What is the purpose and need for government?
SS.3.C.1.1
Explain the purpose and need for government.
LAFS.3.L.3.4 – Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning word and phrases based on
grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
LAFS.3.L.3.5 – Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word
meanings.
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SS.3.C.1.1
Explain the purpose and need for government.
Correlated Florida Standards (See Full Text on Cover Page)
 LAFS.3.L.3.4, LAFS.3.L.3.5
Essential Question
What is the purpose and need for government?
Learning Goals/Objectives
 Students will read and discuss the meaning of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution.
 Students will practice analyzing vocabulary words for multiple meaning words, synonyms, antonyms, etc.
Overview
Students will read and discuss the Preamble to the Constitution to understand the purpose and need for
government by participating in close reading and word analysis activities.
Materials
 Preamble to the Constitution graphic organizer
Time
 15-20 minutes with additional time for extension activities
Activity Sequence
INTRODUCTION/HOOK
1. Pose the following question to the students: “Why do you think government is necessary?”
2. Have students brainstorm as a whole class. Teacher Note: Possible answers may include: to keep us safe,
to give school money, to check that our food is safe to eat, to provide transportation, to make roads safe,
to create laws to protect us, to provide law enforcement.
ACTIVITY
3. Explain to students that they will read a primary source as a whole class. Explain that a primary source is
an original material that has not been altered or distorted.
4. Pass out the “Preamble to the Constitution” graphic organizer. Explain to students that the Preamble is the
introduction to the U.S. Constitution and they will read this text in order to understand the purpose and
need for government. They will also look into the “deeper layers” of the vocabulary words found in the
document (multiple meaning words, synonyms, antonyms, etc.) to construct meaning.
5. Work as a whole class to complete the graphic organizer. Instruct students to write in their graphic
organizers the inferred meaning of each phrase, vocabulary features of the phrase (synonyms, antonyms,
affixes, multiple meaning words) and a modern example. Teacher Note: Use the Answer Key to guide the
reading and discussion of the Preamble.
6. Instruct students to write down their answers and fill out graphic organizer.
CLOSURE
7. Instruct students to answer the following prompt in writing: Using an example from the Preamble, explain
one reason why government is necessary.
OPTIONAL EXTENSION SUGGESTION
1. Create your own Classroom Preamble using the following sentence starter: “We the Students of
___________’s class, in order to…...”.
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Preamble to the Constitution
We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
Inferred Meaning
Vocabulary
Modern Example
in order to form a
more perfect union
establish justice
insure domestic
tranquility
provide for the
common defense
promote the general
welfare
and secure the
blessings of liberty
to ourselves and to
our posterity
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Preamble to the Constitution
ANSWER KEY
We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
Inferred Meaning
Create something better than
before
Vocabulary
Antonyms = perfect,
imperfect
establish justice
Do something that is fair
Multiple meaning word =
form
Antonyms using prefixes
Prefix = union, unity,
justice
= injustice
unanimous
(uni=one)
insure domestic
tranquility
To have peace
-suffix “ity” = a condition of
provide for the
common defense
protect us from other
countries
- Opposite of domestic =
provide
international
Prefix = pro = project
forward
The military
promote the general
welfare
having enough to eat, a place
to live
promote
Fair pay for doing your job,
keeping our food safe and
roads fixed
and secure the
blessings of liberty
to make sure that we are free
in order to form a
more perfect union
Modern Example
Each state works together
Everyone getting a fair trial
and treating everyone equally
Using the police to keep
people safe.
(tranquility, humility,
serenity)
Prefix = pro = project
forward
Synonym of liberty =
freedom
Make sure everyone can vote,
pray, think what they want.
Synonym of blessings = gifts
to ourselves and to
our posterity
and future Americans are free
posterity
For us and our children
Prefix = post = after
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