SS.5.CG.1.2

Explain how and why the U.S. government was created by the U.S. Constitution.

Clarifications

Clarification 1: Students will identify the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Clarification 2: Students will explain the goals of the 1787 Constitutional Convention.

Clarification 3: Students will describe why compromises were made during the writing of the Constitution and identify compromises (e.g., Great Compromise, the Three-Fifths Compromise, the Electoral College).

Clarification 4: Students will identify Federalist and Anti-Federalist arguments supporting and opposing the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

General Information
Subject Area: Social Studies
Grade: 5
Strand: Civics and Government
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
5021070: Social Studies Grade 5 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
7721016: Access Social Studies - Grade 5 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
SS.5.CG.1.AP.2: Recognize a compromise that was made during the writing of the Constitution.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

From the Articles of Confederation to Two Sides- Lesson 3 of 3:

Students will research significant leaders that were either Federalists or an Anti-Federalist and their reasoning for supporting their respective side. Students will work to create a coded Scratch presentation to support their research. 

This is part 3 of a 3 part mini-unit that integrates Computer Science and Coding with Civics. 

Type: Lesson Plan

From Articles of Confederation to Two Sides- Lesson 2 of 3:

Students will review the differences between the views of Federalists and Anti-Federalist and then explore created code to determine where there might be bugs and how they might fix the code. Students will use their knowledge on coding to perform edits that allow for the Scratch program to run. This is lesson 2 of 3 in a Computer Science and Civics integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

From the Articles of Confederation to Two Sides- Lesson 1 of 3:

Students will learn about block coding completion within Scratch to determine what happened with the Articles of Confederation based on the strengths and weaknesses. In this lesson plan, students are able to perform the lesson without the use of their own computers to see how they can complete the code. This is part one of a three-part civics and computer science integrated series. 

Type: Lesson Plan

Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution: Figurative Language During the Grand Convention:

This is lesson 3 in the text unit series for Shh! We're Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz. This lesson allows students to interpret unknown words and figurative language including simile, metaphor, idioms, hyperbole, and personification within the text. Students will infer attitudes or perspectives reflected by state representatives toward the meeting, ideas expressed in speeches given by the state representatives, and challenges faced during the Grand Convention all while developing their understanding of figurative language.

This unit will help students understand why and how the Constitution was created, including: the thirteen states 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.

Type: Lesson Plan

Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution: What is the Constitution?:

This is lesson # 1 in the text unit series for 12 for the text SHH! We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz. This lesson will introduce and teach vocabulary found in the text. Students will demonstrate understanding of the academic vocabulary as found in the text. The teacher will assess background knowledge students have about the Constitution. Students will also discuss why the U.S. Constitution was created while identifying the central idea of the selected text and how the relevant details provide support.

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution: Summarize for Comprehension:

This is lesson # 11 in the text unit series for SHH! We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz. After reading the entire text, students will defend a claim on whether or not they would have ratified the Constitution.

This unit will help students understand why and how the Constitution was created, including: the thirteen states 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.

Type: Lesson Plan

A Controversial Constitution:

In this lesson, students will identify the Federalists’ and Anti-Federalists’ arguments regarding the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Students will collaborate to analyze the ideas about the U.S. Constitution put forth by the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.

Type: Lesson Plan

Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution: Text Structure and the U.S. Constitution:

In this lesson 6, students will read Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz and review key vocabulary from the text to become proficient with the meaning of the vocabulary words. Students will also have the opportunity to recall the words throughout the text. The teacher will review chronological order as a form of text structure and have students arrange historical events from the story in the order they took place. The teacher will also discuss the compare and contrast text structure, as it applies to the text. While reviewing chronological order, students will explain the goals of the 1787 Constitutional Convention. The idea is that while reviewing the chronological order, students will use a graphic organizer to explain historical events as mentioned in the text. The teacher will do a mini lesson to review primary and secondary sources if necessary.

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.

Type: Lesson Plan

Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution: Compare and Contrast the Articles of Confederation and Constitution:

This is lesson 4 in the text unit series for Shhh! We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz. Students will compare and contrast the information about two founding documents, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. They will complete a graphic organizer that shows how these documents are alike and different. Students will take information about the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution and use them to demonstrate understanding of text structure while completing a graphic organizer.

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

Type: Lesson Plan

Aaron and Alexander: Lesson 3: Important Documents:

This is lesson #3 in the text unit series for Aaron and Alexander the Most Famous Duel in American History. As a final prereading activity for this text, students will read an article about the important documents, written as the framework for establishing the U.S. government. While they are reading, they will learn about the Bill of Rights, Constitution and Declaration of Independence, and how they helped establish the U.S. government. They will develop connections to who Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton were. Students will complete a collaborative activity to become experts about one of the founding documents and share with their peers. They will find the central idea and relevant details of their section of the article provided. To end the lesson, students will summarize the information they learned about the founding documents that helped establish the framework for the U.S. government.

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

Type: Lesson Plan

The Articles of Confederation:

The purpose of this lesson is for students to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation while using primary and secondary sources that they will compare and contrast. The students will use the sources to explain through writing the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. The students will also identify and locate the original thirteen colonies.

Type: Lesson Plan

Student Inquiry: How did the U.S. Constitution Influence the Florida Constitution?:

In this inquiry lesson, students will investigate using compelling and supporting questions, the impact of the U.S. Constitution on the Florida Constitution. The method of student-group demonstrations of learning is suggested, but flexible. 

Type: Lesson Plan

The Articles of Confederation:

In this lesson, students will learn about the Articles of Confederation and identify it as the first constitution of the United States. Students will analyze the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and learn how these weaknesses led to problems. Students will then discover how the issues were addressed in the U.S. Constitution.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorial

The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights:

Learn about the history and background of the U.S. Constitution and how the Constitution and Bill of Rights safeguards our rights and liberties in this interactive tutorial. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Teaching Idea

Grade 5 Civics Family Guide: Standard 1:

This Grade 5 Civics Family Guide provides some ideas and activities to support civics education when at home, out and about, and in the community. The activities provided align to the civics learning benchmarks within Standard 1 at this grade level.

Type: Teaching Idea

Integrated Social Studies with Civics Original tutorials - Grades K-5

The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights:

Learn about the history and background of the U.S. Constitution and how the Constitution and Bill of Rights safeguards our rights and liberties in this interactive tutorial. 

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Original Student Tutorial

The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights:

Learn about the history and background of the U.S. Constitution and how the Constitution and Bill of Rights safeguards our rights and liberties in this interactive tutorial. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Teaching Idea

Grade 5 Civics Family Guide: Standard 1:

This Grade 5 Civics Family Guide provides some ideas and activities to support civics education when at home, out and about, and in the community. The activities provided align to the civics learning benchmarks within Standard 1 at this grade level.

Type: Teaching Idea