School Workshops and Community Group Presentations

Understanding the Constitution through Documents

The United States Constitution has been a beacon of democracy for the world for more than 200 years. The remarkable flexibility built into the document by the framers, combined with the amendment process, allowed the nation to progress from the horse and buggy era to the space age. Examine facsimiles of the Constitution, Bill of Rights and related documents that illustrate the importance of the Constitution and its influence on our lives. Various articles and sections of the Constitution will be examined with their correlation to the government, public laws and the holdings of National Archives and Records Administration.

IN THIS WORKSHOP OR PRESENTATION THE PARTICIPANTS WILL:

  • Understand the historical context of the Constitutional Convention
  • Identify the various sections and elements of the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Amendments
  • Discover federal records that have resulted from the provisions of the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Amendments
  • Engage in a document analysis activity featuring relevant records from the National Archives
  • Become familiar with the history, location, holdings, education and volunteer programs of the National Archives and Records Administration

This workshop meets the following curriculum standards:

  • DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GRADE 7-12 STANDARDS
    • Grade 11
      • Content Standard 3: Students recognize scientific, technological, and economic changes and understand how they have affected societies, culture, and politics throughout history.
      • Content Standard 4: Students understand how the origins, evolution, and diversity of societies, social classes and groups have been affected and changed by forces of geography, ideology and economics.
      • Content Standard 5: Students explain the beliefs and principles of the major religions, ethical systems, philosophies and ideologies that have guided individual lives, shaped economic, social, and political institutions, and influenced the course of history.
      • Content Standard 7: Students understand the historical evolution of political ideas, ideologies, and institutions. They see how different political institutions have affected human life and how technological, economic, social, cultural, religious, and philosophical forces in history have shaped politics.

  • MARYLAND GRADE 7-12 HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE STANDARDS
    • History
      • Indicator Statement: Analyze how religious, social, and political institutions changed.
    • Political Science
      • Indicator Statement: Describe the evolution of the U.S. political system as expressed in the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights,
      • Indicator Statement: Analyze the significance of governmental actions on civil rights.

  • VIRGINIA GRADE 7-12 HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT STANDARDS
    • Revolution and the New Nation
      • VUS.5 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the issues involved in the creation and ratification of the Constitution of the United States and how the principles of limited government, consent of the governed, and the social contract are embodied in it.
      • GOVT. 2 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the political philosophies that shaped the development of Virginia and United States constitutional government.
      • GOVT. 3 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the concepts of democracy.
      • GOVT. 4 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the Constitution of the United States.
      • GOVT. 5 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the federal system described in the Constitution of the United States.
      • GOVT. 7 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and powers of the national government.
      • GOVT. 10 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the operation of the federal judiciary.
      • GOVT. 11 The student will demonstrate knowledge of civil liberties and civil rights.

 

Return to School Workshops and Community Group Presentations

Top of Page