Our Class Constitution: The Rules That Unite Us
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Grade Level: K-2
Duration of Video: 2 minutes, 36 seconds
Themes:
Constitution
Constitution Day
Social Contract
What Unites Us
Classroom Rules
Rights and Responsibilities
Respect
US History
Description:
Students learn that the Constitution is an important document with rules that is a shared agreement about how Americans are to treat each other. Using simple language, visuals, and a short video, students connect the Constitution to their own classroom community. Together, students create, sign and display a classroom constitution poster that they agree to follow during the school year.
Lesson Plan:
🎯 OBJECTIVES (SWBAT)
Explain that the Constitution is an important paper with rules and ideas for America.
Discuss the idea that rules help people live, learn, and work together.
Identify classroom behaviors that help everyone feel safe, respected, and included.
Collectively create and sign a classroom constitution.
🧰 MATERIALS:
Student Worksheet 1: Our Classroom Constitution (Copy for each student)
Video: PBS Kids: Together We Can / What is the Constitution?
Teacher visual: Photos of the U.S. Constitution
Smart Board or computer and projector
One large poster board
Markers, pencils, or crayons for each student
Tape
📋 LESSON FLOW
Hook
Teacher asks:
Imagine our classroom had no rules. What might happen?
Why do classrooms need rules?
Today we will learn about an important paper, or document, called the Constitution. It has important rules of behavior for all Americans. Then we will make our own classroom constitution.
Teach
Show students Photos of the U.S. Constitution
Say:
This is a picture of America’s Constitution - it is full of rules of behavior for all Americans.
Tell students:
I will be showing you a fun video about the Constitution, but before we watch it, there are some words you need to learn.
Hand out Student Worksheet 1: Our Classroom Constitution and go over with student 'Part 1: Words to Learn'.
Read each word aloud. Have students point to the picture and repeat the word.
Read and discuss the definitions with students.
Video Time
Teacher says:
As you watch the video, listen for three important freedoms that Americans have from the Constitution. If you don’t get it the first time, we will talk about them and watch the video again.
Show the video: PBS Kids: Together We Can / What is the Constitution?
After the video, ask:
The video talked about the First Amendment in the Constitution, that Americans have Freedom to Express our Ideas. What does this mean?
The video talked about the 13th Amendment in the Constitution, that enslaved people are free. What does this mean?
The video talked about the 19th Amendment, that women can vote. What does this mean?
How do the rules in the Constitution help Americans get along?
Say:
Now that you understand the three amendments in the Constitution that the video is talking about, let’s watch it again. When the video talks about the three amendments, or the three freedoms for Americans, raise your hand.
Show the video again, and as your class watches the video, remind them to raise their hands when they hear about the three amendments (1st, 13th, and 19th Amendments) that the video discusses.
Show the video again: PBS Kids: Together We Can / What is the Constitution?
Partner Activity
Refer to Student Worksheet 1: Our Classroom Constitution, 'Part 2: Circle the Helpful Choices'.
Say:
With your seat partner, look at the pictures. Circle the pictures that show kind, helpful choices and put an X on the pictures that show choices that would hurt our classroom community.
Refer to Student Worksheet 1: Our Classroom Constitution, 'Part 3: Draw' and hand out crayons or markers to the students.
Ask students to draw a picture of themselves doing a behavior that is helpful and kind to others in our classroom.
Reunite the class and review the students’ answers to Part 2 and Part 3 of the Student Worksheet 1: Our Classroom Constitution.
Classroom Constitution Activity
Say:
Now we are going to make our own classroom constitution!
Ask:
What are classroom rules that we can follow in our classroom constitution? These need to be rules about how to be kind to each other, and how to be a good student.
Brainstorm: As students brainstorm ideas, write their ideas on the board.
Once the class agrees on 3 -10 classroom rules for their classroom constitution, the teacher writes these neatly on the poster board.
Have all students sign the classroom constitution and hang it up in a prominent place in the classroom.
Closing
Teacher says:
The Constitution has important rules for how Americans need to behave. Our class constitution has important rules for our classroom. Rules help people work together and get along.
Follow Up
Throughout the year, praise students for following the classroom constitution. When they make a behavioral mistake, remind them about their agreement to follow the classroom constitution.
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