Subscribe

5th grade · Social Studies · Unit 5 of 6

Building a Government

Articles, Constitution and Bill of Rights

What your child practices

Why the Articles of Confederation were replaced, the compromises of 1787, the three branches, checks and balances, federalism and the Bill of Rights (1791).

Alaska content standards learning standard: SS.5.5.6.1; SS.5.3.6.1; SS.5.1.9.1 · the Constitution, the three branches of the national government and the Bill of Rights

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The Constitution was written in Philadelphia in 1787. It begins “We the People”.
  2. Three branches: legislative (Congress makes laws), executive (the president carries them out), judicial (courts, including the Supreme Court).
  3. Each state has 2 senators. The first ten amendments are the Bill of Rights.

Example: Which branch includes the Supreme Court? Courts decide what laws mean. The courts make up the judicial branch. Answer: judicial

Building a Government in Alaska

In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 5 of 6 in 5th grade Social Studies, after The American Revolution and before Colonies to Constitution.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    What are checks and balances?

    • Banks check accounts
    • The president controls everything
    • A way to pay taxes
    • Each branch can limit the others' power

  2. Question 2

    Where did delegates meet in 1787 to write the Constitution?

    • Washington, D.C.
    • Boston
    • New York City
    • Philadelphia

  3. Question 3

    What are the opening words of the Constitution?

    • "I pledge allegiance"
    • "We the People"
    • "Four score and seven years ago"
    • "When in the course"

  4. Question 4

    The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called…

    • The Bill of Rights
    • The Declaration of Independence
    • The Articles of Confederation
    • Common Sense

  5. Question 5

    The president can veto a bill. This is an example of…

    • Checks and balances
    • A tax
    • An amendment
    • A treaty

  6. Question 6

    Under the Articles of Confederation, how many votes did each state get in Congress?

    • One
    • Thirteen
    • None
    • Votes by population

More 5th grade