The Almost Painless Guide to the U.S. Constitution Program Produced and Distributed by: Media Rich Learning www.mediarichlearning.com TABLE OF CONTENTS General Description of Program Instructional Notes Suggested Instructional Procedures Student Objectives Follow-Up Activities Extended Learning Activities Answer Key Script of Narration Student Handouts Pre-Test Video Quiz The U.S. Constitution Vocabulary Discussion Questions Word Search The Preamble Constitution Article Activity Bill of Rights Bill of Rights Activity Checks and Balances The Federalists and Anti-Federalists Post-Test Bill of Rights - Extended Learning Activity Of Civil Government The Social Contract Defined The Framers of the Constitution Framers of the Constitution Chart THE ALMOST PAINLESS GUIDE TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION Grades 5-Up Running Time: 20 minutes GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM The Almost Painless Guide to the U.S. Constitution uses contemporary video footage, archival video footage and photographs, original graphics, and dialog narration to provide students in grades five and up with information on the U.S. Constitution. The program examines the inception of the Constitution as it succeeded the Articles of Confederation. It discusses the importance of the Constitution as the foundation of a federal system of government and the concept of “We the People” as the ultimate authority. The articles of the Constitution that defined the three branches of government are discussed, as is the concept of “checks and balances.” The Preamble is explored in depth, as are the first ten amendments that comprise the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments to the Constitution. The program concludes with “The Almost Painless Review,” which offers an excellent synopsis of the entire program. Also, a Video Quiz is provided prior to the closing credits in order to help you assess student comprehension immediately following the video presentation. INSTRUCTIONAL NOTES It is suggested that you preview the video and read the related Suggested Instructional Procedures before involving your students in the lesson activities. In this way, you will become familiar with the materials and be better prepared to adapt the program to the needs of your class. You will probably find it helpful to follow the video and lesson activities in the order in which they are presented in this Teacher’s Guide, but this is not necessary. It is also suggested that the video presentation take place before the entire class and under your direction. The lesson activities focus on the content of the video; therefore, the presentations should be a common experience for all students. As you review the instructional program outlined in the Teacher’s Guide, you may find it necessary to make some changes, deletions, or additions to fit the specific needs of your students. We encourage you to do so, for only by tailoring this program to your students will they obtain the instructional benefits afforded by the materials. SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES Teacher Preparation Preview the video The Almost Painless Guide to the U.S. Constitution. Duplicate any blackline masters you intend to use. Read the descriptions of the blackline masters. Student Preparation The students should be supplied with the necessary copies of blackline masters required to complete the activities supplied. Teachers can extend any of the lessons on the Constitution by analyzing current events articles. STUDENT OBJECTIVES After viewing the program The Almost Painless Guide to the U.S. Constitution and participating in the follow-up activities, students should be able to: Identify the essential ideas of American constitutional government. Identify that the people are sovereign; they are the ultimate source of power. Identify that the Constitution is a higher law that authorizes a government of limited powers. Identify the purposes of government, as stated in the Preamble, as: To form a more perfect union; To establish justice; To insure domestic tranquility; To provide for the common defense; To promote the general welfare; To secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. Describe the means of limiting the powers of government under the Constitution. Explain how the following provisions of the Constitution give government the power it needs to fulfill the purposes for which it was established: Delegate or enumerate powers (Articles I, II, and III) The General welfare provision (Article I, Section 8) The necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) Define the separation and sharing of powers. Define checks and balances. Define the Bill of Rights. Explain how specific provisions of the Constitution (Bill of Rights, etc.) limit the powers of government in order to protect the rights of individuals. FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES BLACKLINE MASTERS The following Blackline Master activities are included with this guide. You may replicate and distribute them to your class as needed. An Answer Key appears on pages 8-13. 1. Blackline Master #1: Pre-Test is an assessment tool intended to gauge student comprehension of the Objectives prior to the launching of the U.S. Constitution lesson, which includes the video and the ensuing activities. The results of the Pre-Test may be contrasted with the results of the Post-Test to assess the efficacy of the lesson in achieving the Student Objectives. 2. Blackline Master #2: Video Quiz is a printed copy of the questions which appear at the end of the video presentation. The Video Quiz is intended to reinforce the salient points of the video immediately following its completion and may be used for assessment or as a catalyst for discussion. 3. Blackline Masters #3a-3g: The United States Constitution is the actual text of the document, including the Bill of Rights. 4. Blackline Master #4: Vocabulary is a list of pertinent terms and definitions. 5. Blackline Master #5: Discussion Questions offers questions to spur conversation and to identify student comprehension and misunderstanding. 6. Blackline Master #6: Word Search prompts students to search for hidden words and phrases from the lesson. 7. Blackline Master #7: The Preamble of the United States Constitution is the text of the introduction to the United States Constitution. 8. Blackline Master #8: Constitution Article Activity asks students to select which article of the Constitution contains various ideas. 9. Blackline Master #9: Bill of Rights is the text of the first ten amendments. 10. Blackline Masters #10a-10c: Bill of Rights Activity is an activity to help students explore their understanding of the Bill of Rights. 11. Blackline Master #11: Checks and Balances is an activity created to increase student understanding of the balance of power. 12. Blackline Masters #12a-12b: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists is an activity that will offer students insight into the debate behind the formation of the Constitution. 13. Blackline Masters #13a-13b: Post-Test is an assessment tool to be administered after the lesson (Pre-Test, video and follow-up activities) have been completed. EXTENDED LEARNING ACTIVITIES 1. Blackline Master #14: Bill of Rights Extended Learning Activity is an activity for advanced students. 2. Roots of the Preamble Extended Learning Activity. This activity was created to help students understand the origins of the basic principles of the Preamble, thus understanding the basic principles of American democracy. Directions: Provide students with Blackline Masters #15a-15b: Of Civil Government by John Locke, Blackline Master #16: Du Contract Social by Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Blackline Master #17: The Social Contract Defined. Have the students compare the two excerpts by Locke and Rousseau. They should create a list of concepts that these philosophers shared. Then provide a copy of the Preamble to the Constitution (Blackline Master #7) and have the students list or underline statements in the Preamble that reflect the concepts present in the works by Locke and Rousseau. These basic principles can then be discussed. Lastly, define the Social Contract. Ask the students to write a 100-200 word essay to answer the following question: “Does the Social Contract reflect the concept of ‘We the People’? Why or why not?” 3. The Framers of the U.S. Constitution. This activity was created to give students a better understanding about who the framers of the Constitution were. By understanding the backgrounds and points of view of the framers of the Constitution, one can better understand how and why the Constitution was constructed. Directions: Assign each student or group of students the name of a framer of the Constitution. Instruct them to use encyclopedias, books, computer databases, or the Internet as research aids in answering the questions on Blackline Master #18: The Framers of the U.S. Constitution. When the students have completed their research, place them in groups. Have them create a list of characteristics shared by their framers; have them complete Blackline Master #19: Framers Chart. Have the groups compare the charts. What conclusions can the class make about the framers of the Constitution? The homework assignment can be for the students to respond to the following question: “The characteristics of the framers of the Constitution is in line with the concept of the ‘We the People’. True or false?” ANSWER KEY Blackline Master #1: Pre-Test 1. True 2. False 3. False 4. True 5. False 6. True 7. False 8. True 9. False 10. False Blackline Master #2: Video Quiz 1. True 2. True 3. True 4. False 5. False 6. True 7. True 8. True 9. False 10. False Blackline Master #5: Discussion Questions 1. What is the purpose of a constitutional government? A constitutional government limits the powers of the government, while protecting the individual rights of the people. 2. What is the Preamble to the Constitution? What is its purpose? The Preamble is the introduction to the U.S. Constitution. It explains the purpose of the Constitution. Generally, it explains that the Constitution is designed to protect and insure the rights of the people and their government. 3. What is a federal system of government? A federal system of government shares its power and responsibilities with the individual states. 4. What are the three branches of government? The three branches of government are the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. 5. How do the three branches work within the system of checks and balances? The three branches are designed to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. Examples of this are the presidential veto, the two-thirds override of the veto, judicial review (constitutionality), and confirmation of presidential appointments. 6. What is the Bill of Rights? The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments of the Constitution. It outlines the rights of every American citizen and describes what the government can and cannot do. 7. What are the two ways in which an amendment can be ratified? In order for an amendment to be proposed, either two-thirds of both houses must ratify the amendment or two-thirds of the states must ratify the amendment. However, it takes three- fourths of the states to adopt an amendment to become part of the Constitution. 8. What is the purpose of the other sixteen amendments other than the Bill of Rights? The other sixteen amendments are designed to further the freedoms of Americans. Amendments 13 - 15 are known as the “ Civil Rights Amendments” because they extend rights to African-Americans. 9. According to the Constitution, what role do the people play in the country’s political processes? The people of the United States elect the officials in government either by direct or indirect election. In addition, the people are the ultimate authority and they let the people in government govern over them for their common good. 10. How does the Bill of Rights and the Constitution ensure the idea of “We the People”? Answers will vary. Americans give the persons in government the power to make laws that are in their best interest. Ultimately, these people are elected and are supposed to be responsive to the citizens of this country. The Bill of Rights ensures that the government does not overstep its bounds by depriving the citizens of their rights. The Bill of Rights also ensures that the people can criticize the government without retribution. It assures people of rights within the judicial system and it grants them certain freedoms to protect these rights. Blackline Master #6: Word Search Blackline Master #8: Constitution Article Activity Legislative Branch Article I Judicial Branch Article III Purpose Preamble State Relations Article IV Executive Branch Article II Blackline Masters #10a-10c: Bill of Rights Activity 1. C 2. B 3. B 4. C 5. D 6. D 7. B 8. C 9. B 10. D 11. A 12. B 13. C 14. C 15. B Blackline Master #11: Checks and Balances 1A. Legislative 1B. Executive 1C. Judicial 2A. Executive 2B. Legislative 2C. Judicial 3A. Judicial 3B. Executive 3C. Legislative 4. Answers will vary. Primarily they should focus on the power of the President to veto Congress and the power of Congress to override the President’s veto. The other issue they may address is the use of Congress’s power of confirming executive appointments. The job of the judicial branch is to interpret the constitutionality of laws. Blackline Masters #12a-12b: The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists 1. James Wilson; Federalist 2. Patrick Henry; Anti-Federalist 3. John Smilie; Anti-Federalist 4. Edmund Pendleton; Federalist Blackline Masters #13a-13b: Post Test 1. True 2. True 3. True 4. True 5. False 6. D 7. B 8. D 9. A, B, C, D 10. A 11. Answers will vary but essentially should say that the Constitution sets up the structure of our government. This structure utilizes a system of checks and balances that keep the three branches of government from becoming too strong. In addition, the Constitution sets up a method for election of officials to government positions, therefore these people are responsive to the citizen’s needs and desires of “We the People.” Blackline Master #14: Bill of Rights Activity Extended Learning Activity 1. Amendment II 2. Amendment VIII 3. Amendment I 4. Amendment IV 5. Amendment VI