Lesson Plan #:AELP-GOV0005

The Constitution: Our Plan for Government

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Willie Jefferson
School or Affiliation: Coleman Middle School, Wichita, KS
Endorsed by: These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have attended the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher from 14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met at the Workshops.

Date: May 1994

Grade Level(s): 8, 9

Subject(s):

Overview: The constitution is the plan for government in the United States. It can be divided into three main parts. Students need to understand the importance of separation of powers, checks and balances, and judicial review. Also how national and state governments are linked.

Objectives: Each student will be able to:

  1. Define the main purpose of the constitution and describe its main parts.
  2. Name the three branches of government; explain how each is dependent on the other to complete its work; describe how the courts acts as a referee.
  3. Identify roles of state and national governments.

Resources/Materials: Civics/government textbook, copy of U.S. Constitution, two large poster boards (have selected students maintain poster boards)

Activities and Procedures:

  1. Discussion (individual/group) what are the main parts of the constitution? What is the purpose of each? (easy) - Write a poem about the purposes of the constitution. (challenging)

  2. Name the three branches of government established in the constitution. Write a one sentence summary of the purpose of each.

  3. Discuss - what are three roles of state government? National government? How do they relate?

  4. Summarize the part(s) of the constitution that help define the roles of state government. (challenging)

  5. Skills - begin a class list. Put powers of state government in one column. Put powers of national government in the other. Add powers to the list during the remainder of the course.

Tying It All Together:

1. Students should use current news to show examples of the listed powers being used by the state and national governments. (newspapers, TV, radio)
2. Give bonus points to students who bring examples from the news media.
3. Encourage students to share experience with parents.
4. Summarize, re-motivate, and evaluate - teacher discretion.