This is lesson # 12 in the text unit for Shhh! We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz. This lesson is a culminating activity where students deepen their knowledge of the Constitution after reading the text. Students will be organized into groups where they will be assigned specific Articles from the US Constitution. Every group will be assigned different Articles so that the class is able to cover the whole Constitution. In groups, students will analyze and interpret the articles they have been assigned while referencing the text, dictionary, and internet resources for support. Groups will be given chart paper to define and explain their specific Articles to the class. Students will take notes from the other group’s presentations, so they have notes on all of the Articles and not just the one they have been assigned.

This unit will help students understand why and how the Constitution was created, including: the original thirteen colonies and important historical figures present during the creation, the challenges and conflicts that state representatives faced during writing the Constitution, motifs and themes during the “Grand Convention,” and the relationship between state and national constitutions. Lessons will allow students to identify citizens’ civic duties outlined by the Constitution, the relationship between the federal and state Constitutions, and important historical symbols. Each part of the unit will include an in-depth dive into vocabulary and how it applies to the meaning of the text.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.