The Constitutional Convention of 1787, Lesson 2

The Constitutional Convention is the focus of this lesson. All 3 activities within this lesson use primary sources. The second activity involves a short role-playing activity. And the third involves creating a timeline. If you're looking for lesson 1, it's up under the Articles of Confederation heading; lesson 3 is in the next box.

Though long, this lesson is definitely worthwhile. So let's see if we can help break it down so you can pick the parts you like:

Activity 1: All students read snippets from: the Articles of Confederation, the New Jersey Plan, The Virginia Plan, the Hamilton Plan and the Constitution (1 paragraph each, 2 pages total). They then answer questions in a graphic organizer.

For homework, each of 3 groups then gets additional primary source snippets of transcripts from the Constitutional Convention debate (1-2 pages each). Students answer questions on their respective documents. The following day, groups meet to compare answers and then jigsaw out to explain their documents to their classmates.

Activity 2: Students are divided into 3 groups. Each group gets gets a primary source set with more snippets of transcripts from the Constitutional Convention debate (2 pages each). Each group fills in a graphic organizer with the reasons particular delegates supported or opposed a particular element of the proposed Constitution (a bicameral legislature, who votes in elections, and proportional representation). Teachers can elect to jigsaw or have each group present to the class.

Next, in a role-playing activity, each student is given a biography card of a particular Convention delegate (a paragraph each). 2-3 students will likely have the same bio; these students meet to discuss. Then students debate, taking on the persona of their delegate. The student-delegates debate a bicameral legislature, who votes in elections, and proportional representation.

Activity 3: each group of 2-3 students is assigned a primary source (paragraphs) on an event "during the Constitutional Convention that led to the Connecticut Compromise." Groups each make a 5x7" card with essential info on their event and present on that material to the class. Then the teacher creates a timeline with the cards.