Objective 2: Constitution Today

Assess how the US Constitution has been amended and interpreted over time, and the impact these amendments have had on the rights and responsibilities of citizens of the United States.

Explain the significance of the Bill of Rights, and identify how the rights of selected groups have changed and how the Constitution reflects those changes (e.g. women, enslaved people). 

Activity #1 Background Knowledge and Key Vocabulary

Go through the slides with your teacher to help you better understand the changes that have been made to the constitution over time. 

 

Activity #2 Deepening Understanding

With a partner, read through the Download Scholastic Article

about how changes are made to the constitution. Highlight the key points.  Think about why these changes were made and who they most affected. Use the reading and the slides to complete the graphic organizer in the Google doc Links to an external site., or create one with your team on poster paper.  

Download Amendments to the constitution.docx

Activity 3: Application

Complete the following classroom discussion. You may complete the discussion individually or as a team. If you work as a team, have your team leader type the team's responses. Respond to at least two other posts from your classmates. 

Changing the Constitution discussion.

Additional Application Activity

To help you better understand the constitution and the organization of the government, try the following practice quiz. These questions are given to everyone wanting to become a citizen of the United States.

American Citizenship Practice Quiz

Activity 4: Enduring Understanding 

To show your understanding of this unit in depth, complete this final project. You may choose your question and the way that you present and share your knowledge with us. 

Constitution Final Project