Clarification 1: Students will explain how the Preamble serves as an introduction to the U.S. Constitution (e.g., establishes the goals and purposes of government).
Clarification 2: Students will identify the goals and purposes of the national government as set forth in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution (i.e., form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity).
Clarification 3: Students will recognize that the intention of the phrase “We the People” means that government depends on the people for its power and exists to serve them.
Access Point Number | Access Point Title |
SS.7.CG.1.AP.8 | Identify the six goals and purposes highlighted in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. |
Name | Description |
The Art of Beautiful Handwriting | Students will discuss how handwriting conveys the importance of a phrase. They will create a sketch to capture the meaning of “We the People” using the fitting mediums of calligraphy and illuminated manuscripts in this integrated art and civics lesson plan. |
An Introduction to the U.S. Constitution | In this lesson plan, students will learn about the U.S. Constitution, with an emphasis on the Preamble, while completing guided notes that accompany a teacher-presented slideshow. Students will then show what they know by completing and submitting an exit ticket. |
America’s Founding Principles | In this lesson plan, students will trace the principles underlying America’s founding ideas on laws and government while completing guided notes that accompany a teacher-presented slideshow. Students will then show what they know by completing and submitting a short written response to a provided prompt. |
We the People: What the Founders Established | In this lesson plan, students will study the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. They will learn about its purpose and examine what the Founders hoped to establish and preserve for their own generation as well as future generations of Americans. Students will apply their knowledge of vocabulary skills to determine the connotative and denotative meanings of selected words used in the Preamble. Students will also practice their paraphrasing skills by paraphrasing the Preamble. |
Deconstructing the Preamble | In this lesson plan, students will begin by participating in a visual discovery. Students will then take notes about, discuss, and deconstruct the Preamble. Then, to check their knowledge, students will answer questions about the different parts of the Preamble. |
The Preamble and the People | In this lesson plan, teachers will assist students in exploring the vocabulary of the Preamble, the goals and purpose of U.S. government, and people’s power in the constitutional system. |
Goals & Purposes of the Preamble | In this lesson plan, students will identify the goals and purposes of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, explain how the Preamble serves to introduce the U.S. Constitution and interpret the various meanings of “We the People.” |
Name | Description |
Understanding the Preamble | Analyze the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution -- line by line, word by word -- in this interactive tutorial. |
Name | Description |
Grade 7 Civics Family Guide: Standard 1 | This Grade 7 Civics Family Guide provides some ideas and activities to support civics education when at home, out and about, and in the community. The activities provided align to the civics learning benchmarks within Standard 1 at this grade level. |
Name | Description |
Portraits in Patriotism - Luis Martínez Fernández: Middle - High School | Luis Martínez-Fernández was born at the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. Dr. Martínez-Fernández immigrated to the United States with his family when he was 2 years old after the Bay of Pigs Invasion. His family moved to Lima, Peru after his father was offered employment there. Dr. Martínez-Fernández’s family left Peru after the President of Peru was ousted from power. The new government in Peru concerned Dr. Martínez-Fernández’s father and the family moved to Puerto Rico where they become U.S. Citizens. Dr. Martínez-Fernández moved to the U.S. after graduation from The University of Puerto Rico. He is a Professor of History, an author, and is civically engaged through his nationally syndicated column. |
Name | Description |
Understanding the Preamble: | Analyze the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution -- line by line, word by word -- in this interactive tutorial. |
Name | Description |
Grade 7 Civics Family Guide: Standard 1: | This Grade 7 Civics Family Guide provides some ideas and activities to support civics education when at home, out and about, and in the community. The activities provided align to the civics learning benchmarks within Standard 1 at this grade level. |