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Introduction Delegates to the Constitutional Convention The Work Begins Writing the Constitution The Great Compromise Signing the Constitution Ratifying the Constitution Bill of Rights Powers of the Federal Government The Three Branches of Government Checks and Balances Amendments Women - The Right to Vote

  

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Books & Reading

Books & Reading

Why did the authors of the Constitution set up the system of checks and balances?

How did the framers of the US constitution incorporate their values into the constitution?

The United States has a written constitution. What are the alter­
natives?


Creating the Constitution


 

Ratifying the Constitution Signing the Constitution Delegates to the Constitutional Convention The Work Begins Writing the Constitution The Great Compromise Bill of Rights Powers of the Federal Government The Three Branches of Government Checks and Balances Amendments Women - The Right to Vote

 
The Work Begins

Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional Convention
http://www.quia.com/tq/211114.html
Multiple-choice questions on America from 1781-1789.

Celebrate the Constitution
http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/constitution_day/
Do you know your rights? After starting the game, drag each statement that appears on your screen to the document where it belongs.  Place one correct statement in each of the four documents.  Get all four right and you’re a Constitution Whiz Kid!  If you don’t want to play, click on any of the links on the page to learn more about the Constitution.

The Constitution
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/roosevelt/constitution/#Top
WebQuest - You are a citizen in the brand new United States of America after the Revolutionary War. Now you have become frustrated by the inefficient new government in the United States. You have been invited to attend a constitutional convention in Philadelphia. Your concerns depend upon your age, wealth, occupation, geographical location, and past experiences with government.

The Constitutional Convention: Four Founding Fathers You May Never Have Met
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=401
Lesson Plan - After completing this lesson plan, you will be able to:

  • Summarize the plans put forward by Ellsworth, Hamilton, Paterson, and Randolph
  • Provide some biographical details for Ellsworth, Hamilton, Paterson, and Randolph
  • Make connections between the biographies of Ellsworth, Hamilton, Paterson, and Randolph and their positions during the Constitutional Convention.

Creating the United States: Word Search - United States Constitution
http://www.myloc.gov/Education/OnlineActivities/Pages/
onlineactivities/wordSearch/index2.html
Find words that relate to a founding document of the United States, the United States Constitution.  Note: You need Flash 9 to use this interactive activity.

A Dream and an Idea: Searching for a Roadmap to Create a Country
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/ntti/resources/lessons/h_dream/
Lesson Plan - Learn to interpret historical information and its link to current events and evaluate the roles of historical leaders in shaping the U.S. as an emerging nation. Compare and contrast opposing visions of government held by the founding fathers and utilize reliable Internet resources that tell historical stories that provide explanations of a post-revolutiionary U.S.

George Washington 1789-1797
http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/presidentsday/color/1.html
Print and color.

A Mock Constitutional Convention
http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_mockconvention.htm
Lesson Plan - Provides an opportunity for you to step into the shoes of the framers of the United States Constitution to analyze and evaluate the social, political, economic and geographical forces that shaped the United States Constitution. You will conduct research in the role of one of the delegates to the Philadelphia Convention and then participate in civil discourse as the delegates might have 200+ years ago using the principles of parliamentary procedure. You will have "reality checks" throughout the experience to compare their convention results with the actual U.S. Constitution.

President's Day
http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/webquests/presidents/pres.htm
WebQuest - Gather information comparing Washington and Lincoln and do a Venn Diagram. You are a time traveler, going back in time to discover facts about these presidents. You will discover that Washington and Lincoln are among our most honored presidents. You will also find that they are our country's most beloved presidents. In this WebQuest you will find many interesting facts about these presidents, as you travel back in time to explore our national history.

We Were There...
http://babylon.k12.ny.us/usconstitution/
WebQuest - On the U.S. Constitutional Convention

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Did you know the Constitution was drafted in fewer than one hundred working days in secret, behind locked doors that were guarded by sentries?

Surf with Uncle Sam
Surf with Uncle Sam

Word Spy
Word Spy

Projects You Can Do

This activity will promote investigation, research, and debate. Through the process of simulation you will gain insight into the special interests delegates brought to the Constitutional Convention and the compromises made in order to form the most revolutionary document on the history of the world.

Assign the role of key delegates to friends. Allow time for research in the following areas:

a. Age at the time of the Convention
b. Occupation, education, and marital status
c. Member of the Continental Army
d. Representative to the Continental Congress
e. Signer of the following documents: Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution.
f. Supporter of the Constitution
g. Attitudes represented
h. Other interesting highlights

Summarize the report

Divide the delegates according to small states (Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and Connecticut), large states (Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia), and in between states (Georgia, New York, South Carolina). Allow the delegates in these states to decide their position. Once positions are established ask delegates to debate in their role. Issues to be debated are:

a. The Great Compromise
b. Industrial vs. Agrarian interests
c. State rights vs. Federalism d. 3/5 Compromise

Adapt the Constitution to current ideals. Share these ideas.

 

Awards

 

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