasis on the U.S. Constitution, the necessity for the rule of law, the civic values of the American republican government, and the rights, privileges, and responsibilities to become active participants in the democratic process.
BENCHMARK 1: The student understands the rule of law as it applies to family, school, local, state, and national governments.

INDICATOR 1: The student will explain the purpose of rules and laws and why they are important in schools, communities, states, and nations.

• The teacher will read the book, We the Kids, by David Catrow (this book is well worth buying).
  
• When finished reading the book, the teacher will discuss each page with the students, using the guide in the tradebook that generalizes the phrases of the preamble.

• The teacher will write the word "constitution" on the board and ask students what comes to mind when they see this word.
  
• The teacher will record student answers in the form of a cluster/web.

• The teacher will explain that the book shared at the beginning of class is actually the preamble to the U.S. constitution and that the Constitution is our law of the land.
  
• The Constitution was created because the U.S. was a new country and it needed a plan for government (the laws and people that run a city, state, or country).

• Students will give examples of rules and laws in the classroom, community, and state. The teacher will list the examples on the board/overhead.
  
• "Why do you think we have rules in the classroom and at home?"
  
• "Why do you think we have laws in our city, state, and country?"

• The teacher will ask students to take out a piece of paper and write two headings at the top of the paper: RULES and LAWS.
  
• The students will write five examples of each and tell why it is necessary for us to have these rules and laws. "What would our country be like if there we no laws or rules to follow?"

E-Mail Amber!