Federalists vs Anti-Federalists:

Students will complete activities to build understanding about the two groups which helped form the Constitution and the country as a whole, the Federalist and Anti-Federalists. Students will create a poster which will inform people about either the Federalists or the Anti-Federalists. Great for project to display.

Extension questions are provided to give students the opportunity for a deeper level of thinking. These questions will have students making connections to the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists to their present day experience.

Students are given the opportunity to prepare and participate in a debate. This is an excellent introduction to the debate experience.

This product aligns with Indiana Social Studies standards 5.H.14, 5.C.3.

What's included:

• Teacher instructions.
• Informative text.
• Poster instructions.
• Extension questions.
• Debate instructions and graphic organizer.
• Rubrics.

How is this product useful:

• Low prep for teacher.
• Good practice of debate skills.
• Students can express creativity.
• Poster for display.
• Make good connections to present day.

We the People:

This activity concerning the Preamble of the Constitution is a quick review for students. Great for early finishers, bell ringers, or test review.

Students will review the phrases in the Preamble of the Constitution and place them in the correct order by numbering them. As students number the phrases correctly, a meme will be revealed. So, the activity is self-checking.

For a full set of Constitution activities check out this product:

RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION STATIONS

Aligns with Indiana Social Studies Standard 5.C.1.

What's included:

• Google Slide activity.

How is this product useful:

• No prep for teachers.
• Engaging for students.
• Self-checking.
• Quick review of Preamble.

Making a state with the Northwest Ordinance:

To review the Northwest Ordinance and the requirements it outlined for formation of new states. Students love playing game and spoons is easy to learn and play. Students will need to gather all the requirements in order to gather a spoon to end a hand of the game.

Teachers will need to provide spoons to play the game and zipper bags for storage. If teachers use card stock or laminate cards, this can be used year to year.

This product is aligned to Indiana Social Studies Standard 5.C.3.

What's included:

• Teacher instructions.
• Student game instructions.
• Color game cards.
• Black and White game cards.

How is this product useful:

• Great review activity.
• Fun for students.
• Engaging.
• Simple prep for teachers.

Explore the Framers of the Constitution:

Students will research members of the Constitutional Convention who became framers of the Constitution. They will decide what was important to the different individuals who made up this group and tell if they were successful in their goals.

Students will review the work of classmates and then reach their own conclusions to answer extension questions which will lead to deeper thinking.

Aligns with Indiana 5th grade Social Studies Standard 5.H.15.

What's included:

• Teacher instructions.
• Information sheets for 7 Framers of the Constitution. (George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry)
• Extension Questions.
• Link to reputable source for research.

How is this product useful:

• Low prep for teacher.
• Students will engage in higher level thinking.
• Students respond to research.
• Insight on why the framers of the Constitution supported or didn't support the goals laid out by the Convention.

Engaging way to connect to the Bill of Rights:

Students will complete an activity making connects between the Declaration of Independence Grievances and the Bill of Rights. In the activity, students will be presented with a grievance and will have to enter the number of the Amendment it inspired.

Correct answers will reveal an image.

Easy to assign in Google Classroom or Google Drive.

This aligns with Indiana 5th Grade Social Studies Standard 5.H.16.

What's included:

• Google Slide Activity.

How is this product useful:

• No prep for the teacher.
• Self-checking.
• Fun and engaging for students.

Westward Expansion Game:

Students will play this game with a partner. During the game, the students will explore the transportation of the Westward Expansion. Students will play this game twice: once taking a wagon and once taking a train. This experience will show students how innovations in transportation made travel easier.

The teacher has the option to assign extension questions which will have students making connections and participating in deeper level thinking. These questions could be homework or used as discussion starter.

This product aligns with Indiana Social Studies Standard 5.E.3.

What's included:

• Teacher instructions.
• Game board in color and black and white.
• Student instructions in color and black and white.
• Extension questions.

How is this product helpful:

• Low prep for students.
• Fun.
• Engaging for students.
• Good partner work.
• Leads to deeper level thinking.

Lewis & Clark Primary Source Activity:

Students will match animals with the descriptions from the journals of Lewis & Clark. By matching cards, students are engaged with this activity. This is great practice with using primary sources.

For added rigor, students will also move into a deeper level of thinking by answering extension questions. These questions have students reflect on the importance of primary sources.

This activity is presented as both print and digital so teacher have the ability to make the activity work for their classroom. Both versions include extension questions to increase rigor.

What's included:

• Teacher instructions.
• Printable description and animal cards.
• Directions with extension questions sheet.
• Card matching Google Slide Activity with extension questions.
• Answer Keys.

How is this product useful:

• Print and digital options.
• Great practice with primary source.
• Engaging.
• Extension questions increase rigor.

Engage your students in ratifying the Constitution:

Students will complete 8 different stations which take a closer look at each section of the United States Constitution. This can be done individually, with a partner, or in a group.

Students can discuss and support one another as they work through the preamble and articles of the Constitution.

When complete, students can complete follow up questions which will allow them to decide how the Constitution relates to them. They will explore how the Constitution outlines the jobs of our government.

Simple set up for teachers, everything included except some envelopes.

Aligns with Indiana 5th Grade Social Studies Standards 5.C.1, 5.C.3, 5.C.5.

What's included:

• Teacher instructions.
• Digital links.
• Signs for stations. (black and white and color options)
• Station activities.
• Completion certificates.
• Follow up questions.
• Answer Keys.

How is this product useful:

• Engaging for students.
• Simple set up for teachers.
• Deeper level thinking with follow up questions.
• Great as an assessment or review of the Constitution.

Actively Review the Bill of Rights:

Students will get up and move in this review of their knowledge of the Bill of Rights. They will determine which Amendment of the Bill of Rights is being described. Students will be presented with a right and will have to choose which of four choices of Amendments. The students choose their answers by moving to a corner labeled with the number of their choice.

Directions for the activity and options for area posters or individual card sets are provided.

This activity aligns with Indiana Social Studies Standard 5.H.16.

What's included:

• Teacher instructions.
• Three poster options for the four corners.
• Three card set options for the four choices.
• Link to editable Google Slides.
• Printable questions, choices, and answer key.

How is this product helpful:

• Easy prep for teacher.
• Active review gets students moving.
• Good discussion starter.
• Excellent way to review the Bill of Rights.

Display your knowledge of the Bill of Rights:

Students will draw and label each of the Amendments of the Bill of Rights. They will then cut the different Amendments of the Bill of Rights out, tape them together, and display them to share the information with their class. Students will gain new information from their classmate's illustrations.

Students will enjoy using their creativity to express what they know about the Bill of Rights.

When this is complete, students can answer extension questions which leads to deeper level thinking.

This product aligns with Indiana 5th grade Social Studies Standard 5.H.16.

What's included:

• Teacher instructions.
• Amendment templates.
• Follow up questions.
• Answer key to questions.

How is this product useful:

• Low prep for teachers.
• Creative for students.
• Leads to deeper level thinking.
• Good review of Bill of Rights.

Formation of Political Parties Infographic:

Students will research the early Political Parties: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. With the information they gain they will create an infographic showing the leader of the party and the party goals.

After completing and displaying their infographic, students can answer extension questions concerning the early political parties and early elections. These questions could be used to lead class discussions. The questions lead to deeper level thinking.

Questions concern:

• George Washington's election.
• The defeated politician becoming Vice-President.
• Different political parties working together.
• Alexander Hamilton backing Thomas Jefferson.

This resource aligns with Indiana Social Standard 5.H.17.

What's included:

• Teacher instructions.
• Link to research site.
• Infographic template.
• Extension questions.
• Answer Key.

How is this resource useful:

• Low prep for teacher.
• Good research practice.
• Extension questions lead to deeper thinking.