Introduction

And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? (Grades 2-6)

• Students will understand the reasons why the Revolutionary War was started.
• Students will learn about Paul Revere and his contributions.

Ben and Me (Grades 2-6)

• Students will become acquainted with Benjamin Franklin, an American author, inventor, statesman, and Constitutional delegate.

A Big Fat Enormous Lie (Grades K-6)

• Students will think about the meaning and consequences of lying.
• Students will read and be involved with a story as they discuss the citizenship concept of honesty.

Bill of Rights:  Fourth Amendment (Grades 5-6)

     Students will:

• Understand the terminology of the Fourth Amendment.
• Rewrite the Fourth Amendment in simpler terms.
• Apply the Fourth Amendment in selected role plays.
• Defend their interpretation of the Fourth Amendment as it relates to their daily lives.

Buttons for General Washington (Grades 1-2)

• Students will see the Revolutionary War period through the eyes of a boy their own age.
• Students will learn more about George Washington, the Father of Our Country.

Celebrate Old Glory (Grades 1-6)

     Students will:

• See that the U.S. flag developed or evolved in the latter half of the 18th century.
• Identify at least one example of our early U.S. flag.
• Know that the use and display of the flag has its basis in law.

Courts--With Emphasis on Civil Cases (Grades 4-5

• Students will begin to develop a regard for and a discernment of civil legal proceedings.
• Students will examine real court cases and describe the basic procedures used.

Double Jeopardy Clause:  A Fifth Amendment Constitution Trivia Game (Grades 4-6)

     Students will:

• Develop an understanding of the criminal due process rights guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment.
• Understand that people cannot be forced to say things that will incriminate themselves unless they volunteer the information.
• Interpret the concepts of the Fifth Amendment.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the Fifth Amendment through conversation.

Dred Scott (Grade 6)

• Students will use reading, writing, reference, and critical thinking skills to evaluate the protection offered by the 13th Amendment to Dred Scott.

Framers of the Constitution (Grade 5)

   Students will:

• Understand the reasons the Constitution was written.
• Have an opportunity to view the “Framers” as real people with conflicting needs and values.
• Synthesize their knowledge by reenacting the Constitutional Convention.

Freedom of Speech or Expression (Grades 5-6)

     Students will:

• Understand how court cases are handled by lawyers.
• Learn what facts and issues are in a case.
• Identify facts and issues in a case.

The Giving Tree (Grades 2-6)

• Students will understand the concepts of individual rights, love, and taking advantage.
• Students will learn what individual rights are guaranteed under the Constitution.

How Laws are Established (Grades 3-5)

• Students will learn what a bill is.
• Students will learn the purpose of a bill.

Humpty Dumpty’s Assault (Grades 5-9)

     Students will:

• Understand the criminal justice process.
• Understand the rights of the accused as set forth in the United States Constitution.
• Understand the differences between the types of crime: violation, misdemeanor, and felony.

Individual Rights (Grades K-1)

• Students will understand that each individual has rights.
• Students will see that conflicts arise and must be solved.

Individual Rights in the Constitution (Grades K-1)

• Students will become acquainted with the individual rights the U.S. Constitution gives us.

Introduction to the Bill of Rights (Grades 4-6)

     Students will:

• Think about their freedom and what freedom means.
• Evaluate the need for rules.
• Evaluate the importance of individual rights.

Law Enforcement Officers (Grades 1-2)

• Students will understand the police officer’s role.
• Students will see society’s need for police officers.

Leadership/Authority and Individual rights (Grades K-4)

     Students will:

• Distinguish good from bad leadership qualities.
• Recognize their own feelings about leadership and leaders.
• Realize that some leaders take away individual rights.

Leaders: National, State and Local  (Grade 5)

• Students will identify, by picture, 15 to 20 political and government leaders, giving name, office held, level of government, and political party designation.

The Little House (Grades 2-6)

• Students will identify the difference between majority and minority.
• Students will understand the difference between the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Pledging Allegiance to the Flag  (Grades K-4)

• Students will know what pledge and allegiance mean.
• Students will understand they are promising to help maintain the freedom of our country.

Ratification of States (Grades 2-5)

• Students will learn, in order, the names of states that ratified the Constitution.
• Students will become acquainted with some of the conflicts involved in the ratification process.

Rules  (Grades 3-6)

• Students will understand what a rule is.
• Students will see that rules can be “good” (fair) or “bad” (unfair).

Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution (Grades 2-6)

     Students will:

• Read the book, Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution.
• Understand the book’s two main themes:
  1. Unity vs. States’ Rights, and
  2. The Great Compromise
• Enjoy some fun activities centered around the Constitutional Convention.

Three Branches of Government (Grades 4-5)

• Students will place public officials into three categories:
  1. Rule Makers: The Legislative Branch
  2. Rule Enforcers:  The Executive Branch
  3. Rule Appliers: The Judicial Branch

Understanding Courts and Court Cases (Grades 4-6)

• Students will understand the way a simplified judicial decision is made.
• Students will discern the issues from a very simple fact situation

United States Constitutional Amendments  (Grades 3-5)

• Students will know what a Constitutional Amendment is.
• Students will identify freedoms protected by the U.S. Constitution in a story or news story context.

Use the Constitution (Grades 3-5)

• Students will become more familiar with the Constitution by using it for problem solving situations.
• Students will gain a greater understanding and appreciation of their rights under the Constitution.

Using Music to Promote Patriotism  (Grades 1-2)

• Students will learn about the Constitution through music.
• Students will gain an awareness about their heritage and the land in which they live.

Wartville Wizard (Grades K-6)

     Students will:

• Become involved with the book.
• Discuss the problem of littering in their community.
• Begin to understand actions and consequences.

Watchwords of Liberty (Grades 4-6)

     Students will:

• Become familiar with historical figures’ personalities and styles.
• See how one person can make a difference.
• Know that many people shaped our country and continue to do so.

Where Was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May? Grades (4-6)

     Students will:

• Be introduced to one of America’s Founding Fathers and will become acquainted with the life and contributions of Patrick Henry:  a statesman, orator, governor, and lawyer.
• Learn historical vocabulary.
• Read and discuss a biography.

Why Don’t You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? (Grades 2-6)

• Students will learn about the framers of the Constitution and the purpose of the Continental Convention.
• Students will understand the contributions of Sam Adams and the ideals of compromise and persuasiveness.

Why the Constitution Works (Grade 5)

• Students will understand the source of the Constitution’s power.
• Students will receive an introduction to contract law.

Why We Have a Constitution (Grade 1)

• Students will learn what life is like without laws.
• Students will learn that rules are important and why we need them.

Will You Sign Here, John Hancock? (Grades 2-6)

• Students will understand the importance of the Declaration of Independence and why it was needed.
• Students will know who John Hancock was and what his contributions to the Declaration of Independence were.

The United States Constitution - Simplified Form for Lower and Upper Elementary Grades