When we study the framing of the Constitution in 4th grade, I highlight with my students how important it is that they understand the function of our government. Indeed, we discuss how, sadly, many Americans have not been equipped to really know the system outlined in this foundational document. Understanding the Constitution is an important conversation to have. Even at the simpler level in which we discuss it in my 4th grade classroom, it can be difficult for the students to grasp. We bring another element into our studies of the Constitution which not only makes it more comprehensible, but also makes the students eager to learn more.
When material is harder to comprehend, tangible or practical exercises are essential to help students understand. So, as a class, we go through the process that the Constitution outlines for electing the legislative and executive branches to create our own class government.
We begin with the executive branch. We detail certain classroom tasks that the president and vice president will carry out for the last quarter of the year. Reflecting the position of head of state, these include being the class ambassador, the line leader, the teacher’s assistant, and the new task of writing weekly letters recognizing another classmate’s virtue. To simplify the election process, and to follow the original Constitutional outline, students write their name on a ballot if they would like to be considered for election, they all vote, and the students with the top two vote tallies become the president and vice president.
Once the members of the executive branch are elected, we hold similar elections for senators and house representatives. To reflect the different numbers of members in each of those groups, two students are elected as senators and four elected as house representatives. These students carry out tasks relating to classroom order such as cleaning the chalkboard, organizing the shelves, sharpening pencils, and writing letters encouraging classmates that are having a hard week. To reflect the legislative branch’s power to draft laws, this branch also has the power to make suggestions for new class procedures. They must then present these to me, the judicial branch, for me to determine if they are “Constitutional,” before presenting them to the president and vice president for final approval.
My 4th graders students love the class government. Those elected feel a special sense of responsibility to their classmates and the whole class gains a deeper understanding of the workings of our government. This is just one example of the numerous ways teachers can bring the topics they teach to life.
