Story of the Constitution

This special-edition portfolio replaces our broadsheet essays with hands-on, interactive learning-activities. Through a 24-page resource book and a collection of primary source articles, this portfolio describes the story of the U.S. Constitution. This portfolio provides younger students, older students reading below grade level, and students less proficient in English with an easier approach to important documents of American history. The documents become more accessible through carefully planned readings and activities, which are written at a high-interest level, and designed to be enjoyed by a variety of students. The creation of the U.S. Constitution is presented in a fully-reproducible resource book containing three chapters, which describe the writing of the Constitution, and introduce historical figures and the significant events and issues needed to understand the Constitution. These manageable, reproducible chapters are complete with vocabulary words and critical thinking questions for easier teaching. The resource book also features a timeline and seven highly motivating activity sections, plus a reading list and "Places to Visit" suggestions. Accompanying the resource book is a lively, reproducible newspaper called, "The Jackdaw Times." 10 Primary Source Documents: * Mitchell map of the United States, 1783 * Broadside of the U.S. Constitution, 1787 * Proposal for a Bill of Rights, 1789 * Letter from convention delegate Robert Morris to his sons, 1787 * Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, 1776 * U.S. Census of 1790 * James Madison's will, 1835 * Street map of Philadelphia, 1762 * Washington's inauguration at Federal Hall, 1789 * The life of George Washington, the farmer Resource Book Sections: * Story Chapters * Chapter 1: National Building * Chapter 2: The Debates Begin * Chapter 3: From Compromise to Constitution * Timeline: 1786-1789 * Reading and Activity Pages * Life Ways: Pennsylvania 1787 * The Players: Delegates to the Constitutional Convention * Classics of History: Washington, the Brave, the Wise, the Good * Life Stories: James and Dolley Madison * Geo-Graph: The U.S. Census of 1790 * Puzzles and Problems: A Bill of Rights * Pastimes: A Recipe and Craft from the Past * Books to Read * Places to Visit Extra Edition: The “Jackdaw Times” Newspaper