Optional add-on · Social Studies · 30 min · Fits Week 14

Rules for a Whole Country: The US Constitution and Our State Constitution

Objective: Your child will explain that the US Constitution is the country's rulebook, put the big idea of the Preamble into their own words, and learn that each state also has its own constitution (D2.Civ.1.K-2, D2.Civ.5.K-2).

Materials: We the Kids by David Catrow (from Week 13), the Government Stack plates, your family rights and responsibilities chart from Week 5 (if you have it), paper, pencil, internet access or a library book about your state

Helps with topics listed by: New York

1. Warm-Up: Rules for Our Home (5 min)

   Look at your family rights and responsibilities chart from Week 5, or list three family rules together. Ask: 'Who made these rules? Who has to follow them? What if nobody wrote them down?' Say: 'A country needs rules too, written down so everyone knows them. The United States has a rulebook called the Constitution.'

2. Mini-Lesson: The Country's Rulebook (10 min)

   Explain in simple words: 'The Constitution was written in 1787 in Philadelphia. It says how our national government is set up, what each part is allowed to do, and some rights that belong to the people. Even the president has to follow it.' Reread the Preamble pages of 'We the Kids' and have your child chime in on 'We the People.' Say: 'The Preamble is the beginning. It tells why the Constitution was written.' Put its big ideas into kid words together: work together as one country; be fair to everyone; keep peace at home; keep the country safe; help people have good lives; and keep freedom for us and for people in the future. Ask: 'Who are We the People?' (Everyone in the country, including you.)

3. Mini-Lesson: Two Rulebooks (10 min)

   Hold up the Government Stack. Say: 'Each of the 50 states also has its own constitution. It sets up the state government: the governor and the state legislature on the middle plate.' Write 'US Constitution' on a sticky note for the big national plate and 'Our state constitution' for the state plate. Ask: 'Which rulebook is for the whole country? Which one is only for our state?' Then sort three examples: who can be president (US Constitution), how our state's governor is chosen (state constitution), rights that belong to everyone in the country (US Constitution).

4. Family Activity: One Thing Our State Constitution Says (5 min)

   Together, find your state constitution on your state's official website or in a library book about your state. You don't need to read it all. Find one thing it says, such as how long the governor serves, what the state's schools must do, or a right it lists. Put it in kid words and help your child write it on the practice page. Families in New York can use this as a start on the requirement to study the US and New York State Constitutions once in grades 1 to 8.