Social Studies

Constitution & Government

Our first social studies unit this year will focus on our constitution and government. Assignments and/or links may be posted here as part of classwork and homework assignments. 

United States Government - Web Links

General

The Charter of Freedom - great site with info on the of the Declaration of Independence, 

Articles of Confederation, and U.S. Constitution: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html

Symbols of U.S. Government - http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/index.html

Historical Documents - major documents and short description: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/documents/index.html

Constitution Center on Founding Fathers: http://constitutioncenter.org/learn/educational-resources/founding-fathers/

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Brainpop video -(2:48) - good intro: http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/declarationofindependence/

The Declaration of Independence presentation (2:54) - good intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrHXWMsku4

Congress for Kids: http://www.congressforkids.net/Independence_declaration_1.html

Mr. Nussbaum History for Kids video from history.com (2:37): http://mrnussbaum.com/history-2-2/doc/ - video

Ducksters site: http://www.ducksters.com/history/declaration_of_independence.php

Monticello Classroom - about Jefferson and the writing of the Declaration of Independence: http://classroom.monticello.org/kids/resources/profile/6/Jefferson-and-t-Declaration-of-Independence he /

Social Studies for Kids - with background info: http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/declaration.htm

Liberty's Kids: #13 "The First Fourth of July" video (10:50): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoFnFwQVRTU

Voting on the Declaration from John Adams movie (5:54): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrvpZxMfKaU

SchoolHouse Rocks "Fireworks" video 2:54):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTY0V8GaeFI&index=5&list=PLxeyKkjhcY2dykaZSWXlyJkgGQUotiKAA 

Articles of Confederation

Ben's Guide: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/documents/articles/

Congress for Kids: http://www.congressforkids.net/Independence_articles.htm

Social Studies for Kids: http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/articlesofconfederation.htm

Liberty's Kids: #26 Honor and Compromise (21:36): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTDYKqaIBycThe Muppets Reenact the Second Continental Congress (7:53): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAVpj_Vo7zk 

U.S. Constitution

Brainpop video (3:53):  http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/usconstitution/

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Congress for Kids: http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_index.htm

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Schoolhouse Rocks video (3:00): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzAJyK0ovo8

Liberty's Kids: #40 "We the People" video (21:37) file://localhost/)/ https/::www.youtube.com:watch%3Fv=Ceb1wkSamG4

TFK Explains: The U.S. Constitution, includes a video (2:46): 

http://www.timeforkids.com/photos-video/video/tfk-explains-us-constitution-103921

Mr. Nussbaum interactive - breaks down and explains each section of the Constitution: 

http://mrnussbaum.com/u-s-constitution-interactive//

Social Studies for Kids: http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/constitution.htm

Link to page with calendars of days when Framers were in session during Constitutional Convention. 

Click on any day shown to read read about that days events as recorded in James Madison's journal: 

http://www.constitution.org/dfc/dfc_0000.htm 

Slavery and the Thirteen States: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/static/neh/interactives/slavery/home.html 

Bill of Rights

Brainpop video (4:51): http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/billofrights/

Ben's Guide: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/citizenship/rights.html

Ducksters: http://www.ducksters.com/history/us_bill_of_rights.php

Congress for Kids: http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_billofrights.htm

Constitution Center Bill of Rights game: http://constitutioncenter.org/billofrightsgame/ 

Branches of Government

Brainpop (4:19): http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/branchesofgovernment/

Ben's Guide on Branches of Government - http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/branches.html

Kids.gov: http://kids.usa.gov/three-branches-of-government/index.shtml

Congress for Kids: http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_threebranches.htm

Schoolhouse Rock on YouTube (3:06): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EISWIY9bG8

Find Your State Senators (enter the state): 

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=state&Sort=ASC

Find Your Representative:  http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ 

Our Federal Government Today

U.S. Senate: http://www.senate.gov/

The U.S. House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/ 

The Three Levels (Local, State, Federal) of Government

YouTube, "The U.S. Government: Kids Edition:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5EASiHAKpY 

New York State's Government Today

New York's Senators and Congressmen/Congresswomen (i.e., Representatives):

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/NY http://www.ny.gov/congress_delegation.html

Westchester Government: http://www3.westchestergov.com/