Carlsbad schools celebrate Constitution Day Sept. 17
Constitution Day is Sept. 17. The Carlsbad Municipal schools will be celebrating on Sept. 16 as Sept. 17 falls on a weekend. Each school has provided a description of what activities students will participate in Friday. Please take a look at all of the wonderful things going on in our schools.
Carlsbad High School
We try to make sure each History class has a section of the Constitution that is different from the other grades so they are not repeating the same assignment year after year. There are a variety of assignments teachers may choose from. A new feature is icivics.org. icivics.org is a website created by retired Supreme Court Judge Sandra Day O’Connor. There are interactive games for students to learn about our government and our civic duties and responsibilities.
Freshmen – Bill of Rights
Watch on youtube “What’s Right with America” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAcfXTROBi0)
Go to icivics.org and play as a class or small group “Do I Have A Right?”
Divide students into 10 groups and give each group one amendment (1-10); give each group 5-10 minutes to create a picture that illustrates their amendment. Use the illustrations like Pictionary to figure out each one or have a list of the Bill of Rights and other groups have to match the pictures to the amendments.
Sophomores – Preamble
Compare and contrast the US Constitution Preamble to that of the United Nations. Have students understand what the intentions of each are.
Go to icivics.org and play as a class or small group “Crisis of Nations.”
Juniors – Articles of the Constitution
Power Grab – game where teams are given a problem and must find the solution in the Constitution by locating the Article #, Paragraph, & Section or amendment #.
Go to icivics.org and play as a class or small group “Branches of Power” or “Power Play.”
Seniors – Citizenry
Have students locate in the Constitution where it has the requirements of being a citizen.
Take a sample Citizenship Quiz.
Go to icivics.org and play as a class or small group “Immigration Nation” or “Responsibility Launcher” or “Sortify: U.S. Citizenship.”
Early College High School
During the celebration week of the Constitution of the United States of America at CECHS, Ms. Donaghe's Honors US History class will be delving into the numerous parts of this groundbreaking document by researching the various plans and compromises that morphed into the backbone of America. The classes will also be looking at the need and impact of the Bill of Rights and how these helped refine the power of the American government and safeguarded the American way of life. Throughout the process, student and teacher-led discussions will lead to unexpected research and avid discussions among and between the students on contemporary situations. This extended lesson will be wrapped up with the students creating an interactive notebook over the topics they researched and shared with one another.
CIS PR Leyva Middle School
PR Leyva students will complete an interactive/written activity that will give them a quick snapshot of the Constitution, including the purpose of each article, the powers of the three branches, how a bill becomes a law, and the concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances.
CIS Alta Vista Middle School
On Constitution Day, students at CIS - Alta Vista will examine the role of the people in shaping the United States Constitution and each component contained within the document. First, students will look at the entire Constitution noting the Preamble, Articles, Amendments and Signatures. They will then watch a video that gives a brief explanation of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. A Constitution graphic organizer is provided so students can take notes and discuss it as a class.
Each class will then answer individually two questions: How has the Constitution enabled our rights and freedoms? What does the Constitution mean to you?
Carlsbad Enrichment Center
Activity 1: We will compare a draft of the Constitution’s Preamble to the final version, with peer discussion.
Activity 2: The students will compare and contrast the backgrounds and viewpoints of the Founding Fathers through a group discussion.
Activity 3: We will watch a short animated video that shows the process to amend the U.S. Constitution.
Activity 4: We will then play a game as a group to test their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and how it has shaped our American History.
Early Childhood Education Center
Kindergarten
We will introduce scholars to the Constitution of the United States and how it is related to our classroom rules. Introduction will begin by viewing the short Constitution Preamble video, then briefly discussing what the Constitution of the United States is and how it compares to the classroom rules. After that, the class will develop a classroom constitution together.
Preschool and PreK
The students, with the help from teachers, will create a list of classroom rules to make a Classroom Constitution. They will sign the Classroom Constitution using a feather dipped in paint. The students will create a classroom flag using red, white and blue.
Desert Willow Elementary
Kindergarten
We will introduce scholars to the Constitution of the United States and how it is related to our classroom rules. Introduction will begin by viewing the short Constitution Preamble video, then briefly discussing what the Constitution of the United States is and how it compares to the classroom rules. After that, the class will develop a classroom constitution together.
1st Grade
First grade students will watch a video entitled, "The Constitution and Constitution Day: A Beginners Guide". First graders will commemorate the Constitution of the United States by investigating the purpose of the document. First grade students will write the preamble of the Constitution.
2nd Grade
Second grade students will be learning about why the Constitution was written and its importance. Students will learn the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution. Students will learn about important dates and historical people who helped create the Constitution. Students will learn what citizenship means and how to be a good citizen.
3rd Grade
Third grade students will visit Ben’s Guide to the United States Government web-site. Students will use this web-site to complete a Constitution scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt will introduce students to vocabulary and components of the United State’s Government and the Constitution. Once students complete the scavenger hunt they will be able to play educational games on Ben’s Guide to the United States Government. Third grade students will also learn the Preamble to Constitution in the form of a chant.
4th Grade
Fourth grade students will be exploring the preamble to the Constitution, and will be able to describe the five main points in the preamble. Each class will make a poster for one of the main points.
5th Grade
Fifth grade students will be attending a virtual viewing party. A virtual viewing party is a shared viewing experience sponsored by using different interactive computer applications through Nearpod, EdPuzzle, and Google Slides. The video, "Celebrate with DE: Constitution Day," discusses the importance of a constitution, the development of the document, and the ways in which people mark the day.
Cottonwood Elementary
1st Grade
1st graders will read the book “We the Kids” by David Catrow and show their understanding with a matching and drawing activity.
2nd Grade
Our second grade students will be writing a Classroom Bill of Rights.
3rd Grade
The third grade team is planning to ensure our students understand how the Constitution has an effect on their daily lives. We will do this by teaching them the rules that govern our country and how our country works with a book and information sheets
4th Grade
Fourth grade will be watching a video called “The Constitution for Kids” and discussing the importance of this document.
5th Grade
Our Fifth Grade Team will be focusing on the Bill of Rights and creating their own classroom Bill of Rights.
Sunset Elementary
1st Grade
The first grade students at Sunset Elementary will be reading about the Constitution by focusing on the Preamble. After reading about the history of the Constitution, the students will discuss and answer questions on the key details of it, identify why a Constitution was put in place, and what rights it gives us. Finally they will discuss the connection between the Constitution and rules/Social Contracts that we follow in the classroom. The students will recite the Preamble, discuss key vocabulary words in the Preamble, and, watch a video on the book, We The Kids by David Catlow
2nd Grade
The second grade Sunset team will be discussing with scholars what the Constitution and Constitution Day is and explain how our government works. The lesson will begin by engaging scholars with a short Flocabulary video “A More Perfect Union.”
Teachers will also read several texts as well as identify and understand the significance of government landmarks such as Independence Hall. The Preamble will be introduced through the storybook We the People, discussed, interpreted and a class Preamble will be created.
Scholars will do a Preamble Scramble by coloring, cutting and piecing together the preamble as a fun tactile way to become familiar with it. A fun game of Constitution Trivia will be played at the end of the week to test their knowledge of the Constitution.
3rd Grade
At Sunset our Third Grade scholars will be reading “What is Constitution Day”. We
will also be identifying why a Constitution was put into place and what it consists of. Scholars
will also be making bookmarks that give details about the year the Constitution began along with
quotes that come from the original Constitution.
4th Grade
Sunset 4th graders will be learning about Constitution Day, the Preamble, and creating a Flip book about the Three Branches of Our Government.
5th Grade
Sunset 5th graders will be CLOSE reading the Constitution to define unknown vocabulary and understand the context and meaning.
Monterrey Elementary at Riverside
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students will be learning about the character counts pillars and how they help schools and classrooms become a friendly environment in which to learn and grow.
1st Grade
The first grade classes will start off by learning what the Preamble is, followed by a reading of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution and then doing activities that relate to the topic.
2nd Grade
The second grade will begin their Constitution lesson with a discussion of what freedom is and how freedom did not always exist in America. The discussion will lead into how the Constitution was written to guarantee the freedoms that we have today.
3rd Grade
Third grade will be reading and studying the Constitution. Students will learn about the founding fathers, the three branches of government, the Bill of Rights, and the preamble.
4th Grade
For Constitution Week 2022 at Monterrey, 4th grade students will watch a BBC video about the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Students will summarize what they have learned about how the ratification of the U.S. Constitution has impacted the world we live in today. Through collaboration, formative and summative assessment, activation of prior knowledge, and metacognitive reflection, students will gain an understanding of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Students will also visit Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania through a virtual field trip experience.
5th Grade
The fifth grade has been studying the American Revolution and the events that led up to the writing of the Constitution. Constitution week continues the theme of American freedom, learning about the Constitutional Convention, why the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution, and the arguments that were both for and against the ratification of the Constitution. The Constitution and its freedom rings strong in Monterrey Elementary today just as it did with our founding fathers and the Constitution.
Ocotillo Elementary
“The aims of the Constitution Week celebration are to: emphasize citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution; inform people that the Constitution is the basis for America's great heritage and the foundation for our way of life; encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787,” the DAR website states.Constitution Day will be observed by the school as the faculty discusses the Constitution’s importance for the United States.Students at Ocotillo Elementary will be observing Constitution Day, in different ways. Here’s a look at how some of our grade levels are celebrating.
Kindergarten
Our Kindergarten teachers will be using different resources to teach their students about the Constitution, such as working on a printed booklet called A Bit About the Constitution and writing their own class constitution. Another Kindergarten class will use a variety of articles, terms to know, videos, and illustrations.
1st Grade
Our first grade teachers will have students develop an awareness of the
Constitution by exploring what it is and why it is important. First grade will introduce their students to vocabulary words such as; citizens, Congress, Constitution, laws and many more. Teachers will use materials to create a classroom rules poster and read a “Constitution Poem.”
2nd Grade
Will begin their lesson by asking “What are rights?” They will have their students share what they think rights are. Teachers will tell students that rights are what people have just because they are alive. However the protection of rights is one of the most important ways that the Constitution protects us, the citizens. Second graders will listen and sing to their favorite patriotic songs.
3rd Grade
Students will study the constitution of a government, they will be able to answer questions such as, “What are the purposes of the government?”, “How is the government organized?”, “How is the government supposed to go about doing its business?” “What are the Characteristics of the Higher Law?”, and finally “What are Rights?”
4th Grade
4th Grade Students will watch the video “Liberty Kids-We the People.” and Work on a Constitution Mini Book Lesson. They will also create a flag for remembrance using each student's hand print.
5th Grade
5th Grade Students will learn the words to the School House Rock song “The Preamble”. They will learn about how the constitution was formed in US history and about the bill of rights. They will choose from 7 articles to investigate deeper.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad schools celebrate Constitution Day Sept. 17
