TITLE:  The Constitution:  Our Plan for Government

AUTHOR:  Willie Jefferson, Coleman Middle School,
         Wichita, KS

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:  8-9, government

OVERVIEW:  The constitution is the plan for government in
the United States.  It can be divided into three main parts.
Students need to understand the importance of separation of
powers, checks and balances, and judicial review.  Also how
national and state governments are linked.

OBJECTIVES:  Each student will be able to:
  1.  Define the main purpose of the constitution and
      describe its main parts.
  2.  Name the three branches of government; explain how
      each is dependent on the other to complete its work;
      describe how the courts acts as a referee.
  3.  Identify roles of state and national governments.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:  Civics/government textbook, copy of
U.S. Constitution, two large poster boards (have selected
students maintain poster boards)

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
1.   Discussion (individual/group)  what are the main parts
     of the constitution?  What is the purpose of each?
     (easy) - Write a poem about the purposes of the
     constitution. (challenging)
2.   Name the three branches of government established in
     the constitution.  Write a one sentence summary of the
     purpose of each.
3.   Discuss - what are three roles of state government?
     National government?  How do they relate?
4.   Summarize the part(s) of the constitution that help
     define the roles of state government. (challenging)
5.   Skills - begin a class list.  Put powers of state
     government in one column.  Put powers of national
     government in the other.  Add powers to the list during
     the remainder of the course.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:
1.   Students should use current news to show examples of
     the listed powers being used by the state and national
     governments.  (newspapers, TV, radio)
2.   Give bonus points to students who bring examples from
     the news media.
3.   Encourage students to share experience with parents.
4.   Summarize, remotivate, and evaluate - teacher
     discretion.