Constitution Quest

Introduction

This project is a research based mini-unit that is appropriate for fifth grade through junior high levels.  It is easily adaptable.

  It  will focus on the 5 "Ws"  to investigate reasons for the formation of the United States Constitution. The research will allow the investigation of background and reasons for involvement of the Constitution's writers, delve into what a constitutional format  of government is,  determine the time frames for writing and ratification, the locations and conditions of the writing, and the reasons that the writers believed that the form of government ,the Articles of Confederation, needed to be replaced.

In addition,  co-operative groups will be responsible for writing a two page research paper reporting the cooperative group's findings.

The final requirement will be to report to your classmates the results of  your research using your  paper's information and incorporating it into a presentation.   The presentation  may take the form of a news cast, a debate, an commercial,  a news conference, or some other means of oral presentation.

Content Area and Grade Level
This content is suitable for grades 5 through junior high school Social Studies Constitution Study.
It can also be extended to Language Arts for essay writing, editing, persuasive propaganda ,and/or for oral presentation standards

Illinois Social Studies Standards Addressed

Students will:

• understand and explain basic principles of the United States government  14.A.2  (knowledge)
• apply the skills of historical analysis and interpretation 16.A.2c (analysis)
• locate, describe, and explain places. regions, and features on the Earth17.A.2b (synthesis)
• understand the roles and interactions of individuals and groups in society18.B2b (synthesis and evaluation)

Students will:

• apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.1.A.2a and 1.A.2b
• apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency 1.B.2a
• comprehend a broad range of reading materials. 1.C.2d and 1.C.2f
• read and interpret a variety of literary works.2.B.2a and
• use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and structure 3.A.2
• compose well organized and coherent writing for specific purposes and audiences 3.B.2a,b,c,d
• communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes 3.C.2a,b
• speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience 4.B.2a,b,d
• locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer question, solve problems, and communicate ideas.5.A.2b
• analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources. 5B.2b
• apply acquired information concepts, and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats 5.C2b

Allow four to five sessions for in class electronic and hard copy research. ( Graphics can be done simultaneously.)

Allow two  writing sessions for word processing. This can be done in class for a multicomputer classroom or in a computer lab for one  computer classrooms.

Allow two sessions for graphics and propaganda poster or electronic (ex. Hyperstudio) compilation.  One can be done concurrent with research.

Allow one session for propaganda presentations.

Resources Needed

Sets of Social Studies/ American History texts

Possible electronic sources:

• World book online
• Your local public library site

Clarisworks 5.0 or higher word-processing or similar  computer program

Word processor (with Internet connection)

Printer

Reference material in the classroom or school library

Video or audio materials

Human resources needed  are:

• Classroom teacher
• Parent volunteers
• School librarians
• Teacher aides (already assigned to the class)

Learners will need:

• general  background knowledge about the U.S. Constitution from classroom texts and completed lessons
• general knowledge of how to access internet  resources
• general knowledge of paragraph essay writing
• general knowledge of  how poster graphic or internet graphic creation

• Background knowledge of the United States Constitution
• Background knowledge of the writers  of the United States Constitution
• Background knowledge of the Articles of Confederation
• Background knowledge of paragraph writing and editing
• Background knowledge of  propaganda techniques
• General background knowledge of computer word processing and accessing the Internet

To evaluate this unit:

• Use Jean Madden's Social Studies rubric
• Kathy Schrock's rubric samples
• Your own rubric

It is possible to adapt this quest in various content and process lessons :

• Use Constitution Quest as  a simple research project.
• Use Constitution Quest as reinforcement for related lessons.
• Use Constitution Quest as a source of language arts Propaganda  lessons.
• Use Constitution Quest as a source for Language Arts Persuasive or Expository writing.
• Use Constitution Quest as a source for Language Arts oral Presentation information.

Constitution Quest  is tool available to teachers and students working on Social Studies/ U.S. History Constitution lessons .  It is also valuable as a language arts tool for paragraph  writing, and persuading orally  or in writing.