US Constitution Lesson Plans for 5th Grade and Middle School

How would it feel to have your US Constitution unit completely planned out for the next 3 weeks? I’m talking 15 lessons, worksheets, and answer keys completely ready to go.

Amazing, right?

When I was teaching 5th grade, I felt lost when it came to teaching social studies. (I know that many middle school teachers feel the same way.)

So, I started creating my own units and sharing them online. Teachers enjoyed using the units in their classrooms and asked me to make more!

I now work full-time creating curriculum to help busy teachers like you. I want to help you fall in love with teaching history by creating high-quality units.

My US Constitution unit is my newest resource and I hope that you love it. It is filled with engaging lesson plans for your 5th grade and middle school students.

What’s included?

15 complete US Constitution lesson plans for 5th grade and middle school aged students
15 days of activities
Pacing guide
Answer keys
150+ pages with a variety of activities (simulation, writing activities, task cards, and more)

Table of Contents for US Constitution Unit

Part 1: Context for the Constitutional Convention

The Articles of Confederation— identify the strengths and weaknesses. Includes informative article, task cards, classifying worksheet.
6 Key Concepts—describe key concepts: popular sovereignty, limited government, republicanism, federalism, separation of powers, checks & balances. Includes student booklet, sorting cards, game.

Part 2: Events of the Constitutional Convention

Become a Delegate Simulation—assume a fictional identity as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Includes article, identity cards, delegate character sketch, and more.
Choosing Representatives Simulation—in a simulated Constitutional Convention, debate and vote on how congressional representations should be chosen (arguments for both sides, student worksheets, informative article)
Representation in Congress Simulation—in a simulated Constitutional Convention, debate and vote on how states should be represented in Congress. Includes arguments for both sides, student worksheets, informative article.
Presidential Terms Simulation—in a simulated Constitutional Convention, debate and vote on how long presidential terms should be. Includes arguments for both sides, student worksheets, informative article.
The US Constitution and Slavery—identify sections of the Constitution which permitted slavery and how these sections affected the nation. Includes informative article, graphic organizer, opinion writing.
Ratification of the Constitution—identify primary source quotes as Federalist or Antifederalist arguments. Includes informative article, primary sources, student posters, reflection sheet).

Part 3: The Constitution and the US Government

Be a Constitution Detective—use the Constitution to summarize the main idea of each section and answer questions about the US government. Includes puzzle pieces, student worksheet.
The Preamble—translate and illustrate the Preamble. Includes task cards & recording sheet, student-created posters, preamble cut apart for memorizing.
Three Branches of Government—explain how power is separated between the three branches of government. Includes posters/anchor charts, matching worksheet, card game.
Federal, State, and Local Governments—list and analyze the powers of the federal and state governments, as well as research elected officials. Includes graphic organizers game, research elected leaders worksheet.
The Bill of Rights—interpret and teach about the Bill of Rights. Includes worksheet for analyzing each Bill of Right, amendment rap, main idea worksheets, cards for acting out the Bill of Rights.
Amendments—categorize the amendments and create my own amendment. Includes amendments timeline, amendments chart, create my own amendment worksheet.
The Constitution in Your Daily Life—explain how the Constitution affects me in my daily life as well as analyze The American’s Creed. Includes teacher guide, situations worksheet, writing about The American’s Creed.

The US Constitution Unit Help For The Teacher

Table of contents (also available in the preview)
Suggested pacing guide
15 lesson plans
Answer Keys (Of course!)
Editable end-of-unit test and study guide
Easy printing file with all student worksheets and articles

More US Constitution Resources

I want to save you TONS of time and help you fall in love with teaching history. That’s why I’ve created a unit with US Constitution lesson plans for 5th grade and middle school.

You may be interested in other resources for teaching the US Constitution like Primary Sources, kid-friendly videos, and The Parts of the Constitution (free lesson).

Need more interactive units? Explore my popular units:

US Constitution Lesson Plans for 5th Grade and Middle School