We the People: Constitution Day and the Social Contract That Unites Us
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
Grade Level: 3-5
Duration of Video 1: 12 minutes, 12 seconds
Duration of Video 1: 3 minutes, 47 seconds
Themes:
Constitution
Constitution Day
Social Contract
What Unites Us
We the People
Rules and Rights
Civic Responsibilities
Community Agreements
Respecting Differences
US History
Description:
Students learn why Constitution Day is observed on September 17th and how the U.S. Constitution helps organize government, protect rights, and unite people under shared rules. Students connect the Constitution to the idea of a social contract: people agree to shared responsibilities so a community can function fairly. After watching two short videos, students complete engaging worksheets that help them identify key ideas and connect rights with responsibilities. The lesson ends with students creating, signing, and displaying a classroom constitution poster.
Lesson Plan:
🎯 OBJECTIVES (SWBAT)
Discuss that Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.
Describe the Constitution as a written plan for government.
Explain that constitutions help organize power, rules, rights, and responsibilities.
Define a social contract as a shared agreement that helps people live and work together.
Connect classroom rights with classroom responsibilities.
Work with classmates to create and sign a classroom social contract.
🧰 MATERIALS:
Video 1: Constitution Day for Kids: What It Is and Why We Celebrate It
Student Worksheet 1: We the People: Understanding the Constitution (Copy for each student)
Video 2: Constitutions | Social Studies Shorts | PBS LearningMedia
Student Worksheet 2: What Does the Constitution Do? (Copy for each student)
Student Worksheet 3: Rights, Responsibilities, and What Unites Us (Copy for each student)
Smart Board or computer and projector
Pencils
Poster board or chart paper
Markers
📋 LESSON FLOW
Hook
Teacher asks:
What would happen if our classroom had no shared rules?
Then ask:
Can rules help people feel more free, safe, and respected? How?
Teacher asks:
Do you know the name of the document (or paper) that has the main rules that all Americans need to follow? [The Constitution!]
Write the word “Constitution” on the board.
Time for Video 1
Teacher says:
We are going to watch a video about the U.S. Constitution. As you watch it, look out for why September 17th is such a special day for the Constitution. We will discuss this after the film.
Show Video 1: Constitution Day for Kids: What It Is and Why We Celebrate It
After the video, ask students:
Why is September 17th such a special day for the Constitution?
Partner Activity
Hand out Student Worksheet 1: We the People: Understanding the Constitution.
Ask students to work with a seat partner to complete the True/False questions.
Reunite the class and go over the answers together.
Time for Video 2
Teacher says:
Now we will watch another short video about the Constitution.
Teacher asks:
As you watch the film, notice: What are some of the freedoms that the Constitution gives all Americans? We will discuss these after the film.
Show Video 2: Constitutions | Social Studies Shorts | PBS LearningMedia
Partner Work
Teacher hands out Student Worksheet 2: What Does the Constitution Do? and asks students to complete the worksheet with a seat partner.
Share
Reunite the class and ask students to share their answers to Student Worksheet 2: What Does the Constitution Do?.
Partner Work to Prepare for a Classroom Constitution
Teacher says:
Soon we will be creating our own classroom constitution (or social contract).
Hand Out
Hand out Student Worksheet 3: Rights, Responsibilities, and What Unites Us and ask students to complete it with a seat partner.
Reunite the class and go over the students’ answers.
Creating a Classroom Constitution (Social Contract)
Ask Students:
Think of 3 to 10 behaviors that you all agree to for the classroom. These behaviors need to include how you will treat each other, your teachers, and how you will be a good student.
Brainstorm:
As students brainstorm 3 to 10 behaviors, write these ideas on the board. Have students vote on these different behaviors to reach a consensus.
Poster:
Write these 3 to 10 behaviors on a poster and ask all the students to sign it.
Hang up the poster and follow up:
Hang up the poster in a prominent place in the classroom. When students follow their class constitution (social contract) -cs praise them. When students forget to follow the class constitution, refer to the classroom constitution and remind them what they agreed to.
Closing
Ask students:
How can shared rules help different types of people stay united?
© 2025-2026
All materials on this website are available for educational use under Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Educators may download and share the content with attribution, for non-commercial use and instructional purposes, and without modification. Embedding any materials within any website-whether educational, institutional, public, or private-is prohibited without prior written consent of Balanced Learning Resources. Unauthorized embedding or redistribution may violate copyright and licensing terms.
