The Constitution in Action: Article I (Lab Team 2)

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Students will analyze Albert Einstein's Declaration of Intention and identify how the document demonstrates Article I, sections 8-10 of the Constitution in action. Students will also select a big idea of the Constitution that is contained within the document. Big ideas include: civic responsibility, checks and balances, enumerated power, implied power, separation of powers, federalism and representative government.

This activity can be used during a unit on the U.S. Constitution. It is designed to prepare students to participate in the Constitution-in-Action Lab at the National Archives in Washington, DC. Conduct this activity in small groups, or as a homework assignment. Appropriate for grades 5-12.

Part 1
Begin by dividing students into six groups. If they are participating in the Constitution-in-Action Lab, ask them to break up into their assigned groups for the lab. Complete The Big Ideas of the U.S. Constitution activity if you have not done so already.

Part 2
After completing the activity and reviewing the answers as a class, provide students with a transcript of the Constitution (scroll down and click "Show Transcript" button). Inform them that each group is responsible for a specific section of the Constitution:

• Team 1: Article I, sections 1-7
• Team 2: Article I, sections 8-10
• Team 3: Article II, all sections
• Team 4: Article III, all sections
• Team 5: Articles IV, all sections
• Team 6: Articles V, VI, VII all sections

Ask them to click the "When You're Done” button and click the link that corresponds with their group number. This will direct them to a new activity window. Instruct them to carefully examine and analyze the document using document analysis techniques. Ask them to identify key information in the document by answering the following questions:

• Who, what, when, where, why, and how?
• How does this document connect to Article 1, sections 8-10 of the U.S. Constitution? (Answer: Article I, section 8, "Congress shall have the power...To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States")
• What big idea of the Constitution is contained in this document?

When they have finished answering the questions, instruct them to click the, "When You're Done" button. Hold a class discussion, allowing time for each group to:

• Identify and describe their document
• Identify the specific article and section that connects to their document
• Quote the actual wording of the Constitution from the article and section they identified
• Identify the big idea they chose and explain why this document is a good example of that idea

After completing the activity, or participating in the Constitution-in-Action Lab, use the activity The Constitution at Work as an assessment.