Instructional Activity 7: Preamble Collage (Standard
3)
Curriculum Area
United States History
Grade Level
Key
Standards/Benchmark
Essential Question(s)
Grade 8
Content Standard 3: The student will examine the formation of the American system of government following the
Revolutionary War that led to the creation of the United States Constitution.
1. Examine and summarize the issues encountered by the young nation that led to the Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia in 1787 including the
A. Strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation,
B. Lack of a common national currency,
C. Lack of a common defense,
D. Management of the war debts,
E. Disputes over the western territories as resolved by the Northwest Ordinance, and
F. Civil unrest as typified in Shays’ Rebellion.
2. Analyze the significance of the Constitutional Convention, its major debates and compromises including the
Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, the Great Compromise, the Three-fifths Compromise, and the key contributions
of George Washington, James Madison, George Mason, and Gouverneur Morris.
3. Cite specific textual and visual evidence to examine the arguments for and against the ratification of the United
States Constitution as expressed in the Federalist Papers Number 10 and Number 51, as well as Anti-Federalist
concerns over a strong central government and the omission of a bill of rights.
4. Explain the constitutional principles of popular sovereignty, consent of the governed, separation of powers,
checks and balances, federalism, and judicial review.
5. Cite specific textual and visual evidence and summarize the rights and responsibilities all Americans possess under
the United States Constitution as guaranteed in the Bill of Rights including the freedoms of religion, speech, press,
assembly, petition, and the rights to due process and trial by jury.
What is the Preamble to the United States Constitution?
What is the meaning of the Preamble?
Title of Lesson
Preamble Collage
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Knowledge, analysis, synthesis (reconstructs)
Multiple Intelligences
Materials/Resources:
Kinesthetic , visual, spatial
Newspapers, large sheets of construction paper (white works well, but any color would work), scissors, glue
sticks.
Essential Vocabulary:
Preamble
Procedures
Students are placed in heterogeneous groups (mixed abilities) of approximately 6. Each group will
reconstruct the Preamble to the Constitution on their sheet of construction paper using letters and words
that they find and cut out of newspapers. (Finished projects resemble ransom notes). Each student in the
group chooses a passage from the Preamble that they will reconstruct. Make sure that students use plenty
of glue when gluing their letters/words to the construction paper. (It is also possible to use scotch tape to
secure words/passages to the paper.)
Assessment
The finished project is the assessment. I tell students that if they have their project 100% complete at the
end of the allotted time (I give them 2 class periods) then they will all receive 100%. If the assignment is
90% complete they will all receive 90’s etc. (This seems to keep the groups focused and keeps them from
stopping to “read” the paper, etc)
Differentiation
Students can be assigned a smaller passage from the Preamble to create; groups could be made larger if
some members of the group need more time or smaller passages.
Notes
This project is fun and the kids enjoy it, but it is messy! I leave a note for the custodian not to worry about
vacuuming, etc. during the couple of days that we are doing this project, and I personally vacuum my room
at the conclusion of the last day. If your school does not receive newspapers that you have access to once
the media center no longer needs them you will need to start collecting papers early. I start the first week
of school asking teachers to save their newspapers from home for me. It is better to have too many papers
than not enough. After the Preambles are complete I have them laminated in the media center and post
them for display.
Supplemental – These video clips work as good openings and/or closers to this lesson:
Barney Fife and The Preamble and The Constitution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0KRT31RgK4
Schoolhouse Rock America: Chapter Five on Safari Montage