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DocsTeachThe online tool for teaching with documents, from the National Archives National Archives Foundation National Archives

The Constitution at Work: Elementary Edition

Seeing the Big Picture

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The Constitution at Work:  Elementary Edition

About this Activity

  • Created by:National Archives Education Team
  • Historical Era:Across Eras: Civics & Government
  • Thinking Skill:Historical Analysis & Interpretation
  • Bloom's Taxonomy:Analyzing
  • Grade Level:Upper Elementary
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Please use a tablet or desktop computer to use this activity.
In this activity students will connect primary sources with specific sections of the Constitution.
https://www.docsteach.org/activities/student/the-constitution-at-work-elementary-edition

Suggested Teaching Instructions

This activity should be taught following an introduction to the U.S. Constitution and discussion of each branch of government and its responsibilities. For grades 4-5. Approximate time needed is 50 minutes.

You may wish to share a transcript of the U.S. Constitution and the history of its creation with students.

Choose one document in the grid to model careful document analysis and matching for students.

Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask students to begin the activity, analyzing each document for a possible link to the Constitution. Students should match each document with the specific article and section of the Constitution that it best demonstrates.

After concluding, discuss with students how each of the documents illustrates the Constitution at work and how it is relevant to the lives of Americans today.

Documents in this activity

  • Certification of the 26th Amendment
  • Constitution of the United States
  • Maria von Trapp Petition for Naturalization
  • Nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor as Supreme Court Justice
  • Senate Joint Resolution Declaring Admission of Missouri Into the Union
  • Senator Lyndon B. Johnson's Oath of Office
  • Supreme Court Building

CC0
To the extent possible under law, National Archives Education Team has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to "The Constitution at Work: Elementary Edition".

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