
Classroom Activities and Project Ideas for American Government, Forming a New Nation
These are classroom activities and project ideas for kids and teachers to use in your American History Unit Study of Forming a New Nation, the creation of a new government - Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and 3 Branches of Government. These activities and projects can be adjusted for any grade. We hope you'll find some ideas you can use.
Projects: US Civics and Constitution Projects - an interesting and long of ideas
World Government Project - Selecting a government type
Americans experiment with types of government in the Articles of Confederation
Inquiry Project: Why did the new nation want a different form of government from British rule?
Inquiry Project: What are some of the challenges that faced the new nation and what did they do about it?
Group Activity: Building the Constitution: Prepare a handout prior to class that is a list of things not found in the Constitution, but do not tell your students that these things are not in the Constitution. http://www.usconstitution.net/constnot.html. Pass out the list. As a class activity, ask students what is and what is not, in the Constitution from this list. Take a class vote (by show of hands) on each item on the list and post the yes or no vote (majority rules) on your blackboard, whiteboard, or overhead next to the item on the list. THEN, hand out copies of the Constitution. Move students into groups. Assign each group 5 or 6 items to find in the Constitution from your list. Allow 20 - 30 minutes for search. Have each group report their findings. Some groups may think they have found reference to the list item(s) you assigned them. But actually, none of the items on the list can be found in the Constitution. It's amazing what is not there. Conclude activity by having each group come up with one or two things that they believe should have been included in the constitution that were not. Give them a few minutes. Then have each group share their ideas. Prior to lesson 2, list all or some of the items the groups believed should have been included on the original constitution. Have that list ready as a handout prior to lesson 2. Lesson 2: Building the Constitution: Activity: Amendments, the Bill of Rights
Inquiry Project: Can the structure of the U.S. government prevent a dictatorship?
Inquiry Project: What happens when a state does not want to follow federal law?
Inquiry Project: Is voting worth the time?
Inquiry Project: Thanks to the Constitution, what can I legally say?
Role Play Activity: Separation of Power, Who's Got the Power?
Simulation: Separation of Power, What's for Lunch? handout and What's for Lunch?
Group Activity: 3 Branches of Government, the Power Grab Game
Group Activity, Class Competition: Claim your powers!
Inquiry Based Project: What makes a good president?
Choose Your Own Adventure from over 70 different classroom activities and possible assignments
American Government Free Interactive Games

Explore American History
For Kids and Teachers
Creating a New Nation
- New World Explorers
- Native Americans in Olden Times
- The 13 Colonies
- Road to Revolution
- The American Revolution
Creating a New Government
Western Expansion
- Jefferson and theNew Republic
- Louisiana Purchase
- Lewis & Clark
- War of 1812
- Monroe Doctrine
- Manifest Destiny
- The Oregon Trail
- Wagon Trains
- Pioneer Life & Frontier Life
- Trail of Tears
- The Alamo 1836, Texas Revolution
- Mexican - American War 1846-1848
- Gold Rush
Brink of the Storm and the Civil War
- Events Leading up to the American Civil War
- The Industrial Revolution
- American Civil War - 1861-1865
- People of the Civil War - Lincoln, Davis, Grant, Lee, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Dred Scott and more
- 13th Amendment ending slavery forever
- Reconstruction, Carpetbaggers & Scalawags
- 14th & 15th Amendments
Growth in the West
The Nation Grows
World War I, The Great War
The Roaring 20s
The Great Depression
World War II
Slavery in America
Segregation for Kids - Civil Rights
US Holidays
QUIZZES - Interactive, with Answers for Student Review
For Teachers
Free for Classroom Use - American History Powerpoints and Presentations
American History Lesson Plans, Units, Activities, Projects for Teachers