My Lesson Plans for Teaching Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Amendments
I’m excited to share my lesson plans for teaching Citizens’ Rights and Responsibilities and Constitutional Amendments! My plans are designed for 8 days of class periods lasting around 55-60 minutes. Remember, you know your students best! Your students may complete tasks at a different pace from mine.
As you’ll know soon, I love to incorporate ELA and Reading standards into social studies lessons. So, many activities revolve around nonfiction reading and R.I. Standards.
Day 1: Citizens’ Rights and Responsibilities
Warm-Up/Activator/Bell-Ringer: Discuss what it means to be a citizen, what it means to have rights, and what it means to have responsibilities.
Complete a nonfiction reading activity.
Partner read and complete chart on page 2
Discuss whole group
Individually complete pages 3-4, and then discuss whole-group
Individually complete page 5 (or assign for homework).
Day 2: Due Process
Warm-Up/Activator/Bell-Ringer (recap day 1): display images or phrases and ask students to sort them in a t-chart as “right” or “responsibility”. For example, show a slideshow with a speed limit sign and a place to worship. The GaDOE site has a document set with this already prepared! Click here to access the site. Scroll all the way down to “Sample Units” and click on Unit 2’s Document Set.
Complete a “Due Process Survey” with a partner, then discuss.
As a whole class, discuss the definition of due process and how certain amendments protect citizens through due process.
In small groups, complete the “Amendment Excerpt” sheet. Discuss afterwards as a whole group.
Ticket Out the Door Idea: recap with 5 questions from Day 1 and 5 questions from Day 2.
Day 3: Due Process Continued
Warm-Up/Activator/Bell-Ringer: Pick 3 questions from Day 2’s ticket out the door (I recommend choosing the top 3 missed questions, so you can clear up those misconceptions!)
Complete a nonfiction reading activity:
Partner read and complete page 2
Individually complete pages 3-4
Check as a whole group and check for understanding
Watch a video about due process (YouTube, BrainPop, etc.)
Don’t forget your closing! Check for understanding by asking summarizing questions.
Day 4: Process of Amendments
Warm-Up/Activator/Bell-Ringer: What are amendments? Why do we need amendments?
Reading with a Purpose with nonfiction text - Tell students that the text will explain 2 ways to make an amendment to the Constitution. Have them interact with the text by giving them a purpose for reading.
Underline the 1st process to make an amendment to the Constitution
Underline with a squiggle line the 2nd process to make an amendment to the Constitution
Draw a box around the main idea of EACH paragraph of the text.
Students work independently on “Reading with a Purpose” at first, but they’ll get 5 minutes with a partner before we check. This process is especially helpful with middle-grade students. They tend to be less insecure about sharing answers if they’ve had the opportunity to talk it out first.
Discuss and fill in page 2’s chart together. Then, allow students to complete pages 3-4 independently.
Don’t forget your closing! Check for understanding by asking summarizing questions.
Day 5: Purpose for the Process of Amendments
Warm-Up/Activator/Bell-Ringer: Review content from Days 1 -4.
Complete nonfiction reading activity.
Read independently and graphic organizer
Partner talk to review (post a guiding question)
Discuss
Independently complete pg 2.
For #5, have students underline or highlight evidence from the text that supports their answer.
If there is time left, have students complete a coloring activity at their own pace, as they finish.
Hand out the study guide and let parents know, so they can help study!
Day 6: Review Stations
Warm-Up/Activator/Bell-Ringer: Review content from Days 1 -5. Pick top missed questions from earlier days to clear up misconceptions.
Only one rotation today. After the warm-up, students break into 3 stations for half the time left. They’ll switch for the last half of the time left. Tomorrow, they’ll do their last station before a whole-group review.
Station A: Task Cards
Station B: Digital Learning Set (computer-based)
Station C: Review Game (teacher-led)
Day 7: Review Stations/Whole-Group Review
Students will complete their last station for the first half of the class period. For the second half, lead the review game with all students or play a different review game!
Day 8: Review and Test
Take the first 15-20 minutes to review (use a game, worksheet, task cards, etc.). The second half of the class period, take the assessment!