Date: May 1994

Grade Level(s): 4

Subject(s):

• Social Studies/US Government
• Social Studies/US Constitution

* A constitution contains basic laws that govern people.

* The U.S. Constitution contains rules that govern our country.

* The U.S. Constitution protects the rights and freedoms of America's citizens.

* The U.S. Constitution is over 200 years old.

* Social Studies is the study of past and current events of a society - the ongoing history of people, places and things.

Goal:

To understand why people who work and play together need to follow rules; and how these rules are developed.

Objectives:

*To develop awareness of the necessity for rules.

*To use logic to decide whether things are right or wrong.

*To give practice in classifying.

Materials:

* Copy of the U.S. Constitution.

* Instant Camera (Polaroid) w/film.

* Poster (We The People ).

* Colored construction paper.

* Colored chart paper.

Procedure:

Activity 1.

Introduce the Topic

Ask: What do you celebrate on your birthday? (the anniversary of your birth) What other kinds of anniversaries call for celebrations? (weddings, special occasions) What does our country celebrate on the Fourth of July? (its birthday-the anniversary of the founding of the United States of America) Explain that our country is over 200 years old and that once it became a country, it needed rules to follow.

Display a copy of the U.S. Constitution. Explain that this document tells the laws of our country. It lists our country's rules and the rights of its citizens. Without much detail, point out certain parts of the Constitution that spell out the three branches of government - Executive (the branch of government concerned with putting a country's laws into effect.), Legislative (having the power to create laws.), Judicial (of or pertaining to courts, judges, or the administration of justice.) - and how they balance each other to keep power in check, the rights of citizens and how changes, amendments, can be made.

Activity 2.

Open Discussion

Have students give opinions about how people who lived in the U.S. 200 years ago might have dressed, the kinds of homes they lived in and the kinds of schools students might have attended.

Take full-length photographs of each other (if possible, used instant photographs). Ask: How do the people in the these photos differ from people who lived in 1787? Establish that people who lived 200 years ago might have looked much like the people of today. Differences in manner of dress and hair styles should be noted. Look at things around the classroom and identify the TV, telephone, automobile, computer, book, etc. and discuss which objects would be familiar to people who lived 200 years ago? Which would be unfamiliar? Why? Do you think anyone took photographs of the men who wrote the Constitution? Why not? (cameras had not been invented) If photographs had been taken, what do you think they would have shown? If people met today to make changes in the Constitution, could there be photos of the meetings? What might be in the photos to let you know they were taken in the 1990's and not in the 1700s? Display side one of the poster (We The People) in a prominent place. Discuss the illustrations and what each means to the students. Invite students to tell of any bicentennial celebrations they have heard about. Ask them to read the first three words (We the People . . .) of the Constitution. What do the words mean to you? If you could take one photograph to show the meaning of the words, what would be in the photograph? Discuss various ideas and have students bring photographs of themselves. Duplicate the poster design to create a bulletin board display. Use colored construction paper to make the tree's trunk, branches and leaves. Have each student write his or her name on one leaf. As the unit progresses, have students write about the rights depicted on the poster and add these writings to the bulletin board as they are done.

Activity 3.

Following Rules

Have students take a walking tour of the school in action (classroom, hallways, lunchroom, playground, etc.) Discuss what is observed. Ask: Are there rules involved in these places? What are the rules? How did they come about? Are they good or bad rules? What or whom do they protect? Why do you think we have rules? Continue by asking: If you play a game for the first time, how do you know in what way the game should be played? (Learn the rules.) Why is it wrong to run in the school hallways? (against school rules) Through discussion, help students understand that rules give order, ensure fair play and protect people's rights and welfare.

Have students suppose you made a rule stating that only children with blue eyes are allowed to have play periods. Why would such a rule be unfair? Stress the point that rules are best when they protect the rights of all people.

Write the words Safety, Health, Game on the chalkboard. Invite students to think of rules for each category and write them under the proper heading. Explain that a government makes rules called "laws." Our Constitution is a set of rules or laws all people in our country must follow.

Follow-Up:

Help the students make a "visual reference" bulletin board of specific classroom procedures. Title the bulletin board: The Right Things To Do. Subheads can read: Working Quietly, Cleaning Up, Waiting To Speak, Playing Fairly, Asking Permission, Raising Your Hand, Sharing, Using Equipment, Taking Turns. Have the students draw pictures to illustrate each of the subheads. Display the drawings on the bulletin board to create a visual reference. Write a "Classroom Constitution" by having students suggest rules that will help make things run smoothly in the classroom. As each rule is proposed, have the class vote on whether or not it should be included in the document. If two-thirds or more votes yes, the rule becomes part of the constitution. If not, the rule cannot be passed. Students might, at your direction, discuss the following:

1. Should students be allowed to bring any kind of toy to use at recess? What kinds should be allowed? What kinds should not be allowed?
2. Should there be a "court system" to judge students who break rules? How many judges should there be? Should all class members take turns being judges? What would be a reasonable punishment for breaking rules?

Tying it All Together:

Have students observe various sports or other activities where safety devices are evident. Discuss the special equipment needed as protection while playing certain sports (baseball, football, ice hockey, etc.) . Ask: What do you use to protect yourself when it is very cold outside? What are the people who protect you from harm? (parents, firefighters, police officers, government officials). Help students understand that the Constitution protects their rights just as an umbrella protects them from rain.