Constitution Day & Week Activities for Middle School and 8th Grade
Quick Takeaways for Teaching the Constitution:
Active engagement over lectures: Middle school students retain more through interactive simulations and games.
Utilize primary sources: Breaking down the actual text into manageable pieces builds foundational civics knowledge.
Connect to today: Show students how a document written in 1787 still directly impacts their daily lives.
A foundational necessity to understanding any American government class or civics course is to have a fundamental comprehension of the United States Constitution. Written in 1787 and ratified in 1789, the Constitution of the United States is the world’s oldest and longest-surviving document to govern a people, and it remains active today! Though it is long in history, it’s actually short in length compared to other governing documents around the world. With only 4,543 words in the original document, the Founding Fathers did an exceptional job at writing what could be argued as the most influential and successful document in all of history.
Since this document is so influential, it is important to help our students accurately understand what the Constitution is and what’s inside it. It may feel like a daunting task or a boring topic to teach, but once the basics are understood, students and teachers alike will come to enjoy and appreciate this beautiful document, and its shaping of history.
Whether you’re teaching a high school government class, an 8th-grade civics course, or are gathering Constitution Day and Constitution Week resources, these 5 activities—including an interactive Constitution scavenger hunt—will most certainly help you and your middle school class better understand our government. Having taught the Constitution for over 25 years, I have found a few helpful lesson plan ideas that I’d love to share with you. Feel free to implement these ideas in your classroom to help your students gain an appreciation for this amazing document!
⭐️ Get the full bundle of all constitution activities and save! ⭐️
Historical Context of the Constitutional Convention Lesson
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was an important event that changed United States History. 55 Delegates gathered in Philadelphia to change the Articles of Confederation, but soon realized a new Constitution was much needed! This entire 4 month meeting, from May to September of 1787, is so important for students to understand when studying the Constitution and the foundations of the newly formed United States of America. Many teachers find this meeting intimidating to explain, but it doesn't have to be. Throughout the years I have used these notes in my 7th Grade American History classes as well as my 8th Grade Civics classes. Since these notes have been such a benefit in my own classes, I have made them available to download. I know you and your students will enjoy these notes as you learn about this important meeting!
⭐️ Save 25% on this product by getting the Constitution Bundle!
What’s Included In This Constitutional Convention Worksheet:
Teacher directions on how to incorporate this lesson
Slide presentation of content-rich notes explaining the details of the Constitutional Convention, the important compromises, and more...
Guided, fill-in-the-blanks notes for students to complete while taking notes
A link to a short video that explains the Convention a bit more
A reinforcement worksheet to use as an assessment which has 17 questions to help students review the basic ideas of the Constitutional Convention
Answer keys for all student notes and worksheets
I use these notes for 7th & 8th grade, but I would have no hesitation using them through grade 12. I also like to do these notes in segments while we work on other Constitutional activities during this unit.
ALL FILES ARE FULLY EDITABLE FOR YOUR PERSONAL CLASSROOM NEEDS! Add what you want. Subtract what you don't want. Change whatever you want!
All files are in GOOGLE Drive format and fully editable to meet your personal preferences. You will be given a link to access all files in GOOGLE Drive. Once accessed, you can present the notes in GOOGLE Slides or download as a PowerPoint and present as desired. The student handouts may be printed out, shared with students, or downloaded as a PDF and used as needed.
"It is my first year teaching US government, and this resource was super helpful to make sure I covered the most important content!" - Social Studies Teacher ★★★★★
⭐️ Read more about this resource on my blog post
Thank You!
Thanks so much for stopping by. It's great to meet you! I hope this resource adds value to your classroom. I would also love to see how you've incorporated this product into your classroom. Feel free to post a photo of this resource in action and tag @misterharms so I can meet you!
Want More?
CONFIRM ☞ Prior to studying the what, it is essential to study the why and how of the United States Constitution. Why did the Founding Fathers want this document, and how did it come about?
The American Colonies announced their Declaration of Independence and won the Revolutionary War, but soon found themselves in a state of vulnerability and weakness due to the failed Articles of Confederation. The founders knew they needed a better system of government to thrive as a free nation. They had to figure out how to protect individual freedoms while building a centralized government strong enough to secure those liberties.
The Solution: These critical decisions were made at the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Classroom Application: Before examining the document itself, build a foundation using my Constitutional Convention Worksheet & Student Notes.
External Resource: Enhance this lesson by showing students high-resolution images of the original document at the National Archives.
Constitution Primary Source Analysis and Close Reading
This is a great way to study and know the information contained within the United States Constitution. To better understand the layout and information within the United States Constitution, students will read through the original 7 Articles of this primary source document and find the main ideas. This is a nice addition to Constitution Day or your existing unit on the Constitution.
Don't be afraid to have your students study this great document. Being one of the most influential documents of all time, the Founding Fathers kept this document short, and at an 8th grade reading level, so the average citizen of the late 1700's could understand their own government. Students may grumble at first when talking about the Constitution, but using this "user-friendly" guide to understanding this great document will give students a sense of accomplishment and patriotism when completed. I believe you and your students will benefit with this practical and doable series of worksheets for your classroom.
⭐️ Save 25% on this product by getting the Constitution Bundle!
What's Included:
Worksheet #1 - 20 questions about Article I.
Worksheet #2 - 14 questions about Article II.
Worksheet #3 - 12 questions about Article III.
Worksheet #4 - 14 questions about Articles IV-VII.
Answer keys are included for all worksheets.
A copy of the U.S. Constitution is not included in this product. You will want to use the Constitution found in the textbook or another source. This has proven to be one of the best ways for my students to comprehend the information and layout of the U.S. Constitution. For a more streamlined overview of the Constitution, and all 27 amendments, you might enjoy Constitution: Scavenger Hunt, Primary Source.
"This is one of my best purchases. It really made the students read and understand The Constitution." - Douglas ★★★★★
⭐️ Read more about this resource on my blog post | Download a preview!
Thank You!
Thanks so much for stopping by. It's great to meet you! I hope this resource adds value to your classroom. I would also love to see how you've incorporated this product into your classroom. Feel free to post a photo of this resource in action and tag @misterharms so I can meet you!
Want More?
CHECK ☞ A big-picture understanding of how the Constitution is organized is extremely helpful for middle schoolers. Giving students a roadmap of the Constitution keeps them from becoming overwhelmed in a sea of 18th-century vocabulary.
The Constitution is essentially a manual on how to run the government. This manual starts with a purpose statement called the Preamble and continues with seven major headings called Articles. As students analyze this primary source, they begin to see the overarching roles of the three branches and the precise details of how the government operates.
The Lesson: A close reading using my Articles of the Constitution: Primary Source Analysis helps students break down the text into manageable pieces.
Teacher Tip: The Founding Fathers kept the Constitution short—written at an 8th-grade reading level—so the average citizen in the late 1700s could understand it. Use this to empower your students!
External Resource: The Library of Congress offers fantastic supplementary guides for primary source analysis.
Pin It!
“I try to go over the founding documents with my students at the beginning of the school year so they understand what they mean. This helped make it more fun for them versus me just talking at them about the importance and impact.”
Interactive Constitution Games for Middle School Civics
CHALLENGE ☞ Sometimes the best way to cement historical facts is through gamified learning. Adding interactive, browser-based games to your unit is a fantastic way to review for exams or celebrate Constitution Week.
These digital resources keep 8th graders actively recalling historical facts without feeling like traditional studying.
Defend the 3 Branches of Government: A retro-style arcade game where students blast unconstitutional ideas while mastering the separation of powers.
The Amendment Muncher Game: Students navigate a maze to learn and recall all 27 amendments in a highly engaging format.
The Bill of Rights Game: Master the first 10 amendments through three unique difficulty tiers: Apprentice, Lawyer, and Judge.
U.S. Constitution Day Scavenger Hunt Activity
To better understand the basic information within the U.S. Constitution, students will browse through this primary source document and find the main ideas regarding the 7 Articles and 27 Amendments. Included are 17 questions about the articles and 27 questions about the amendments. All questions (except for one) will be answered with a number. This is a great way to introduce, study, or review the United States Constitution for your civics unit or for a Constitution Day activity. You may even want to group your students and make this into an engaging, competitive race. Whatever method you use, your students will certainly gain a better understanding of the facts and layout of the U.S. Constitution. It's on-point, simple, and the most effective way to understand what is in this important United States document! This resource is available in printable PDF, a digital Google Drive worksheet, and a self corrected Google Forms format.
⭐️ Read more about this resource on my blog post
⭐️ Also on Teachers Pay Teachers
⭐️ Save 25% on this product by getting the Constitution Bundle
What's Included In This Constitution Scavenger Hunt:
A brief set of teacher directions to help you with implementation
A quick, 3 page worksheet of scavenger hunt questions
17 questions that will analyze the original 7 articles of the Constitution
27 questions to help summarize the additional 27 amendments
Answer keys for all worksheets are included!
Online links to access the full text of the Constitution are included.
You will receive a printable PDF version, access to a digital Google Drive worksheet, and a self corrected Google Form!
Examples of Included Questions
Which article explains the Judicial Branch and our court systems?
According to Article II, how old must you be to become President?
Which amendment outlaws slavery?
Which amendment gives women the right to vote?
And more.....
Additional Information
A copy of the U.S. Constitution is not included in this product. You will want to use the Constitution found in your textbook or another source. This "Constitution Scavenger Hunt" product can be used for studying just the Articles, Amendments, or the entire document for a full overview. Each year, this method proves to be one of the best ways for my students to comprehend the information and layout of the U.S. Constitution. In addition, I also like to use Constitution: The Articles, Primary Source in my unit on the Constitution. This product goes even more in-depth on the original 7 articles of the Constitution! To introduce the Constitution, you will love this set of Notes on the Constitutional Convention! You might even want to create your very own Class Constitution! I hope you enjoy all of these resources on the Constitution. If you do, I highly recommend getting the Constitution Bundle so you can save over 25%!
☞ "I used this as a review two days before my students took a US Civics test and they said it really helped them remember the ins and outs. Concise and to the point without overwhelming!" - Delaynie ★★★★★
Thank You!
Thanks so much for stopping by. It's great to meet you! I hope this resource adds value to your classroom. I would also love to see how you've incorporated this product into your classroom. Feel free to post a photo of this resource in action and tag @misterharms so I can meet you!
Want More?
COMPETE ☞ Who is going to say no to a scavenger hunt? Once students have a familiarity with the overall concept of the Constitution, assign a scavenger hunt as a group competition or independent work. You can even award prizes for the fastest completion!
This activity allows students to browse the document and identify the main ideas within the 7 Articles and 27 Amendments. Included are 17 questions about the articles and 27 questions about the amendments.
The Strategy: Almost every question is answered with a number. Students scour the 200-year-old document looking for digits, often not even realizing they are actively learning civics.
Classroom Application: Grab the U.S. Constitution Day Scavenger Hunt for a simple, highly effective lesson.
Bill of Rights and Amendments Middle School Projects
CONNECT ☞ It is within the amendments that the Constitution truly comes alive for today’s learners. Since its signing in 1787, the document has evolved through a series of 27 amendments. Connecting these changes to modern scenarios is crucial for middle school engagement.
Comic Strip Summaries: Have students use websites like StoryboardThat to select 10 amendments and recreate them in a short, comic-style format.
Classroom Skits: Organize students into groups of three or four, assigning each group a few amendments to summarize with a real-life scenario.
Example Scenario: For the 22nd Amendment, students can act out a president trying to run for a third term, only to be stopped by a cabinet member reminding them of the two-term limit. You can even make it a guessing game for the audience!
Sample example of an student created comic strip summarizing the 22nd amendment
Class Constitution Simulation and Lesson Plan
Have you ever created a constitution for your own classroom? Each year in civics class, as we learn about the United States Constitution, I have my students help create our very own class constitution. The students love being a part of creating rules and policy for our classroom. This student-led activity has always proven to be a success! Each student's voice is heard as they actively engaged in crafting of an official document for the class. The process begins as students are grouped to draft goals and purposes in the form of a preamble. Once the preamble is approved, students give voice to a variety of articles that should be included in the constitution. When complete, all students will ratify and sign the big document!
⭐️ Save 25% on this product by getting the Constitution Bundle!
⭐️ Read more about this resource on my blog post
Your students will have fun with this entire learning process. Not only will they better understand what a constitution is and how a constitution works, but you will now have an official, student created document to guide your classroom. I have always found this activity to be an academic success, and a great way to improve classroom behavior as well. You will even find students holding you accountable to their constitution! After 10 years of teaching this lesson, I've worked out the bugs for you to have a successful implementation. Even though I use this for my Civics class, you can certainly use this activity for any subject matter. Making a constitution can be fun and rewarding for all classrooms! Enjoy, you'll love it!
What’s Included:
3 pages of detailed teacher directions that explains the entire process
A full sample template of my classroom's constitution for content ideas
A link to access an editable, GOOGLE Drive version of my constitution to make it your own
Pictures of my completed and signed classroom constitution to help you see the finished product
“I found this resource to be very helpful- I knew I wanted the students to make a class constitution but I wanted it to have good structure and direction. This was perfect because of the clear instructions for me as the teacher and the example class constitution included was also helpful.” - Merrisah ★★★★★
Thank You!
Thanks so much for stopping by. It's great to meet you! I hope this resource adds value to your classroom. I would also love to see how you've incorporated this product into your classroom. Feel free to post a photo of this resource in action and tag @misterharms so I can meet you!
Want More?
CREATE ☞ After your students understand the basic premise of the document, allow them to get involved in creating a constitution for your class. Each year in civics, having students help create rules and policies for the room is a massive success.
The process begins by grouping students to draft goals and purposes in the form of a Preamble. Once approved, students give voice to the Articles. When the final draft is complete, all students ratify and sign the document.
The Benefit: Students love following their own rules. Classroom behavior naturally improves when students hold each other accountable to a document they created.
Classroom Application: Use my Class Constitution & Preamble resource to guide your students through this incredibly engaging, student-led process. As time goes on, you can even alter or change your constitution by adding amendments throughout the year.
Frequently Asked Questions: Teaching the Constitution
-
The best way to explain the Constitution to 8th graders and middle schoolers is by breaking it down into bite-sized, relatable pieces. Instead of reading the document front to back, focus on interactive activities like scavenger hunts, real-world scenario analysis, and role-playing the branches of government.
-
A great Constitution Week involves daily, low-prep activities that build upon each other. You can start Monday with a preamble breakdown, move into a scavenger hunt mid-week, and finish Friday by looking at modern-day applications of the Bill of Rights.
-
Absolutely. You do not need to rewrite your entire curriculum for Constitution Day. Utilizing a pre-made scavenger hunt or a quick collaborative mapping of the three branches offers a highly engaging, done-for-you lesson that takes the stress out of planning.
The Mister Harms online game hub is a fantastic way to make the constitution interactive.
Final Thoughts on Teaching the Constitution
To better understand the basic information within the U.S. Constitution, students will enjoy these four lesson activities. This bundle is a great way to introduce, study, or review the United States Constitution for your civics unit or for a Constitution Day activity. Buy buying the bundle, you are getting $1 off each product worth a savings of more than 25% off the listed price!
⭐️ Read more about all of the included resources on my blog post
⭐️ Also on Teachers Pay Teachers
The Following 4 Lesson Activities Are Included in This Bundle:
Class Constitution Activity | Create your very own classroom Constitution
Constitution & Constitutional Convention Notes and Assessment
Answer keys for all worksheets are included!
Online links to access the full text of the Constitution are included.
You will receive a printable PDF version, access to a digital Google Drive worksheets, and a self corrected Google Form!
Thank You!
Thanks so much for stopping by. It's great to meet you! I hope this resource adds value to your classroom. I would also love to see how you've incorporated this product into your classroom. Feel free to post a photo of this resource in action and tag @misterharms so I can meet you!
Want More?
I hope you can use some or all of these constitutional resources in your classroom. I have used these exact lesson ideas in my classroom for years and have found them to be engaging, fun, and content-rich.
I wish you all the best as you continue teaching our future leaders. Let me know how your Constitution unit goes! I would love to hear how you have incorporated these resources into your classroom and learn from your own ideas.
If you want to use all constitution resources by Mister Harms, get teh Constitution Activities Bundle and save!
Tag or follow @misterharms on social media, and be sure to join my email list for future classroom updates!
MOre Social Studies simulations & Activities
Parties & Election Activities | Legislative Branch Simulation | 50 States & Capitals Activities | Why Study History? | The Oregon Trail Simulation
