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.

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?

Donn, Group Activity: Building the Constitution (middle school and high school): 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

Donn, Mock Trial Activity: The Big Bad Wolf on Trial (middle and high school): Explain to the kids that a mock trial is a pretend trial. In our classroom, we put the big bad wolf on trial every year for the murder of little red riding hood, with one trial per class. Start with: The Story of Little Red Riding Hood from the Kids Academy because it has a happy ending. Or adjust for any story you chose about Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Next, I share with the kids this true story: In one class (not ours unfortunately) the key witness for the prosecution stated that he saw the big bad wolf slip a bloody knife into his jacket pocket and then saw the big bad wolf run away from little red riding hood's house. The student who was acting the part of the defense attorney looked up quickly. She grabbed the "wolf's" jacket that had been introduced as evidence by the prosecuting attorney a little earlier in the trial, and asked the witness: "Is this the jacket?" The witness said yes. She handed the jacket to the witness and said: "Could you show me which pocket please?" The witness hunted but could find NO pocket in the jacket! Without evidence, the jury had no choice but to find the wolf innocent of all wrong doing! At the conclusion of the trial, this class gave the defense attorney a standing ovation! It's important to include this story because the kids are more aware of the importance of witness testimony, of evidence, and how you might discredit a witness and/or evidence. After you share this story, organize your class in prep for your own mock trial activity. If they need help in their small group, remind them to ask themselves - what if the witness says .... and prep from there. Assign roles, but that's it. The kids will run with it. It takes some prep, but this lesson is a winner.

Donn, Local Government Simulation:

Simulate a Mid-Atlantic town meeting, called to discuss problems
of the diverse backgrounds of townspeople.
Preparation: Create several personalities, one each on a 3×5 card.
Include background, occupation, etc., per card.
Put the cards in a hat. Have the kids each draw a card.
Stay in character. 2 day activity.

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?

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?

Projects: US Civics and Constitution Projects - an interesting and long of ideas

Americans experiment with types of government in the Articles of Confederation

Choose Your Own Adventure from over 70 different classroom activities and possible assignments

American Government Lesson Plans with Classroom Activities - Declaration, Constitution, Bill of Rights, 3 Branches and more