Constitution Inquiry

The Constitution is a living document.

Make a copy of the assignment

Explore

Develop background knowledge, select focus events (historical and current), identify Supreme court case. Think about questions you need answered in order to complete the inquiry assignment. What do you need to know?

Understand
Take notes, gather information, dig deep to make sense of the information, find more resources based on what you need for the assignment, keep track of sources. Adjust your questions. Ask more questions. What more do you need to know?

Signing of the United States Constitution with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton (left to right in the foreground), painting by Howard Chandler Christy. Image in public domain.

Synthesize and Evaluate

Thomas Jefferson said, “I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times.” Excerpted from a letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816.

Things to think about:

  • What is the connection between Jefferson's quote and our inquiry statement, The Constitution is a living document?

  • How do changing values and events in American history continue to shape the Constitution?

  • Consider the current event, landmark case, and historical event that you have chosen. How have these events and cases led to change in The Constitution?

  • How does your analysis, so far, show how the Constitution is a living document?


Quote on the Southeast Portico of the Thomas Jefferson memorial. Image from the National Park Service

Communicate Your Ideas
Use your new knowledge, your thinking and your creativity to develop a podcast to communicate your ideas to a specific audience.

Plan for podcast (5 minutes maximum)

  • Decide what type of podcast you want to do: (speech, conversation, interview, panel discussion, informational lecture with audio inserts, storytelling, etc)

  • Write the script. Be creative in your choices. Who is your audience?

  • Practice

  • Record your podcast. See the tutorials below. Be creative in your presentation.


Colonial Man Speaking to Modern Day Audience. Reenactment from Colonial Williamsburg. Image from Wikimedia Commons - License to distribute

Tutorials for Technology

How to Make a Podcast in Wevideo - 2 mins

Wevideo - How to make a Podcast.mp4

How to Finalize Your Podcast - 2 mins

Wevideo - How to Finalize a Wevideo Video.mp4