1. Mark Boatman
Lesson Plan: Constitution Week
4th Grade
1. Class Discussion
The importance of the rules list, what did you guys do the first week and why?
-Did you have to compromise to come up with a good list
-So everyone gets along
-Orderly classroom
-Everyone can participate
-Compromise to achieve goals
Tie it into how the Constitution. That’s is exactly what the leaders in our country
did over 200 years ago, in 1787. These leaders were called the Framer’s. Some
famous ones were George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison. The
Constitution has 27 amendments or rules for our country.
2. Read excerpts from the book: “A More Perfect Union”
3. Then do a “stop and sketch”
-Divide a piece of paper into 4 quadrants.
-Draw a quick representation of what that section of the book means
-Turn to your elbow partner and quietly talk about their sketches, and the
book.
4. Hand out the Preamble Word Worksheet (30 copies)
5. Review Vocab Words:
-Preamble:theintroductory statement of the U.S. Constitution, setting forth the
generalprinciples of American government and beginning withthewords,“We the
people of the United States, in order to form a more perfectunion. …”
-America: Our country.
-Justice: The principle determining correct conduct, and fair consequences.
-Tranquility: Peacefulness. Everything is calm and orderly. I bet Mrs. Skeesuck
loves a tranquil classroom.

2. -Liberty: Freedom/Independence
-Blessings: A special gift. Something that is good.
-Constitution: The way something is made up. The document that our founding
fathers created to form the U.S. government.
-People: You and I. Americans.
-Welfare: The good fortune, health and prosperity of the American people
-Posterity: The group of future generations to come.
-Union: Togetherness. Agroupofstatesornationsunitedinto one politicalbody,as that
of theAmericancoloniesatthetimeoftheRevolution.
-Tell kids to pay close attention to the Preamble song, especially the second time
through to fill out their worksheets
6. Wrap-up: Play School House Rock video: “Preamble”