Lesson by Tim Bailey
Essay by Denver Brunsman, The George Washington University
Grade Level: 3–8
Number of Class Periods: 1–4 depending on grade level
Primary Theme: Government and Civics
About This Lesson Plan Unit
Over the course of four lessons the students will analyze text from three documents defining American democracy: the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, the Preamble to the United States Constitution, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Understanding these three texts is an essential part of understanding American ideals and rights. Students will closely analyze these sources and use textual evidence to draw their conclusions.
Lesson Plan Author: Tim Bailey
Historical Background Essay by: Denver Brunsman, The George Washington University
Additional Information About This Unit
Common Core State Standards
Common Core State Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1: Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.9: Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
What have politicians and influential public figures identified as common principles unifying
Americans of different generations, regions, and political parties?
- Grade 3–5 adaptation: Which values and rights do these documents suggest are
most important to Americans?
Documents
Documents
Source 1: The Preamble of the Declaration of Independence, printed by John Dunlap, Philadelphia, July 4, 1776, Library of Congress, loc.gov/item/2021667578/
Activity Sheet 1: The Preamble of the Declaration of Independence, 1776
Source 2: The Preamble of the United States Constitution, September 17, 1787, National Archives, archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript
Activity Sheet 2: The Preamble of the United States Constitution, 1787
Source 3: The Pledge of Allegiance from the US Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Sec. 4, 2018 edition, govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2018-title4/html/USCODE-2018-title4-chap1-sec4.htm
Activity Sheet 3: The Pledge of Allegiance
Activity Sheet 4: Ideals in the Declaration of Independence
Activity Sheet 5: Ideals in the US Constitution
Activity Sheet 6: Ideals in the Pledge of Allegiance