4.2B – Read the Text #2: Building Comprehension
Read the module text again as a class.
Students take turns reading a paragraph (or a few sentences).
After each paragraph, STOP to go over vocabulary and questions about the reading as a class.
READING TEXT
Module 4: U.S. Constitution
PARAGRAPH 1
America became an independent country after a war with the British in the late 1700s. This war was called the American Revolution. When the United States became independent, it needed to build its government. The first national government that was created was very weak. There was no president, the government could not collect taxes, and each state made all of its own laws. This was a very unbalanced system. Leaders thought the United States needed a stronger central government of all the states.
- Let’s review: what does central government mean?
- Who did the Americans defeat in the American Revolution? When did they defeat them?
- What was the new nation called?
- What made the national government weak?
- What did leaders think the United States needed?
PARAGRAPH 2
In May 1787, these leaders held a convention, or meeting, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to write a constitution. Their goal was to write a plan that made the central government (called the “federal government”) stronger, but also gave power to the states. There was much discussion and compromise on what to include in the United States Constitution. The Constitution was finally ratified, or accepted, by 9 of the 13 states. By 1789, the Constitution was in use and George Washington was elected the first president of the United States. He is called the “Father of our Country”.
- Let’s review: what does constitution mean?
- Let’s review: what does federal government mean?
- Learn the word COMPROMISE: (verb) when two different groups must give up something in order to reach an agreement
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- What is the word in your home language?
- Examples:
- At a workplace, the union wants workers to get $20/hour, but the company says $15. They compromise and agree on $17.50.
- When writing the Constitution, one side wanted a strong federal government, and the other side wanted strong states. So, they compromised in the Constitution.
- What happened in 1787 in Philadelphia? What did they write?
- What were the goals of the leaders?
- Did the leaders decide to make the U.S. a representative democracy or a monarchy?
- What is another word for “accepted”? How many states ratified, or accepted the Constitution?
- Who was elected the first president of the United States?
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia happened in 1787. [Credit]
PARAGRAPH 3
The Constitution is the supreme (or highest) law in the United States. It is more powerful than all state laws. The Constitution describes how the federal government works. It also describes the freedoms and rights of all people living in the U.S.
- Learn the word DESCRIBE: (verb) to say or write what someone or something is like
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- What is the word in your home language?
- Can you describe your childhood home? Where was it? How did it look?
- What is the word in your home language?
- How powerful is the Constitution?
- What does it mean that the Constitution is the “supreme” or “highest” law in the U.S.
- What does the United States Constitution do? Which people are protected by the Constitution?
PARAGRAPH 4
The main parts of the Constitution are the preamble, the articles, and the amendments. The preamble, or introduction, explains the purpose (or reason) why they wrote the document. The first words in the Constitution, “We the People,” show that the people, not the states or the government, decided to write it. It also says that the people will be elected to make laws. The preamble also makes it clear that the freedoms described in the Constitution are for the present time and for the future. The next part of the Constitution is called the articles. This section describes the federal government.
- What are the three sections of the Constitution?
- What does the preamble do?
- What do the first three words “We the People” mean in the Constitution?
- What do the articles in the Constitution describe?
The first three words of the Constitution are “We the People” to show who wrote this very important document. [Credit]
PARAGRAPH 5
The final section of the Constitution is the amendments. Amendments are changes or additions to the Constitution. There have been 27 amendments since the Constitution was first written. Amending the Constitution is not an easy process. The U.S. Congress must introduce new amendments and a number of states must vote in agreement to accept them.
- What are amendments?
- How many have there been since the Constitution was first written?
- Who introduces new amendments to the Constitution? How do they become ratified?
PARAGRAPH 6
The United States Constitution is one of the oldest constitutions still in use today, and its ideas have influenced other countries’ constitutions. It is a “living document” that is often reviewed and interpreted as the U.S. continues to change and develop as a country.
- Learn the word INFLUENCE: (verb) having an effect or impact on other people or events
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- What is the word in your home language?
- Examples:
- Describe an adult who influenced you.
- Parents’ actions influence their children.
- How do you think the U.S. Constitution influences other countries’ constitutions?
- Learn the word INTERPRET: (verb) to understand and describe the meaning of an idea or action
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- What is the word in your home language?
- Examples:
- We interpret our friends’ actions. Why did she do that?
- All of us can read the same book, but we may interpret it in different ways.
- The law is usually complex, so lawyers help us interpret the law.
- Why is the United States Constitution called a “living document”?
- Review the chart below:
- What do you notice about the dates of the countries’ constitutions?
- After reviewing this chart, what surprised you?
The United States’ Constitution has influenced other countries’ constitutions. [Credit]
