Exploros | United States: Government

United States: Government

Students are introduced to the U.S. Constitution, particularly the Preamble. Then they explore how the Constitution divides up government power into three branches in the United States. Next, students learn about the history of voting rights in the United States and consider the current state of voting rights. Finally, students research and compare the role of U.S. citizens with that of citizens from another country.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Overview

In this experience, students are introduced to the U.S. Constitution, particularly the Preamble. Then they explore how the Constitution divides up government power into three branches in the United States. Next, students learn about the history of voting rights in the United States and consider the current state of voting rights. Finally, students research and compare the role of U.S. citizens with that of citizens from another country.

Objectives:

Describe the United States’ constitutional, limited government.
Describe the nature of citizenship in the United States.
Compare the roles of American citizens with citizens of other countries.

Have you ever heard the phrase “We the People”? They are the first three words of the United States Constitution, the document that established the government and laws of the country. In this experience, you will explore several elements of the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. government.

Objectives:

Describe the United States’ constitutional, limited government.
Describe the nature of citizenship in the United States.
Compare the roles of American citizens with citizens of other countries.

Scene at the Signing of the Constitution, by Howard Christy

Watch Schoolhouse Rock: The Constitution.

Write down two things you learned from this video that you didn’t know before.

Post your answer

Discuss student responses. Ask them to explain what the Constitution was designed to do. (Keep people free.)

In the preamble to the Constitution, every phrase states an important national goal. Let’s analyze the phrases as separate units:

We the people,
In order to form a more perfect union,
Establish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
Provide for the common defense,
Promote the general welfare and
Secure the blessings of liberty
To ourselves and our posterity
Do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

As a class, discuss what you think some of these phrases mean: