Resource Guide
Topic: The U.S. Constitution
Grade Level: Fifth/Sixth Grade
Possible Instructional Activities
Suggested INTRODUCTORY activities
1. Show a video to introduce the Constitution and three branches of government. The following videos are available
through Learn 360, an online service provided through the AEA. The website is www.learn360.com See your teacher
librarian to get the pass code for your school. Video suggestions are:
* The U.S. Constitution Part of The Almost Painless Guide to U.S. Civics series, 2000, Media Rich.
This video is 21 minutes and includes a quiz at the end.
* Our Founding Documents, 2008, Mazzarella Media. This video examines 3 founding documents of the United
States: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The segment on the
Constitution starts at 6:20. Each of the three segments is followed by a short quiz. The complete video is 15
minutes.
2. Trueflix companion book and video give an introduction to the Constitution and the three branches of government.
The nonfiction book is broken up into different chapters and can be read to students by the computer. To access Trueflix
go to http://www.iowaaeaonline.org See your teacher librarian to get the pass code for your school. The book & video,
The Constitution of the United States by Christine Taylor Butler, can be found under the U.S. Government tab. Also
included are activities, a project idea, extensions, and a teacher lesson plan.
Suggested MAIN activities - adapted from Constitution Day, 2005, Center for Civic Education,
http://new.civiced.org/resources/curriculum/constitution-day-and-citizenship-day
1. Using the internet have students complete a Constitution scavenger hunt (see attached worksheets). This activity will
provide students with background information on the Constitution, including information on the writing of the
Constitution, the Founding Fathers, and branches of government. The internet is needed to complete this task. All
websites were working as of 07/31/2012.
2. Dissect the Preamble –
a. In groups or individually have students brainstorm 5-6 purposes they think a government should have.
Share these ideas in a large group and create a list you can refer back to. Tell students that the first part of the
Constitution is called the Preamble, and it states both the purpose of our government and some of the basic
ideas about government. The Preamble is the introduction to the Constitution.
b. Build background and interest by listening to the Schoolhouse Rocks Preamble Song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHp7sMqPL0g&feature=related
Sing along using the lyrics - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vDk47qLbXs
c. Pass out a copy of the Preamble to each student (attached handout).
d. Read through the Preamble together. Tell students that the Preamble is made up of many words that might
be hard for them to understand at first, but as a class you will be dissecting the preamble and teaching each
other what the different phrases mean.
e. Ask students what the first words of the Constitution, “We the People” mean. Why are these words so
important?
f. To identify the 5 purposes of government outlined in the Preamble have students form 5 groups. Give each
group a part of the preamble (attached handout). Have groups write a student friendly definition for their
purpose on a scratch piece of paper. Then pass out the Preamble Matching Activity (attached handout) and
have groups find the definition that matches their purpose. Let groups alter the definitions they wrote if need be
and then write the final definition on a sentence strip that can be displayed.
g. Go through the purposes and have each group share their definition and post their sentence strip.
h. Have students complete the Preamble Matching Activity worksheet independently. Students will need
scissors and glue sticks.
i. Conclude by referring back to the list of government purposes the class created and compare and contrast
them to the purposes listed in the Preamble. Ask students to share whether they think the founders of the
Constitution should have included other purposes and why they may not have included such purposes.
Suggested Extensions
1. Extend Preamble Dissect- Have students indentify which government purpose listed in the Preamble they think is
most important and illustrate the purpose without using words. On the back of their illustration have students defend
why they think this is the most important purpose of our government. As a class try to match the different illustrations
to the sentence strip definitions students created.
2. Learn about the three branches of government laid out in the U.S. Constitution. Using the image of the three
branches of government on http://www.rightsofthepeople.com/education/government_for_kids/35/government/branches.php work as a class to identify the name of your state representative, President, VicePresident, state Senators, the Supreme Court Chief Justice, and the 8 Supreme Court Justices. There is book & video on
Trueflix explore this topic.
Suggested Concluding activities
1. Using your Smartboard, play “Do You Know the Constitution” game. Students will need background knowledge
about the Constitution and three branches of government. However you could edit the document to cover only the
Constitution or three branches. Make sure you read the directions and try using the game board before playing with
your students, as it can be complicated if you haven’t played before.
http://exchange.smarttech.com/details.html?id=fb6fc67d-dca2-4cf6-ac59-2d598dd1b856
2. Using your Smartboard, play “Constitution Jeopardy”. Students will need background knowledge about the
Constitution, rights granted in the Bill of Rights, and three branches of government.
http://exchange.smarttech.com/details.html?id=fad7fe8e-2ec5-487c-aaa3-af0a52acf7d5
3. Have students complete the “U.S. Constitution Wrap-Up” to assess what they know about the Constitution. See
attached document for copies and answer key. This could be used as a pre and post assessment.
Additional Resources
Available on Follett Shelf: To access go to http://www.aea10.k12.ia.us/media/electronic.html and click on the
Follett Shelf link. See your teacher librarian to get the pass code for your school.
1. What is a Constitution? by William Thomas Presents a brief history of the U.S. Constitution and the laws that govern
the nation; and includes diagrams, maps, charts, and time lines. 2 copies available on Follett Shelf.
2. Becoming a Citizen by John Hamilton. 2 copies available on Follett Shelf.
3. The Creation of the U.S. Constitution by Michael Burgan. In graphic novel format, tells the story of the debates,
disagreements, and compromises that led to the formation of the U.S. Constitution during 1787. 6 copies available on
Follett Shelf. This book is very popular with students!
4. The U.S. Constitution by Michael Teitelbaum. 2 copies available on Follett Shelf.
Smartboard Presentations: Available for the Smart Exchange website http://exchange.smarttech.com
1. The Branches of Government By Mrs. Prechel - Identified as being for grades 2-4, but provides a good background of
the 3 branches of government, the Constitution, and includes both visuals and audio. It shows images of where each
branch works in D.C. http://exchange.smarttech.com/details.html?id=a0bfc6dc-ab0d-4c74-ab25-0f1232b2065
2. Preamble of the Constitution By Janna Golgart – goes through the different parts of the preamble and includes a group
activity at the end, which has students write their own preamble.
http://exchange.smarttech.com/details.html?id=7367cd35-9a41-4aff-9e28-35a4fca34677
Websites:
1. http://bensguide.gpo.gov/ This is a great website dedicated to U.S. history. The website includes information on the
Constitution and branches of government. You are able to select the grade level you would like to target.
2. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html This website provides excellent background
information on the Constitution for teachers.
3. http://new.civiced.org/resources/curriculum/constitution-day-and-citizenship-day This website highlights
Constitution Day and provides free, downloadable lessons for grades k-12. The main lesson included above was created
with use of the resources on this website.
Name________________________________________
Constitution Scavenger Hunt - Page 1
The Declaration of Independence has been signed and the American Revolution is over, it is now time to get down to
business and create the government of the new nation! Our founding fathers worked hard to do this during the
sweltering summer of 1787.
Follow the instructions below to learn about the government of the United States (remember we can call the colonies
states now)! Pay special attention to the spelling of the website addresses. If you enter the website address wrong, you
will go to a different web page!
First stop http://www.usconstitution.net/constkids4.html
Go to here to learn about the BASICS of the Constitution. Scroll down to the section labeled “BASICS”. Read this section
to be able to answer the question.
1. What is the Constitution?
2. Can the Constitution be changed?
3. What are the first 10 amendments of the Constitution called?
Second stop http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_index.htm (make sure you include an underscore, a _ line,
between the words Constitution and index when you type the address).



Scroll down and click on Learn about the Constitution
Read the information presented. When you finish a section click on the “LEARN MORE” button to continue
reading.
If you are up for a challenge click on the “SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW” button.
4. How many states were represented at the writing of the Constitution?
5. The Constitution was written in P__________________________.
6. Why do you think the delegates are sometimes called the “founding fathers”? Why not the “founding mothers and
fathers”?
Constitution Scavenger Hunt - Page 2
7. Before the Constitutional Convention began, a rules committee decided how the process would work. No matter how
many delegates a state sent, each state was given only ______vote(s). Do you think this was fair? Why or why not?
8. Why do you think the delegates to the Constitutional Convention agree to keep discussions during their meetings a
secret?
9. What was the Great Compromise?
STOP after reading the “SIGNING THE CONSTITUTION” section
Third stop http://www.msha.gov/SOLICITOR/KIDS/constitn.htm
10. Look at the actual words of the Constitution! At the bottom you will see a list of the men who signed the
Constitution. Do you recognize any of the names? If so, write the ones that are familiar down.
Final stop http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/branches.html
11. Why do you think the founding fathers wanted to form a government that did not give ONE person too much control
or authority?
12. List the three branches of government the Constitution set up
1.
2.
3.
13. Why is it important for all Americans to understand the Constitution?
Preamble Dissect
Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
We the People of the United States, in order to form a more
perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of
the United States of America.
Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
We the People of the United States, in order to form a more
perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of
the United States of America.
Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
We the People of the United States, in order to form a more
perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of
the United States of America.
Preamble Dissect
Establish justice
Insure domestic tranquility
Provide for the common defense
Promote the general welfare
Secure the blessings of liberty
Name ________________________
Preamble Match Activity
We the people of the United States,
in order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America.
Thinking it through:
1. Why is it important to know what the purposes of our government are?
2. What is general welfare? What are some ways to promote the general welfare?
3. What are some of the blessings of liberty that we enjoy as Americans?
4. Some people have said that most important words in our Constitution are the first three, “We the People.”
Explain why you agree or disagree with this opinion.
Adapted from The Mailbox Aug/Sept 2006 and Constitution Day, 2005, Center for Civic Education.
Directions: The Preamble (or introduction) of the Constitution is full of important words/ideas that can be
difficult to understand. Each piece below explains one part of the Preamble, but the pieces are all mixed up.
Carefully cut out the pieces on this page and try to match each one to the part of the Preamble that it
explains.
help our citizens stay safe in times of war,
keep people healthy, happy, and confident,
and make sure that ourselves, our children,
and our grandchildren can enjoy freedom,
to create a country that works better,
are writing this important set of rules to
guide our new and wonderful country.
make sure there is peace throughout the
land,
All of us together,
set up fair laws,
Reformatted from The Mailbox Aug/Sept 2006
Preamble Match Activity
TEACHER KEY
All of us together, to create a country that works better, set up
fair laws, make sure there is peace throughout the land, help our
citizens stay safe in times of war, keep people healthy, happy, and
confident, and make sure that ourselves, our children, and our
grandchildren can enjoy freedom, are writing this important set of
rules to guide our new and wonderful country.
Reformatted from The Mailbox Aug/Sept 2006
Name ______________________
The U.S. Constitution Wrap-up
Put a T if you think the sentence is true, and an F if you think the sentence is false.
______ 1. The Constitution listed the reasons why people were upset with England and
wanted to be free.
______ 2. George Washington is called the “Father of the Constitution.”
______ 3. The Constitution has seven parts, called articles.
______ 4. The Constitution divides the government into three branches: executive,
legislative, and judicial.
______ 5. The Constitution was signed on July 4, 1776.
______ 6. The Constitution can be changed.
______ 7. The introduction to the Constitution is called the Preamble.
______ 8. Women helped write and signed the Constitution.
9. Explain one of the purposes of our government listed in the Preamble.
U.S. Constitution Wrap-up
TEACHER KEY
Put a T if you think the sentence is true, and an F if you think the sentence is false.
___F___ The Constitution listed the reasons why people were upset with England and wanted to be free. The
Declaration of Independence did that. The Constitution is a plan that created and guides our government.
___F__ George Washington is called the “Father of the Constitution.” George Washington is called the
“Father of our Country.” James Madison is called the “Father of the Constitution.”
___T___ The Constitution has seven parts, called articles.
___T___ The Constitution divided the government into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
___F___ The Constitution was signed on July 4, 1776. The Declaration of Independence was signed on that
date. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
___T___ The Constitution can be changed. Changes to the Constitution are called amendments.
___T___ The introduction to the Constitution is called the Preamble.
___F___ Women helped write and signed the Constitution. Only men made up the group of representatives
that helped write and signed the Constitution. These men are often referred to as the Founding Fathers.