The Cornerstone of U.S. Democracy: The U.S. Constitution


Social Studies American History Constitution and Government The Cornerstone of U.S. Democracy: The U.S. Constitution
Students define the word preamble. Then they closely read the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution and state each of the goals in their own words. Next they examine the structure of all main parts of the Constitution and identify the main topic of each article. Finally they illustrate the Preamble.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

1:1 Devices
Teacher Pack

The Pack contains associated resources for the learning experience, typically in the form of articles and videos. There is a teacher Pack (with only teacher information) and a student Pack (which contains only student information). As a teacher, you can toggle between both to see everything.

Here are the teacher pack items for The Cornerstone of U.S. Democracy: The U.S. Constitution:

Preview - Scene 1
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Overview

In this experience, students define the word preamble. Then they closely read the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution and state each of the goals in their own words. Next, they examine the structure of all main parts of the Constitution and identify the main topic of each article. Finally, they illustrate the Preamble.

Students will collaborate in small groups for scene 2 to scene 4.

Estimated duration: 50–60 minutes

Discovery Reading

A printable Discovery Reading is included in the student pack as a support for understanding the experience’s core content and concepts. This Discovery Reading is not necessary to complete the experience and serves as an optional support resource.

Vocabulary Words:

These vocabulary words are used in the experience or connect closely to the standards and content students examine. Students should understand these terms as they work through the experience.

  • Constitution: the document that sets up the U.S. government and explains its powers, limits, and the rights of citizens.
  • Preamble: the introduction to the Constitution that explains the purposes or goals of the government.
  • article: a main part of the Constitution that covers one major topic, such as Congress, the President, or the courts.
  • amendment: a change added to the Constitution.
  • Bill of Rights: the first ten amendments to the Constitution that describe and protect the rights of American citizens.
  • Posterity: future generations of people.
  • We the People: the idea that government gets its power from the people, which is an important part of democracy.
 

Objectives

  • Analyze the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution
  • Describe the structure and content of the Constitution


Engage


“We the people…” These three words begin the Constitution of the United States. This document provides the foundation for our nation’s government and defines the rights of American citizens. But what does the Constitution say? Over the next few experiences, you will explore the content and meaning of different parts of the Constitution. In this experience, you will explore the Constitution’s Preamble, or famous introduction, which begins with those three powerful words. You will also learn how the document is organized.

Objectives

  • Analyze the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution
  • Describe the structure and content of the Constitution


the US Constitution and the US flag

The U.S. Constitution


The word preamble may be new to you. Divide the word into its parts and define each part.





pre: before, prior to, in front of

amble: a slow pace, a stroll


Post a synonym for the word preamble.

Post your answer

Look up preamble in a dictionary to confirm the definition.


Ensure that students understand that the Preamble is the introduction to the U.S. Constitution.


Divide students into their small groups for the next three scenes. Assign a note taker for each group or tell them to choose their own. When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.


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The Complete List of Learning Experiences in Constitution and Government Unit.
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