7 Principles of the Constitution Activity with PPT Card Sorts Notes
- PDF
- Google Apps™
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Description
Introduce students to the main principles of the US Constitution with this multi-activity kit that goes deeper than simply textbook definitions.
Included are mix-and-match options that include real-life examples, current event analysis, and gummy bears!
This kit covers:
- Popular Sovereignty
- Republicanism
- Federalism
- Checks and Balances
- Separation of Powers
- Individual Rights
- Limited Government
- Rule of Law
Greatness is having a clear vision of one's guiding principles.
Though the Framers never listed these principles explicitly, they're woven throughout the Constitution and our way of American democratic life. Yet they can be hard concepts for students to grasp, especially at the beginning of a Civics course when you haven't dived into the actual Constitution yet!
So instead of leaving it to your boring government textbook, let's try something new and take students straight to real-world examples, current news events, and their own imagination with a fun gummy bear group activity.
These mix-and-match activities can be done well in 3-4 classes and have been crafted to support the standards of various states.
Included in this complete Principles of the Constitution kit:
Teacher Resources
- Detailed Lesson Plans with planning notes, multiple lesson options, standards, and links
- Lecture Slide Deck file with images of examples for each of the 8 principles, fully editable
- Detailed Answer Key of student graphic organizer
- Link to Google files of all student sheets
Student Activities
- Principles Brainstorm -- jot down any incoming knowledge or guesses about each of the principles
- Principles Matching Slips -- match definitions with terms to preview and practice concepts
- Principles of the US Constitution Lecture -- cover the basics and brainstorm examples of each principle: popular sovereignty, republicanism, individual rights, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and rule of law
- Principles in the News -- pull various principles in action from that day's headlines (you pick the perfect article!)
- Principles in Political Cartoons create a gallery walk of cartoons to illustrate the principles in action (you pick timely cartoons!)
- Gummy Bear Diorama -- students create gummy bear displays of their assigned principle
- Student Skill Handouts -- Analyzing News Media Sources and Analyzing Political Cartoons
ELL & Neurodiversity Supports
- Icon images versions included to assist in concept understanding
- Collaborative, small-group activities that utilize spatial and kinesthetic skills and promote low-stakes student talk
- How-to skill sheets for source analysis
- Clear fonts and visual organization best practices used assignment sheets
Click <VIEW PREVIEW> to see more!
Want the full unit?
Foundations of American Democracy Unit includes all these activities plus explores the founding documents that have shaped the unique blend of government the Constitution created
Looking for more Civics & Government inquiry units?
Voting & Elections Unit explore a variety of voting issues; universal for any upcoming election
Three Branches Unit contrast how the federal government works in theory and in practice
Constitutional Rights Unit determine exactly how our rights translate into daily American life
Want to browse the full curriculum?
Civics to Empower Whole Course Bundle teach this inquiry-driven and project-based semester course with confidence!
This listing is for one license for regular, non-commercial classroom use by a single teacher only. Commercial use like online teaching (ex. Outschool) or sharing with other teachers (ex. shared drive, in a Facebook group, in a professional development training) is strictly prohibited.
By purchasing a license to this resource, you have access to all future updates at no cost, available under “My Purchases." Multiple and transferable licenses are available for purchase. PDF files are uneditable, other files have editing abilities, unless otherwise stated. All files are protected under federal copyright laws.
