-LESSON PLAN OUTLINE-
TEACHER: Jim Coates
SCHOOL DISTRICT: Corry Area
LESSON SUBJECT: The goals of the U.S. Constitution (Preamble)
GRADE LEVEL: 8th
TEACHING TIME: One class period
LESSON OBJECTIVES
BIG IDEAS: Goals of the Constitution
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
1. How do the goals of the Constitution continue to impact our society today?
PA STATE STANDARDS: 5.1 A, B, C, E, & J the purpose of government, the rule of law, principles & ideals that shape government, documents and ideals shaping the government of the
United States, individual rights and the common good.
STUDENTS WILL KNOW…
1.
The six goals of the US Constitution as stated in the Preamble
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO…
1.
Identify where each goal of the
Constitution can be found within the
Constitution itself (Article #)
2.
Locate contemporary examples that represent the goals of the Constitution
PROCEDURAL SUMMARY
MATERIALS:
Hard copy and/or computer-accessed copies of Preamble
Blank note cards
Magazines
Scissors

Glue
Markers
Poster paper
ANTICIPATORY SET: Students will individually record a response to the following question: If you were establishing a new nation why would you want to create a constitution? The instructor will select students to volunteer their responses. Possible answers may include: people will follow the rules, government can’t abuse power, helping to provide for the needs of society, continuity between generations
ACTIVATING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: The instructor will have the students Think-Pair-Share the following questions: What steps did the pilgrims take once they arrived in America to establish order in their new colony? Talk about the Mayflower Compact, and the obstacles facing the new settlements such as Jamestown, Plymouth, etc. The instructor should emphasize the American tradition of written documents establishing rule of law.
PROCEDURE:
1. The instructor will have students identify what they know about the Constitution and what they want to know about the Constitution (KWL). Possible answers might include problems associated with the Articles of Confederation, branches of government, Bill of Rights, and topics relating to current events.
2. Students will work with partners to close read the Preamble (using hard copies or computer accessed audio stream). Teacher will assign each group a difficult word from the Preamble and each group will be required to use their textbook and/or dictionary to look up and record the definition on a provided note card. Cards will be placed at stations around the room. Students will then investigate station cards, annotating their copy of the Preamble as they progress around the room.
When finished, students will rewrite the Preamble in their own words.
3. The instructor will tell students that the Preamble identifies the goals of the Constitution.
He/she will ask students to identify the six goals found within the Preamble. As the students provide responses, the instructor will record them on the board. The instructor will question students about what is meant by “provide for the common defense” – expected response should include military. The instructor will continue to probe for responses until, as a class, the students have successfully rephrased all of the goals.
4. Students will receive instructions on creating a Constitutional collage using the six goals of the
Constitution. Students (working in pairs) will be assigned one goal of the Constitution by the instructor. Students will use magazines to identify a visual representation of their assigned
Constitutional goal. When students have finished, partners will present their selected image and contribute that image to a master class collage to be displayed in the room. As students present to their classmates, students will record how that image reflects the assigned goal of the Constitution.
CLOSURE ACTIVITY: Students will receive a writing assignment in which they will pick the goal of the Constitution that they feel is the most important and explain why (examples). The assignment will be collected at the beginning of the next class period.

Directions: Each group is to complete the chart below by writing in the right column how the pictures presented by their classmates reflect that particular goal of the Constitution.