The Constitution of the United States symbolizes freedom, justice, equality, and hope for all American citizens. This lesson promotes student understanding of the importance of the Constitution and how it relates to the changes that our country has made since it was written. Children will examine both the Preamble of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Working together they will connect the two documents and understand how they are important to their lives today.

Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Read the Preamble to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and define vocabulary in each document. 2. Analyze both works and find similar themes that connect the two documents. 3. Create a poster depicting a phrase from the Preamble with related amendments and pictures.

Standards Alignment

• Civics and Government
  
  5.1.6. B. Explain the importance of the rule of law for the protection of individual rights and the common good in the community, state, nation and world.
  5.1.6. E. Explain the basic principles and ideals within documents of United States government.
  5.1.6. J. Describe how the government protects individual and property rights and promotes the common good.
  
  
• History
  
  8.2.6. A. Identifies political and cultural contributions of individuals to Pennsylvania history
  8.2.6. B. Identify and explain primary documents, material artifacts and historic sites important in Pennsylvania history from Beginnings to 1824
  8.3.6. A. Identify and explain the political and cultural contributions of individuals and groups to United States history from Beginnings to 1824
  8.3.6. B. Identify and explain primary documents, material artifacts and historic sites important in United States history from Beginnings to 1824.
  
  
• Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening
  
  1.1.5. G. Summarizes main ideas of the text
  1.6.5. D. Contribute to discussions.
  1.6.5. E. Participate in small and large group discussions and presentations.