The Constitution in Action: Article I (Team 2)

Students will analyze Albert Einstein’s Declaration of Intention and identify how the document demonstrates Article I, sections 8-10 of the Constitution in action. Students will also select a big idea of the Constitution that is contained within the document. Big ideas include: civic responsibility, checks and balances, enumerated power, implied power, separation of powers, federalism and representative government.

This activity can be used during a unit on the U.S. Constitution.  Conduct this activity in small groups, or as a homework assignment. Appropriate for grades 5-12.

Part 1
Begin by dividing students into six groups. Complete The Big Ideas of the U.S. Constitution activity if you have not done so already.

Part 2
After completing the activity and reviewing the answers as a class, provide students with a transcript of the Constitution (scroll down and click “Show Transcript” button). Inform them that each group is responsible for a specific section of the Constitution:

• 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

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. Instruct them to carefully examine and analyze the document using document analysis techniques. Ask them to identify key information in the document by answering the following questions:

• Who, what, when, where, why, and how?
• How does this document connect to Article 1, sections 8-10 of the U.S. Constitution? (Answer: Article I, section 8, “Congress shall have the power…To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States”)
• What big idea of the Constitution is contained in this document?

When they have finished 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 activity The Constitution at Work as an assessment.