×
<< BACK TO THE TEACH HUB

Changing the Constitution (HS)

Lesson Plan

America's constitutional government has changed over time as a result of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, legislation, and other practices. Students will use the seven basic principles found in our government to understand these changes. They will also analyze examples of each type of change to determine their impacts on our constitutional government. Examples include the War Powers Act of 1973, legislative oversight, the 24th Amendment, Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections, and more! This lesson also includes a template for analyzing additional examples of change.

iCivics en español! Student and class materials for this lesson are available in Spanish.

Pedagogy Tags

Teacher Resources

Get access to lesson plans, teacher guides, student handouts, and other teaching materials.

Changing the Constitution Lesson Plan (HS) 01 - Naming Activity
Changing the Constitution Lesson Plan (HS) 03 - Reading
Changing the Constitution Lesson Plan (HS) - Drawing Activity
Changing the Constitution Lesson Plan (HS) 03 - Reading - Spanish
Changing the Constitution Lesson Plan (HS) - Drawing Activity - Spanish

Related Resources

  • Lesson Plan

    Amendment Mini-Lesson

    Looking for a fun and easy way to help students learn or review their individual rights? This mini-lesson highlights the Constitution's amendments and new artwork from one of our fondest games Do I Have a Right?. Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials below!
    View kami
  • DBQuest

    America's Founding Preambles

    Learn how the American idea of government evolved from a revolutionary response to monarchy to a union of states. The sources will illustrate the effort taken to reach “a more perfect union” through a close read of our founding documents. Students will dig into the preambles and introductory text of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution. 
    View
  • Lesson Plan

    Anatomy of the Constitution

    This lesson gives an article-by-article overview of the structure and function of the U.S. Constitution. Students learn about the duties and powers of the three branches, the amendment process, and the role of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
    View kami
  • Partner Service

    AP® U.S. Government and Politics Course

    Created by a team of veteran AP Gov. teachers and content experts from iCivics and Study Edge, this online, on-demand course is designed to support teachers and students alike as they navigate the newly-designed AP course and exam. Our course includes over 100 videos and accompanying study guides that break down all of the essential content, making it more accessible for all learners. Start studying today by exploring the first three sections for free!
    View
  • Game

    Branches of Power

    Learn to control all three branches of the U.S. government!
    View
  • Lesson Plan

    Comparing Constitutions (WA)

    How does Washington’s state constitution compare and contrast with the U.S. Constitution? Look no further for the answer! Guide your class through some basic similarities and differences as well as side-by-side text analysis with this lesson’s integrated reading/activity format.
    View kami
  • Lesson Plan

    Comparing Constitutions: Ohio (HS)

    Compare and contrast the U.S. and Ohio constitutions in this hands-on lesson using excerpts from both documents. Dig into how they structure the government, address individual rights, outline the amendment process and more.
    View kami
  • Lesson Plan

    Constitution Day Lesson Plan

    Constitution Day is September 17, the day in 1787 when our U.S. government was born. Meet your Constitution Day education requirement with this free and engaging lesson plan. This interactive lesson gives students a quick snapshot of the Constitution, including the purpose of each article, the powers of the three branches, how a bill becomes a law, and the concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances.
    View kami
  • WebQuest

    Constitutional Influencers

    Magna Carta, Montesquieu, the Mayflower, and more! Follow this WebQuest through history to the events, people, and documents that inspired the writers of the Constitution.
    View
  • Lesson Plan

    Constitutional Principles (HS)

    View the Constitution from the perspective of its foundational principles. Consider the Founders' intentions and the Constitution itself as you discover how the constitutional principles are critical to a free society.iCivics en español! Student and class materials for this lesson are available in Spanish.
    View kami

See how it all fits together!

View Scope and Sequence