our constitution rocks event kit

7/28/2019 Our Constitution Rocks Event Kit

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Constitution Event KitLaShana Burris-Wade


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PRE READING

ACTIVITIESDear Reader,Join Juliette as she takes you on a journeythrough our Constitution.

Before reading, gather the ingredients for the

Patriotic Cake, and bake away. (page 3)

Gather some friends around and serve it up as you

take part in these awesome Constitutional activities.

Enjoy!

Pre-Reading Quiz Questions:Who is known as the Father of the Constitution?

What is a framer?

What is a founding father?

When was the constitution written?

Where was the first constitutional convention held?

This Constitution Packet providesa great party theme for celebrating:

Constitution Day (September 17)

Election Day (the first Tuesday of November)

Presidents Day (the third Monday of February)

Independence Day (July 4)

Answers(inorder):JamesMadison;someonewhohelpedwritetheConstitution;someonewholedtheUnitedStatesintheRevolutionaryWar,andwhosignedtheDeclarationofIndependence;1787;Philadelphia,Pennsylvania


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Cake Ingredients:3 large eggs, room temperature

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups cake flour, sifted

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk

PATRIOTIC CAKE

ACTIVITY

Cake Instructions:1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 baking pan. If you plan to serve

your American flag cake in the pan, greasing it is fine. If youd like to remove the

cake for a prettier presentation, lightly grease and flour the pan as well.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

3. In another large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar on medium speed

until light and fluffy, about three minutes.

4. One at a time, add the eggs to the butter mixture, beating on medium-high speed

between each addition. Add the vanilla. Beat about 3 minutes, until well mixed.

5. Stir in a third of the flour mixture, followed by a third of the milk. Repeat twice

more until all flour and milk have been incorporated. Mix your batter until just

combined.

6. Pour into pan and bake until a tester comes out clean, about 20 minutes.

7. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Decoration Ingredients:

Vanilla icing

cup blueberries, rinsed

1 cup strawberries, rinsed and hulled

Decoration Instructions:

Spread vanilla icing on cooled cake.

At the top left corner of the cake, line up blueberries to make a square.

Place strawberries horizontally in rows to create the red and white stripes.

Make sure there is enough space between the horizontal strawberry lines

so that white vanilla icing stripes are visible.


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this Constitution of the United States. and secure the Blessings of Liberty

We, the people do ordain and establish of the United States provide for

the common defence, in Order to form insure domestic Tranquility,

a more perfect Union, of America to ourselves and our Posterity,

promote the general Welfare, establish Justice

Ben Franklin tripped and dropped the Preamble before he could set it in the

printing press. Help Ben reassemble the Preamble. Write it in corect order on

the lines below.

PREAMBLE

SCRAMBLEe US Constitution sets the foundationfor the United States Government.e Preamble (introduction) gives the

(6) reasons/goals why the writers wanted

to form such a government.

For the correctly unscrambled Preamble, see Teachers Guide at the end of this document.


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LETS ROCK TO THE CONSTITUTION!

Read the Preamble of the Constitution.

After reading, translate each phrase below

into everyday language. ere are many

paraphrased videos you can watch on

websites like YouTube.com for examples:

To form a more perfect Union means:

Establish Justice means:

Insure domestic Tranquility means:

Provide for the common defense means:

Promote the general Welfare means:

Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our Posterity means:


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1st Amendment

2nd Amendment

3rd Amendment

4th Amendment

5th Amendment

6th Amendment

7th Amendment

8th Amendment

9th Amendment

10th Amendment

An Army soldier comes to your home, tells you hes

hungry, and demands you feed him.

Florida makes a law saying you are not allowed to

kill alligators.

A police officer stops your moms car, asks everyone

to get out, and starts looking inside it.

A school suspends a student for refusing to say the

Pledge of Allegiance.

You want to sue your friend for borrowing $10 and

not paying it back.

A judge ties a childs hands together for two days

after he is caught stealing.

Congress decides that no one can eat candy

anymore.

Your dad is sent to jail and no one tells him why.

Your grandpa owns a gun for hunting.

e government builds a new public road on your

property without asking.

WHAT ARE MY

RIGHTS?Directions: Draw a line to matcheach of the scenarios with theamendment that it addresses.

For correct answers, see Teacher's Guide at the end of this document.


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CREAT A FREEDOM

QUILTDirections: Draw four patriotic symbols in each square.Include a caption below each square that explains eachsymbol.Cut each square out and tape them together. Tape your

four squares to the squares of your friends or classmates,

and create a larger Freedom Quilt for everyone to enjoy.

Did you draw the same symbols as anyone else? Talk about

the similarities and differences in the symbols you chose, and

why you chose them. If large enough, attach the Freedom

Quilt to your classroom wall, or a wall in your home.


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Narrator 1: In the summer of 1787, fifty-five men called Framers ...

Framer 1: Im a Framer!

Framer 2: So am I!

Narrator 1: ...went to Philadelphia to begin working on a new Constitution. For sixyears, America had a weak central government created by the Articles of

Confederation.

Articles: (weakly)Whats wrong with me? I was OK when I was written.

Framer 3: You are too weak. We need a strong central government.

Framer 4: (Patting Articles on the back) Its OK. You did the job we needed then.

Now we need something else.

Articles: (Slouching)I do feel rather weak.

Narrator 2: e framers met all summer long. e weather was hot and so werethe arguments.

Framer 1: (Powerfully)We need to protect states rights!

Narrator 2: Under the Articles of Confederation, each state was like its own little country.

Each made its own laws. Each had its own currency.

Framer 3: We need to protect states rights, but we also need to be a

more perfect union.

Cast List:oArticles (of Confederation) oSmall States oLarge States

oNarrator 1 oNarrator 2 oNarrator 3 oNarrator 4

oNarrator 5 oNarrator 6 oNarrator 7 oFramer 1

oFramer 2 oFramer 3 oFramer 4 oFramer 5

A MORE PERFECT UNION

CONSTITUTIONALREADERS THEATRE


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Narrator 3: America needed to be more united. It needed one currency. It needed to be

able to protect the people of the United States equally.

Framer 2: is Constitution must establish justice and insure domestic tranquility.

Framer 3: It must also provide for the common defense and promote the

general welfare.

Narrator 3: e framers got to work. ey wanted to make sure they had a strong leaderwho would not be a king.

Small States: NO KING! NO KING!

Large States: We need a strong leader!

Framer 4: A president is what we need. A president will lead our country. He will sign

laws or veto them. e president will work on foreign policy. He will be in

charge of the armed forces.

Framer 5: is will be called the executive branch.

Narrator 4: e first part of the government was decided. But an argument arose during

the meetings over representation of the people.

Small States: We want to be represented equally.

Large States: But we have more people than you do! How will we work this out?

Framer 1: I have an idea!

Narrator 4: e Great Compromise was put in place. is formed the Legislative Branch

of our government. It is called Congress.

Framer 2: Our legislature will have two houses. One will be the House ofRepresentatives.

Large States: e House of Representatives is based on the population of each state.

at makes us happy!

Framer 3: e other will be the Senate.

Small States: Two senators from each state! We like that.

Narrator 5: Now, the framers needed to put together the judicial branch. is branch

of government would make sure the laws lined up with what the

Constitution says.

Framer 4: e highest court in the land will be called the Supreme Court.

Framer 5: ats a great idea! We need to keep checks and balances on all the branches

of government.

Narrator 5: ings were shaping up. e new government was set. e Constitution

would replace the Articles of Confederation. One Article set up cooperation

among the states. ey would have to get along. e states had to obey the

central government.


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Small States: Were glad well be working together now.

Large States: (Shaking Small States hand)It will be much better this way.

Narrator 6: e new Constitution also had a way it could be changed. It wouldnt be easy

to make a change, but the framers knew it would be necessary someday. ey

didnt want to have to start over again. is made the document a living

document. Once approved, the Constitution would be the highest law in theland. All the other laws would have to agree with it.

Framer 1: Its time to send this on to the states.

Small States: We like it! Well approve!

Narrator 7: Nine states would need to approve the Constitution. But there was a

small catch.

Large States: Hmmm ... eres nothing in here about peoples rights. I think Ill send a letter

to the Congress.

Framer 5: Its a good thing we added in the part about changing the Constitution!

Narrator 7: e Congress agreed that the rights of the people needed to be added. ey

promised the states they would write a Bill of Rights for the people. Soon

the Constitution was approved, and the Bill of Rights was added. A strong

government was in place ...

ALL: ... for the United States of America!

THE END


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I HAVE, WHO HASis is a looping game that helps friends and students learn facts

about the Constitution in a fun way!

First, gather a small group of friends or students together.

Cut along the dotted lines to create individual I have, who has

cards. Pass all of the cards out in the small group until each person

has one or more cards.

e student who has Start Card printed on his/her card will

begin by reading the Who has clue on the bottom half of their

card. Others must listen carefully to the clue while reviewing the

I have answers on the top half of their cards.

e person who correctly shouts out their I have answer will

get to read aloud the Who has clue on the same card they used

to answer correctly. e game continues in this fashion until all thecards have been read aloud, and ends when the I have answer

on the top half of the Start Card is read aloud to correctly answer

the final Who has clue.


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Start Card

I have

unalienable rights.Who has the men who

wrote and signed the

Declaration of

Independence?

I have FoundingFathers.

Te date when

the Declaration of

Independence was

signed?

I haveJuly 4, 1776

Who has what the

Declaration of

Independence

declares?

I haveDemocracy.

Who has the highest

law of the land?

I haveThe Constitution.

Who has the year

the Constitution was

written?

I have life, liberty,and the pursuitof happiness.

Who has the type of

government by, for,

and of the people?


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I have Framers.

Who has wherethe Constitutional

Convention took

place?

I havePhiladelphiaPennsylvania.Who has the state that

was not represented at

the first Constitutional

Convention?

I have 1787.

Who has the group ofmen who first met to

write the Constitution?

I haveBenjaminFranklin.

Who has the day the

Constitution was

signed?

I haveSeptember 17th.

Who has the branchof government that

includes the office of

the President and

Vice President?

I haveRhode Island.

Who has the person who

was too weak to sign the

Constitution and had to

be carried in a chair

by four prisoners?


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I haveJudicial Branch.

Te branch of

government that

makes the laws?

I haveExecutive Branch.

Te branch of

government that

includes our courts

and judges?

I have LegislativeBranch(Congress).

Who has the two

parts of the

legislative branch?

I have Senateand House ofRepresentatives.

Who has how the

three branches of

government worktogether?

I have Checks

and Balances.

Who has what a formal

change to the

Constitution is called?

I have Senateand House ofRepresentatives.

Who has how the

three branches of

government work

together?


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I haveBill of Rights.

Who has what all

humans born with?

I haveTwo-thirds.

Who has the name

of the first 10

amendments to

the Constitution?


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TEACHERS GUIDE

Preamble Scramble: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and

secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitu-

tion for the United States of America.

What Are My Rights?

1st Amendment

2nd Amendment

3rd Amendment

4th Amendment

5th Amendment

6th Amendment

7th Amendment

8th Amendment

9th Amendment

10th Amendment

An Army soldier comes to your home, tells you hes

hungry, and demands you feed him.

Florida makes a law saying you are not allowed to

kill alligators.

A police officer stops your moms car, asks everyone

to get out, and starts looking inside it.

A school suspends a student for refusing to say the

Pledge of Allegiance.

You want to sue your friend for borrowing $10 and

not paying it back.

A judge ties a childs hands together for two days

after he is caught stealing.

Congress decides that no one can eat candy

anymore.

Your dad is sent to jail and no one tells him why.

Your grandpa owns a gun for hunting.

e government builds a new public road on your

property without asking.


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TEACHERS GUIDE (I Have, Who Has?) 1. e men who wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence?

Founding Fathers

2. e date when the Declaration of Independence was signed?

July 4, 1776 3. What the Declaration of Independence declares?

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

4. e type of government by, for, and of the people?

Democracy

5. e highest law of the land?

e Constitution

6. e year the Constitution was written?

1787

7. e group of men who first met to write the Constitution?

Framers

8. Where the Constitutional Convention took place?

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

9. e state that was not represented at the first Constitutional Convention?

Rhode Island

10. e person who was too weak to sign the Constitution and had to be carried

in a chair by four prisoners?

Benjamin Franklin

11. e day the Consitution was signed?

September 17th

12. e branch of government that includes the office of the President and Vice President?

Executive Branch

13. e branch of government that includes our courts and judges?

Judicial Branch

14. e branch of government that makes the laws?

Legislative Branch (Congress)

15. e two parts of the legislative branch?

Senate and House of Representatives

16. How the three branches of government work together?

Checks and Balances 17. What a formal change to the Constitution is called?

Amendment

18. How many members of Congress are required to make an amendment to the Constitution?

Two-thirds

19. e name of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?

Bill of Rights

20. What are all humans born with?

Unalienable rights


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LaShana Wade has been an educator for over 13 years. She graduated from Winthrop University

with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education in 2000 and Master of Education Degree in

Curriculum/Instruction in 2006. Most recently, LaShana obtained an Educational Specialist Degree

in Curriculum/Instruction from Converse College. She is a National Board Certified Early Childhood

Generalist, and is a certified CERRA Mentor Teacher in South Carolina.

9780310734215

$15.99

You are invited on a totally unique journey through the Constitution with fourteen-year-old Juliette

Turner, the National Youth Director of Constituting America. Discover this document in a whole newway, through fun facts, quotes, cartoons, actual debates, great graphics, and so much more. Juliette

breaks down the Constitution, clause by clause, and makes it real and relevant for a new generation,

Learn how those guys in wigs came up with some of the best ideas ever. Written for kids by a kid,

Juliettes passion and excitement breathes new life into an old document and reminds us why it

remains one of the most important documents in world history.

Fourteen year old, Juliette Turner, is an honor student, singer, dancer and the National Youth Director

for Constituting America. When she isnt writing or on the speaking circuit, she can be found with

her mother, actress and radio talk show host, Janine Turner, on their Texas ranch caring for their

herd of 25 longhorn cows, eight dogs, pony AB and cat, Sparkle.

Our Constitution Rocksis a fun, informative, and relevant book that will empower the youth in our

country with the knowledge they need to succeed. Juliette Turner may be only fourteen years old,

but she highlights the importance of the Constitution for her generation and many to follow.

Barbara Bush, Former First Lady of the United States

It is wonderful to see that a document over two hundred years old can still excite the imagination,

hopefulness and expectations of our nations younger citizens in a way that bonds them both to our shared

past and those values common to all Americans.

Terry McCuliffe, Former Chairman of the Democrat National Committee

Makes the brilliance of our Constitution and the founding principles of our country accessible to every

young patriot.

Congressman Scott Garrett, (RNJ) Founder and Chairman of the Congressional

Constitution Caucus

Our Constitution Rocks shows kids how a document written 225 years ago still matters today. It

serves as a great tool for inspiring the next generation of Americans to become active participants in ourdemocracy.

David Eisner, President and CEO, National Constitution Center

So this is a great idea! A teenager writes a book explaining how the USA works for other teenagers.

A very valuable tool for American kids.

Bill OReilly, Anchor, Fox News Channel

Imagine a world withouttelevision, facebook, iTunes ... a voice

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