Sept. 14, 2005: Our Constitution

The Mini Page is a syndicated, four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in the Rocky Mountain News. This issue of The Mini Page is available through the eEdition Archive to registered eEdition subscribers. Click here to learn about subscribing to the eEdition at no cost to you (for Colorado teachers).

Activities:

1. Collect newspapers from several days. Cut out headlines that talk about the president, someone in the Congress, or someone on the Supreme Court. Cut out any photos of the president, or individuals in Congress or on the court. Make a collage of your headlines and photos.

2. Find a newspaper story about one of the branches of government. Cut it out and paste it on a piece of paper. Under the story, write down how the story shows the role of that branch of government.

3. Which of the amendments to the Constitution deal with (a) citizens¹ treatment in courts, (b) elections, (c) the presidency and (4) slavery?

4. Use resource books and the Internet to identify the branch of the federal government that has the responsibility for each of these actions: raising taxes, enforcing laws, nominating Supreme Court justices, making laws, deciding if laws fit with the Constitution, declaring war, confirming Supreme Court justices, certifying the election of the president, and commanding the military.

This week's standards:

• Students understand the U.S. Constitution and why it is important.
• Students understand government and where people in government get the authority to make, apply and enforce rules and laws and manage disputes about them.
• Students understand the important values and principles of American democracy. (Civics)
  
  (standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi