Curriculum area:
Social Studies

Grade level:
3-5

Objectives:
1. To provide students with background information about the U.S. Constitution and its purpose.
2. To understand the language and meaning of the Preamble.
3. Students work in cooperative groups to come up with ideas of what should be included in a class constitution.
4. To write a class constitution.

Materials needed:
A reproduction copy of the U.S. Constitution and background information about the writing, purpose, and signing of the Constitution.

Time estimate to complete:
: Oral discussion and reading of the Preamble ? 20 minutes; Brainstorming of ideas in cooperative groups ? 20 minutes; Group sharing of ideas and group writing of a Constitution ? 30 minutes.

Procedure:
1. Discuss the history of the U.S. Constitution signed in 1787. It gave a group of 13 states a form of government and laws to follow so that they could work together.
2. Read the Preamble of the Constitution to the students. Discuss its meaning in detail, using the dictionary where it is needed. Discuss what the phrases form a more perfect union, establish justice, domestic tranquility, common defense, promote general welfare, and secure blessings of liberty mean.
3. Discuss the fact that the class is a group of people that must work together, like our states, and needs rules and laws to follow to be successful.
4. Students work in cooperative groups to brainstorm ideas of what might be written in our Class Constitution. Make a list on chart paper.
5. Share each groups?ideas orally and make a list. It can be as specific or as general as you would like. Keep the wording in positive terms.
6. Work together to write a Class Constitution on poster board shaped like a diploma. Each student and the teacher should sign the finished product.

A Sample Constitution:
We the students of Room 34, in order to have a more perfect class, promise to work together to become a united team, promoting peace and harmony at all times. We will respect each other, always being considerate of other peoples?feelings and their property. We will always be cooperative and polite, listen carefully to others and their ideas, and praise others for their accomplishments. We will remember that the class is a place to learn, so we will always complete our assignments to the best of our abilities. When asked, we will work quietly and independently, thoroughly completing our work. We will actively participate in class and work cooperatively with a partner or small group. We will keep our room and desks clean and organized, and will move slowly and safely about the classroom and in the hallways. We pledge to do whatever we can to make our year in fourth grade a success and will always try our hardest to be the best we can possibly be!!

POST IT IN THE ROOM FOR REFERRAL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.