2. Technology Rationale
• The majority of us at some points in our
lives will be participating in government,
whether it is voting, serving in a
government office, exercising your
natural rights (through the Constitution
and Bill of Rights), or obeying the laws
that the President signs in. How do we
begin to understand the complex system
of the United States government and
how will the use of technology help
students understand what the U.S.
Constitution is.
• This presentation will show you that
teachers can use podcasts, educational
videos, apps, and many other interactive
websites into their lesson plans in or
order to create fun, exciting, technology
driven classes.
Click the video to play!
3. Internet Content
• All the websites used during this presentation
are from reliable sources. The information
coming from the websites are history related
and will allow the teacher to incorporate them
into lesson plans, and will also be useful for
the students.
• The links included in this Powerpoint will take
you to the websites.
4. Images
• There are many images on the internet that
can help students to understand how the
Constitution works and the breakdown of the
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches,
and what tasks they have to perform.
5. Image One
Below: This image shows the basic
responsibilities of the Legislative, Executive,
and Judicial branches. http://www.oakland.edu/?id=7681&sid=200
6. Image 2
• This image and map helps students understand
the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
7. Images 3,4,5
Image 3 Upper
Left:
Shows the U.S.
Constitution,
The Bill of
Rights, and the
Declaration of
Independence.
Image 4 Upper Right:
Shows where the
documents are held at
in the National Archives
in Washington D.C.
Image 5 Middle:
Shows the National
Archives building.
9. Podcast
• This Podcast by Constitution Study Radio, explores the United
States Constitution and it’s Articles.
• This is good for teachers to use because it allows students to
explore another method of learning.
• This podcast is also effective for a teacher to use because it
explores different ideas surrounding the Constitution and allows
students to think about the Constitution in a different view. It
may also challenge their views on what the purpose of the
Constitution is, and whether or not it creates a fair government.
Click to play!!
10. Blog
• U.S. History Ideas for Teachers is a great website that
gives teachers access to many different resources.
• It also gives the teacher examples of lesson plans,
graphs, and ways to involve the students in active
learning.
• Not only does this blog help the teacher, but it is also a
good resource that consists of excellent government
resources and websites for your students to access.
• It also explains what students should be learning, and
how to help them retain what is the “more important”
topics.
11. Educational Video
So how does the Constitution come about? Click to play video.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/history/1600s-
1800s/declaration-of-independence/v/birth-of-the-us-
constitution
Left: The Adoption of the U.S.
Constitution at Independence Hall.
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/conv
ention/froehlich/
12. Internet Resources
National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center is devoted to educating the people
about the United Stated Constitution. It provides explanations, Lesson
Plans for teachers, and includes games so younger kids may learn by
playing. http://constitutioncenter.org
Teaching American History
This is an organization that is designed to help teachers of American
history. They have many unique key features such as important
documents to American history, special events for teachers to attend,
and online seminars teachers can watch in order to improve their
classroom and teaching skills. http://teachingamericanhistory.org
Teaching History
Teaching History Is devoted to helping the teacher in the classroom. It
provides lesson plan reviews, Q and A blogs, historical thinking,
methods to approach technology, as well as lecture and using
documents in the classroom. The best part about it, is that it provides
teachers support and information for Elementary School, Middle
School, High School, and for online classes. http://teachinghistory.org
13. • Using Web 2.0:
Historypin is a website that can be used by both the
teacher and the students.
• It allows the Teacher to map out a historical event or
the students to create fun projects with while using
Google Maps to show where events took place.
• It also allows the students to save their information
and documents they have used to create the project,
and allows users all over the world to view the projects
and to learn something new!
14. Brain Pop
Brain pop is a fun
website that gives
teachers the ability
to let students watch
fun interactive
videos, play games,
and take quizzes that
are all based around
your subject area,
and in this case
History!
.
15. Puzzle Maker
Using Puzzle Maker I was able to create this
word search to allow the students to be able
engage in a fun activity that will allow them
to learn the words of the Constitution. It
allows the students to have fun while they
learn and will allow the teacher to create a
puzzle that is ideal for the students learning
level.
Try making your own:
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/
WordSearchSetupForm.asp
16. The National Constitution Center
• The national constitution center is a great way
for teachers to see lesson plans, documents,
and to see curriculum surrounding the US
Constitution.
• It is also a great place for students to go to
watch videos, play games, do puzzles, and gain
a better understanding of what the
Constitution is and what is does for America.
17. The National Constitution Center
Continued
• Here is one example of a video for students to
watch in grades 5-12.
http://constitutioncenter.org/learn/hall-
pass/tax-day/
• There are also resources for teachers to use
such as these lesson plans.
http://constitutioncenter.org/learn/education
al-resources/lesson-plans/
18. Uses of The Internet
• The Library of Congress is a great tool for teachers to
use when teaching about History. It gives them access
to government documents, classroom materials, as
well as information and ideas for teachers to use in
lesson plans. http://www.loc.gov/teachers/index.html
• Another great use of the internet is The Library of
Congress American Memory. It allows both the teacher
and the student to utilize the website for research
projects, lesson plans, or reading assignments and
discussion. http://rs6.loc.gov/amhome.html
Background image used throughout the PowerPoint: http://library.sdsu.edu/reference/news/celebrate-us-constitution-day-citizenship-day-and-us-constitution-week-1
Diagrams are a great way of allowing students to visibly see what is happening, and translating that visual aid into an understanding of how the Constitution works.
Image found at: http://mindmapblog.com/?p=184
Image 3: http://images.politico.com/global/news/101217_constitution_ap_605.jpg
Image 4: http://www.archives.gov/museum/visit/images/rotunda-visitors-l.jpg
Image 5: http://www.house.gov/content/static/img/partner-archives.jpg
These images are good to show your students because it allows them to physically see where the historical documents are held, and allows them to see how America preserves and shows its history and allows for questions to be asked.
Another good idea to help students understand the Constitution is to have them engage in learning activities. This activity allows the students to visual see images and descriptions of the three branches of government, and then the students must place the descriptions under the right government branch. Not only does this allow the students to be actively engaged in learning, but it also gives them a visual aid to help them remember. Aside from this, it is also a good way to see if your students are retaining the information that you are giving them and that they can apply it on a test or in the future.
Link to outline: http://www.inspiration.com/Kidspiration-social-studies-examples
The Podcast can be found at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/politicalpistachio.rss
While having students read from a textbook may give them an understanding of what the constitution is about, and how it was formed, this video from Kahn Academy, talks about the formation of the Constitution, but also uses visuals and timelines to help the student gain a deeper understanding of what was occurring in America at this time.
See what Historypin has to offer at: https://www.historypin.org
Website: https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/
Explore the website. It is a fun way to get your students to interact, and to have fun while being engaged in active learning!
