The Big Ideas of the U.S. Constitution

This activity can be used during a unit on the U.S. Constitution. Conduct Part I of this activity as a whole class or in small groups. Part II can be completed in class or assigned as homework. Appropriate for grades 5-12.

Part I
Begin by opening the activity. Explain to students that there are several big ideas contained in the U.S. Constitution, including civic responsibility, defined as: the actions by the people that demonstrate their interest and participation in the governing of their country. Ask students to brainstorm and identify an example of civic responsibility. After sharing their examples, instruct students that they are to match each big idea presented in the grid with its correct definition.

Part II
After correctly matching each pair and reviewing the answers as a class, divide students into six groups. If they are participating in the Constitution-in-Action Lab, ask them to break up into their assigned groups for the lab. Once they are in their groups, provide students with a transcript of the Constitution. Ask them to click the “When You’re Done” button and click the link that corresponds with their group number. This will direct them to a new activity window. Inform them that each group is responsible for a specific section of the Constitution (the Article numbers in the following list link to teacher instructions pages, not the student versions of the activities):

• Team 1: Article I, sections 1-7
• Team 2: Article I, sections 8-10
• Team 3: Article II, all sections
• Team 4: Article III, all sections
• Team 5: Articles IV, all sections
• Team 6: Articles V, VI, VII all sections

Instruct them to carefully examine and analyze each document using document analysis techniques. Tell them to identify key information in the document by answering the following questions (the actual wording of the questions will vary by team):

• Who, what, when, where, why, and how?
• How does this document connect to the group’s assigned article and sections of the Constitution?
• What big idea of the Constitution is contained in this document?

After analyzing the document carefully and answering the questions, instruct them to click the, “When You’re Done” button. Hold a class discussion, allowing time for each group to:

• Identify and describe their document
• Identify the specific article and section that connects to their document
• Quote the actual wording of the Constitution from the article and section they identified
• Identify the big idea they chose and explain why this document is a good example of that idea

After completing the activity use The Constitution at Work activity as an assessment.