This is lesson #5 in the text unit series for Father of the Constitution, A Story about James Madison by Barbara Mitchell. The students will review how James Madison researched the governments of strong nations across history. The students will review the issues that states were having and discuss issues in their school. Students will develop pocket notes about their opinions of how the school needs to change to improve its governing system. Students will include their opinion, reasons for their opinion, and whether the change should be controlled at the school or classroom level. They will look at the rights of the students, how the school is organized, and the security, and services the school provides for students. The students will orally present their opinions to the class and allow for debate using oral presentation skills.

This unit of study is about the Father of the Constitution, James Madison. Through this unit, students will follow the life of James Madison, creating a timeline of events that led to the creation of the U.S. Constitution and the democratic government system still in use today. Students will research, develop an argumentative debate, and vote, as they read the text. Students will realize that his process prepared Madison for the writing of the U.S. Constitution. Students will engage in the expository writing process to construct a Classroom Constitution that aligns with the school’s vision and mission statements.

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