Kids Constitution – "We the People" Song

If the children of our time, not only in the U.S.A. but from all around the world, were to write a kids constitution, what would it include? Ask them!

The answers of course, will depend on the age and the circumstance of the children you are asking. Let's say you're asking 10 year old American public school boys and girls the question: What would you include in a kids constitution for the United States of America?

You've just opened the door to a relevant, provocative, interesting and engaging way into the subject of the American Constitution. Your students will ask, "What is a constitution? Why do we have one? Why do we need one?"

Now after they've gotten their sillies out. (And every good educator knows not to suppress the 'sillies'.) Yes, once the silly examples have gotten their due 'air time', then the more challenging process can begin. Here are a few sample prompting questions to help you get the process started:

1. The preamble to the constitution begins with 'We the People'. Who are 'We the People'?


2. Who did the founding fathers mean by 'We the People'?


3. What is the 'Bill of Rights'?


4. What are 'Rights'?


5. What rights would you include in your kids constitution?


6. What is freedom? What freedoms do we enjoy now? What freedoms would be part of your constitution?


7. What does your kids constitution stand for? And what does it stand against?


8. Now put yourselves in the shoes of children from all over the world; from Kenya, Mexico, Iran, China, Russia. What would they want in their kids constitution?


9. What would absolutely have to be included in a kids constitution for a United World?

Wow!

Now you've got a constitution lesson plan your students can really engage with, have fun with, enjoy, laugh, get serious about and finally, after this beautiful and provocative process you can now make it stick for life by putting the whole thing to SONG!

5 Steps - Constitution Day Activity Kit

1. Listen to the song and follow along
   with the lyrics provided.


2. Sing along with the song (in various groupings) using the lyrics provided.


3. Take some time to open up these questions, the children will give their own examples that can be written on the board:
   
   
   
   1. Who are we the people? (our true democracy)
   
   
   2. What do we say no to? (our moral compass)
   
   
   3. What are we free to do? (our rights)
   
   
   4. Re-look at the lyrics of the song and have the children find movements that work with the song (can be full body or just hand movements). You can look at the YouTube video of 'We the People' for ideas; (link to come)
   
   
   5. Sing the song again with the added movements.
   
   
   
   The constitution will carry new meaning for the young people in your care and continue in value added process throughout their lives.
   
   By Paul A. Zeir
   Talking Hands Talking Feet
   Inspired Education Songs in Motion
   
   Get our free Constitution Day Activity Kit here.
   

This is a reprint of an article by Beatrice Leonard.

Constitution Day was celebrated for the first time in 2006. Senator Robert Byrd wrote the bill that Congress passed in 2004 that created Constitution Day. Senator Byrd feels that "This will help our young people understand the Constitution. If they learn that, they will learn more about the history of this country." The Constitution protects our rights and kids need to be aware of that. Most young people take all of our freedoms for granted. They should know what it cost our forefathers to give us these rights. Caroline Kennedy said, "It's important to study the Constitution in school to know and understand a little about our government, because we live in a democracy that everybody has to participate in.

Teachers have the duty to educate our children about the Constitution, so that they understand what an amazing creation it is. Students need to know that every day the Constitution is working for us and that that's exactly as its writers wanted it. The Constitution is just as important in our daily lives as it was over 200 years ago when it was signed. Everyday things we take for granted like the freedom to attend any church we desire, the ability to say whatever we want, and the right to choose what we want to watch on television. If our kids are not taught this then how are they ever supposed to know why our ancestors fought so hard for this country? Teachers are duty-bound to enlighten our youth.

Getting children excited about the Constitution may not be easy but it is possible. A few methods teachers are using on Constitution day are very creative. Here are three methods that kids really enjoy:

1. Have students research the different men who signed the Constitution. Who were these men and what were they like as living people.


2. Learn more about Senator Byrd and view his remarks and discussions on Constitution day. Teach students why Senator Byrd felt that Constitution day was needed.


3. Show kids the steps it took to create the Constitution and what a huge undertaking it was. Discuss the problems and issues the authors of the Constitution wanted to address.

Teaching children about the Constitution doesn't have to be boring and mind numbing. It can be fun and entertaining. Students deserve to learn more about the Constitution than they once did.