Lesson Plan - Rewriting the Rules

Watch a Video
Watch the video “Newsie’s Challenge: The U.S. Constitution.” Discuss: Why is the U.S. Constitution considered our country’s most important document?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• amendment
• proposals

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about what rules they would like to change, and why.

1. Why did the fifth-graders at Buckingham Elementary School believe that members of Congress should be limited to two terms?
The students believe that members of Congress should be limited to two terms because that would allow more people to have opportunities to serve—and bring fresh ideas to Congress.
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2. Will the students’ proposal change the wording of the U.S. Constitution? Explain. 
The article states that “the class’s win doesn’t mean their amendment will actually be added to the Constitution.” That’s because the proposal was part of a contest for fourth- and fifth-grade students.
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3. What are two important facts you learned about the U.S. Constitution from this article?
Sample response: The Constitution was written by the nation’s Founders in 1787. It laid out a plan for how the national government would be run.
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Featured Skill: Reading a Diagram
Use the skill builder “Passing an Amendment” to explore the process for amending the U.S. Constitution.
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