Lesson Plan - National Treasure
Learning Objective
Students will learn how officials at the National Archives protect the U.S. Constitution.
Content-Area Connections
Civics
Standards Correlations
CCSS: RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, RI.3.4, RI.3.5, RI.3.7, RI.3.8, RI.3.10
NCSS: Civic Ideals and Practices
TEKS: Social Studies 3.8
Text Structure
Description, Problem/Solution
1. Preparing to Read
Watch the Video
Watch the video “Newsie’s Challenge: The U.S. Constitution.” Discuss: Why is the U.S. Constitution considered one of our nation’s most important documents?
Preview Word to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Word to Know.
Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about why it is important to protect the Constitution.
2. Close-Reading Questions
1. Why is the U.S. Constitution considered one of our country’s most important documents?
The U.S. Constitution is considered one of our country’s most important documents because it explains how our national government is set up. It was written in 1787, four years after the United States officially gained its freedom from Great Britain.
(RI.3.1 Text Evidence)
2. What clues in the article help you understand the meaning of the word fragile?
Fragile means “easily damaged.” One clue in the article that helps you understand this meaning is the sentence “Too much light can make the ink fade.” Another clue is the sentence “Contact with the air can damage the parchment.”
(RI.3.4 Vocabulary)
3. Describe two steps the National Archives takes to protect the Constitution.
Two steps the National Archives takes to protect the Constitution include putting the document inside special cases and moving it to a secret location at night.
(RI.3.2 Main Idea and Key Details)
3. Skill Building
FEATURED SKILL: Paired Texts
Distribute the skill builder “Constitution Close-Up.” Have students read the passage about the Constitution and answer the questions. (RI.3.9 Paired Texts)
