Georgia SS5CG2.b

Social Studies5th GradeGovernment/Civic Understandings

The Standard

Describe the purpose for the amendment process.

Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies · Explain the process by which amendments to the U.S. Constitution are made.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain why the Constitution includes a way to make changes. They connect that purpose to meeting new needs while preventing quick, careless changes.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain that amendments let the Constitution adapt, fix problems, and protect rights. The student can also explain why changing it requires broad agreement.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think the Constitution can never change. Others may confuse an amendment with an ordinary law or assume one leader can add an amendment.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Explain one reason the Constitution needs an amendment process and one reason amendments should require broad agreement.

Lesson moves

Give groups a class constitution, then require broad agreement to revise one rule and reflect on why revision was difficult.
Write a response to this prompt: Why should the Constitution be changeable but not easy to change?
Play a scenario sort where students label each proposed change as an ordinary law or a possible constitutional amendment.
Read about the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, then explain what national change led Americans to support lowering the voting age.

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