Show Your Students Group Work Makes The Dream Work!

By Mary Patterson

The story goes that when Benjamin Franklin was asked what sort of government was created by the Constitutional Convention in 1787, he replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

This is my take on Franklin’s apocryphal quote. For what is our country if not a giant, ongoing group project? That’s how it started, with different personalities, different interests, wheeling and dealing, and people leaving in a huff (George Mason, I’m looking at you), and that’s how it’s going.

Here at the Bill of Rights Institute, Constitution Day is a big deal, yet I distinctly remember the 160 young faces peering at me as a teacher thinking it was NOT a big deal. But who among us didn't have to work in a group?

If your students’ eyes glaze over faster than you can say “Article I”, perhaps try a different approach to engage them in conversation during BRI’s favorite civic holiday. There is the ever-popular question, “Was the Constitution a pro-slavery or an anti-slavery document?” You can review how two contemporary scholars debate the topic, how William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass weighed in on this question, and you can use this essay to give you and your students more context.

If you want to try some group work, use the Structured Academic Controversy model and have students debate this question in groups. You might end the activity by connecting it back to the big day and simply ask, “Why do you think we celebrate Constitution Day? Should we celebrate it? What’s the best way to celebrate it?”

For the younger crowd, one of my favorite lessons looks at the relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution from our Being an American resource. This lesson helps students look at the Founding Principles found in those documents and why those are important to governance and individuals’ lives today.

You might also try this introductory activity, which is also from Being an American. It asks students to create their own system of government. I used to do a similar activity with my students and was always surprised at how long they wanted to talk about it. Take it a step further and have them write a preamble to their government’s founding document. Compare it to the preamble to the U.S. Constitution and see where it leads.

Of course, no Constitution Day is complete without a rousing sing-along to "Schoolhouse Rock!" You will know you’re loud enough when the teacher next door complains.

Finally, we would be delighted for you and your students to join BRI for our annual Constitution Day Live event on Friday, Sept. 15! Each year, BRI staff hold a live, real-time discussion on our YouTube channel about constitutionally-inspired themes and principles with teachers and others. Visit our Constitution Day Live page for more information!

I wish you a very happy Constitution Day, and many more group projects to come!

Mary Patterson is a Senior Content Specialist at the Bill of Rights Institute. She is also a former history and government teacher.