Let's Celebrate Constitution Day!



|Lesson Synopsis: |

In this lesson, students use the information they have learned about the Constitution, the U.S. Flag, and the Texas Flag to celebrate Constitution Day, which is celebrated in the United States on September 17th, the date the Constitution was signed in 1787.

TEKS:

|K.1 |History. The student understands that holidays are celebrations of special events. The student is expected to: |

|K.1A |Explain the reasons for national patriotic holidays such as Presidents Day, Veterans’ Day, and Independence Day. |

|K.1B |Identify customs associated with national patriotic holidays such as parades and fireworks on Independence Day. |

|K.10 |Citizenship. The student understands important symbols, customs, and responsibilities that represent American beliefs and |

| |principles and contribute to our national identity. The student is expected to: |

|K.10C |Identify Constitution Day as a celebration of American freedom, |

Social Studies Skills TEKS:

|K.14 |Social Studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired from a variety of |

| |sources, including electronic technology. The students is expected to: |

|K.14B |Obtain information about a topic using a variety of valid visual sources such as pictures, symbols, electronic media, print |

| |material, and artifacts; and |

|K.15 |Social studies skills. The student communicates in oral and visual forms. The student is expected to: |

|K.15A |Express ideas orally based on knowledge and experiences; |

|Getting Ready for Instruction |

|Performance Indicator(s): |

• Identify Constitution Day as September 17th and explain why we celebrate it. (K.10C; K.15A)

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|Key Understandings and Guiding Questions: |

• Las personas celebran lo que es importante para ellas.

← ¿Qué es la Constitución?

← ¿Por qué es importante para nosotros?

← ¿Por qué tenemos una Constitución?

← ¿Por qué la celebramos?

← ¿Qué es la libertad?

|Vocabulary of Instruction: |

• herencia patriótica

• reglas

• Constitución

• ciudadano

• celebrar

• importante

Materials:

• Refer to the Notes for Teacher section for materials.

|Attachments: |

• None

|Resources and References: |

• First page of the Constitution (see Lesson 1 handout)

• Fourth page of the Constitution (with signatures) (see Lesson 1 handout)

• “The Scene at the Signing of the Constitution”: (architect of the capitol website)

|Advance Preparation: |

1. Become familiar with content and procedures for the lesson, including the idea that we observe Constitution day as a way to celebrate our freedom.

2. Refer to the Instructional Focus Document for specific content to include in the lesson.

3. Select appropriate sections of the textbook and other classroom materials that support the learning for this lesson.

4. Preview websites according to district guidelines.

5. Include a note in the weekly parent letter to have students wear red, white and blue on the day the class celebrates Constitution Day.

6. Prepare materials and handouts as needed.

7. Prepare pictures for display: (Independence Hall, the first and fourth pages of the Constitution (see Lesson 1), George Washington, Ben Franklin, the painting, “The Scene at the Signing of the Constitution”)

|Background Information: |

In 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill that moved “I Am an American Day” from the third Sunday in May to September 17th so that this holiday would coincide with the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Congress renamed the holiday “Citizenship Day.” A joint resolution passed in 1956 requested the President to proclaim the week beginning September 17th and ending September 23rd each year as “Constitution Week.” Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) entered an amendment to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 that changed the name of the September 17 holiday to “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.” The purpose of “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day” is to honor and celebrate the privileges and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship for both native-born and naturalized citizens, while commemorating the creation and signing of the supreme law of our land. The addition of the amendment, known as Public Law 108 - 477, requires all schools that receive federal funds hold an educational program for their students on September 17 of each year.

Constitution day. (n.d.). Retrieved from

|Getting Ready for Instruction Supplemental Planning Document |

Instructors are encouraged to supplement and substitute resources, materials, and activities to differentiate instruction to address the needs of learners. The Exemplar Lessons are one approach to teaching and reaching the Performance Indicators and Specificity in the Instructional Focus Document for this unit. Instructors are encouraged to create original lessons using the Content Creator in the Tools Tab located at the top of the page. All originally authored lessons can be saved in the “My CSCOPE” Tab within the “My Content” area.

|Instructional Procedures |

|Instructional Procedures |Notes for Teacher |

|ENGAGE – Celebrating Constitution Day |NOTE: 1 Day = 30 minutes |

| |Suggested Day 1 - 5 minutes |

|Remind students that in the past few days they have learned about the United States of |Purpose: |

|America. |To review learning and spark students’ interest in Constitution Day. |

|Ask: | |

|Can you name something you have learned about our country?” (Our country’s highest law is |TEKS: K.1A, K.1B; K.10C, K.15A |

|called the Constitution. It was signed in Philadelphia in 1787. One symbol of our country | |

|is the United States flag. One symbol of our state – which is a part of our country - is |Instructional Note: |

|the Texas flag.) Prompt students to arrive at the stated answers. |This lesson should be taught as close to September 17th as possible. |

|EXPLORE – Why do we celebrate? |Suggested Day 1 (cont’d) - 5 minutes |

|Display pictures related to the Constitution, such as “The Scene at the Signing of the |Materials: |

|Constitution.” |Pictures for display such as: |

| |The painting, “The Scene at the Signing of the Constitution” |

|Using the displayed picture of “The Scene at the Signing of the Constitution,” ask the |July 4th Celebrations |

|following questions: |Picture of the Constitution |

|What are the people in the picture wearing? Do we wear these types of clothes today? |Birthday cake with candles |

|(Explain that this scene took place many, many years ago.) | |

|What are the people in the picture doing? (Explain that these people were brave men who |Purpose: |

|wanted our county, the United States, to be a great place for people to live. This is why |To introduce celebrations as a way we honor the rich heritage of our |

|they helped write rules in the Constitution to make our country safe, fair, and free.) |country and to explain that we have responsibilities as citizens of the |

| |United States. |

|Show a picture of a birthday cake with candles. | |

|Ask: |TEKS: K.1A, K.1B; K.10C, K.15A |

|What do you do on your birthday? (Lead students the fact that they celebrate a wonderful, | |

|important day… the day the student was born. with cake, presents, and friends/family.) | |

| | |

|Explain that we celebrate wonderful, important days for the United States, too. | |

|Explain July 4th | |

|Explain Constitution Day on September 17th | |

| | |

|Ask questions such as: | |

|What are responsibilities? (jobs or chores) | |

|What responsibilities do you have at home? (cleaning bedroom, following family rules, | |

|emptying trash, treating other family members with respect) | |

|What responsibilities do you think we have as citizens of the United States of America? | |

|(Prompt students to conclude that as citizens we have a responsibility to treat others | |

|with respect, obey laws, vote, contribute to society by volunteering, etc.) | |

|EXPLAIN – Constitution Day Fun |Suggested Day 1 (cont’d) - 10 minutes |

|Set up various learning stations to assist student in understanding the Constitution. |TEKS: K.1A, K.1B; K.10C, K.15A |

|(See suggestions in Instructional Notes.) | |

| |Instructional Note: |

| |Ideas for center time: |

| |During center time, have patriotic music in the listening center. |

| |Provide writing materials such as “parchment-like” paper so students can|

| |create their own constitution. They can ask their classmates to sign it |

| |with them. |

| |In the art center, provide red, white, and blue construction paper to |

| |make simple headband style hats. Copies of the “We the People” graphic |

| |should be available to attach to the front of the hat. These can be worn|

| |as students leave for the day. |

| |Students can decorate pens or pencils with feathers, patriotic wired |

| |garland and/or small jingle bells (available at a craft store). Use tape|

| |to attach the decoration to the top of the pen or pencil. These can be |

| |used to sign documents. |

|ELABORATE – What would happen if? |Suggested Day 1 (cont’d) - 5 minutes |

|Facilitate a discussion about the lesson’s Key Understandings and Guiding Questions: | |

|The Constitution, the rules of our nation, helps ensure freedom for all. | |

|What is the Constitution? | |

|Why do we have a Constitution? | |

|What is freedom? | |

| | |

|Continue the discussion by asking questions such as: | |

|What would happen in our country if we did not have a Constitution? | |

|EVALUATE – Do we know when and why we celebrate? |Suggested Day 1 (cont’d) - 5 minutes |

|Identify Constitution Day as September 17th and explain why we celebrate it. (K.10C; | |

|K.15A) | |

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