Logo: Civics Inquiry Lesson Plans
Illustration of diverse people of various ethnicities with We the People overlayed on their faces.

Who Are We the People?

Written in 1787, the Constitution has only been amended 27 times in more than 230 years. That’s not to say the document the Framers created was perfect. Its most glaring errors include the omission of recognition for all citizens and a failure to halt slavery. In this lesson, students will examine how the definition of “We the People” has evolved since the beginning of this grand experiment in democracy.

Texts and Materials

Complete Lesson Plan

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Day 1: Powerful Messages (slide deck)
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Day 1: We the People Mind Map
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Day 1: Denied Representation Resource Bank
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Day 1: Constitutionally Denied
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Day 2: Impact of Evolving Rights (graphic organizer)
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Day 2: Evolving Voting Rights Timeline
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Day 2: Recognizing We the People (template)
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Day 2: We the People Inquiry Assessment Rubric
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Day 2: Inquiry Reflection Tool
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About

CCE LogoThe Center for Civic Education is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating an informed and thoughtful citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy. We do this primarily through our flagship programs, We the People and Project Citizen, but we also provide high-quality, inquiry-driven curricular programs that bring civic learning to life. The Center additionally equips educators with professional learning that builds confidence and capacity to teach civics with depth and relevance, unlocks students’ civic agency by creating opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, and share their voices through simulated hearings and other public forums. These initiatives build a national community committed to strengthening civic understanding and participation for all and root everything in decades of research and evidence. Learn more.

Center for Civic Education

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  Phone: (818) 591-9321

  Email: web@civiced.org

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  Website: www.civiced.org

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