Lesson Plan
Constitution Carousel
In this civics lesson, your students will examine artwork and participate in a carousel activity as they discuss the Constitution of the United States.
Grade:
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Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to participate in small group and whole class discussions to gain an understanding about the Constitution of the United States.
Introduction
(10 minutes)- Use "Visual Thinking Strategies" to examine a painting that depicts the signing of the Constitution (see related media).
- Show the image on a large screen and give students a few minutes to look at it quietly. (Note: do not tell students the name of the painting or give them context prior to this activity.)
- Then ask:
- What is going on here?
- What do you see that makes you say that?
- What else do you notice?
- Give students the chance to share any observations they have in response to each question. Prompt students with the three questions, but do not validate any observations as correct or incorrect (i.e., a lot of men are listening to a speech, I see that everyone is facing a guy who is standing on a stage, I notice that there is someone else on the stage who looks like he's writing something).
- After your students have had time to observe and discuss the painting, tell students that this painting is "Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States" by Howard Chandler Christy.
- Explain to students that today they will be learning about the Constitution of the United States.