Module 15-Important Documents-Social Studies 4A - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module students will identify the importance of the Declaration of Independence, identify the significance of the Preamble and U.S. Constitution, identify the significance of the Bill of Rights, identify 3 national historical documents. (In addition to the Declaration of Independence, Preamble, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights), and identify 2 historical documents important to their state of residence.

Module Materials:

Lesson # Lesson Title Material(s)
1 Declaration of Independence index cards (3)
1 ring or binder clip
pen or pencil
2 Preamble and U.S. Constitution index cards (3)
pen or pencil
3 Bill of Rights index cards (3)
pen or pencil
4 Historical Documents index cards (3)
pen or pencil
5 U.S. and State Seals index cards (3)
pen or pencil

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Declaration of Independence
  1. Identify the importance of the Declaration of Independence.
2 Preamble and U.S. Constitution
  1. Identify the significance of the Preamble and the United States Constitution.
3 Bill of Rights
  1. Identify the significance of the Bill of Rights.
4 Historical Documents
  1. Identify three national historical documents in addition to the Declaration of Independence, the Preamble, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
5 U.S. and State Seals
  1. Identify the U.S. seal and their state seal.

Module Key Words:

Key Words Vocabulary Words
declaration
independence
draft
preamble
constitution
ratified
Bill of Rights
amendment
jury
national
historical
document
seal
observe
reverse
 declaration
independence
draft
preamble
Constitution
Ratified
bill of rights
amendment
jury
national
historical
document
seal
observe
reverse

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
1 Declaration of Independence 7 Historical Documents Mini Book
2 Preamble and U.S. Constitution 7 Historical Documents Mini Book
3 Bill of Rights 8 Historical Documents Mini Book
4 Historical Documents 7 Historical Documents Mini Book
5 U.S. and State Seals 8 Historical Documents Mini Book

Learning Coach Notes:

None

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
Declaration of Independence
  1. Why was The Declaration of Independence created?
  2. What does The Declaration of Independence mean?
  3. What are the big ideas in The Declaration of Independence?
Preamble and U.S. Constitution
  1. Why was The Constitution created?
  2. What are the big ideas in The Constitution?
  3. What is the intent of The Constitution?
  4. Why is The Constitution so important?
Bill of Rights
  1. What is the history behind the Bill of Rights, why was it created?
  2. What is the meaning of The Bill of Rights?
  3. Why are rights important?
Historical Documents
  1. What other historical documents shaped our nation?
U.S. and State Seals
  1. What is the meaning of the Great Seal of The United States?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question
Bill of Rights Top Ten Bill of Rights
  1. What is the Bill of Rights?
  2. What are the 10 amendments to the constitution?

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level
1 What Is the Declaration of Independence? Michael C. Harris 880L
2 Give Me Liberty!: The Story of the Declaration of Independence Russell Freedman 1070L
3 The Declaration of Independence Elaine Landau 780L
4 We the People: The Constitution of the United States Peter Spier
5 A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution Betsy Maestro AD920L
6 We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States David Catrow
7 I Know My Rights: A Children's Guide to the Bill of Rights and Individual Liberty Rory Margraf
8 The Bill of Rights: Protecting Our Freedom Then and Now Syl Sobel J.D. AD1030L

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing