Before Activity:
1. Teachers should share background information with students on the U.S. Constitution. https://www.archives.gov/files/boston/education/teachable-texts/10-constitution-facts.pdf
2. Then transition into relating this experience to the Alabama Constitutional Convention in Huntsville, Alabama. (The Constitutional Convention was held in Huntsville on July 5, 1819. it was ratified on August 5, 1819.)
Share with students: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/ala1819.asp
3. The function of a constitution is... (Possible things to share: a set of rules that a group follows, explains the function and responsibilities of branches of government, gives an explanation of the rights of members or citizens.)
4. Both the United States and Alabama's constitutions have preambles.
5. Ask students: What do you think is the purpose of a preamble? (Possible answers: it introduces or explains the purpose of a document)
6. Post or display and share the purpose of a preamble. The purpose of a preamble is to introduce the document. It is an introductory statement that presents the purpose and aims of the documents.
During Activity:
7. Read the U.S. Preamble to the Constitution with the students.
8. Remind students that the preamble... (The purpose of a preamble is to introduce the document. It is an introductory statement that presents the purpose and aims of the documents.)
9. Read Alabama's Preamble. (Chunk the text. Either mark students' text or have them mark stopping points as you work through the preamble. Stop 1:After ALABAMA. Stop 2: end of the text.
10. Read the first chunk to the students, then chorally read it. Then have students talk with partners about what they notice, have learned, or questions they have. You can allow them to use the margins of their page to record their thinking and learning. Then, have students tell you what they notice and what questions they have based on this text. It would be helpful if you recorded the questions and learning of the students (on the board or chart paper). If they recognize any similarities between the two preambles, you can go ahead and have them highlight them.
11. Read the second chunk to the students, then chorally read it. Then have students talk with partners about what they notice, have learned, or questions they have. You can allow them to use the margins of their page to record their thinking and learning. Then, have students tell you what they notice and what questions they have based on this text. It would be helpful if you recorded the questions and learning of the students (on the board or chart paper). If they recognize any similarities between the two preambles, you can go ahead and have them highlight them.
12. After you have read through and discussed both preambles, have students place the preambles side by side on their desks. Each student should have a highlighter. Have students work with a predetermined partner to locate similarities in both texts. Consider modeling the process of locating and highlighting a similarity, to ensure that students have an understanding of this task. As students are working, observe students, monitor the classroom, and provide support and questioning as needed.
After Activity:
14. Discuss the learning from reading the preambles and the similarities between both documents. If students did not notice that there are six "in order to" statements in each document that are similar take the time now to discuss the similarities.
15. Pose this question to students and have students think (and record), then pair (share their thinking with a partner), and finally share with the class: Why does the Alabama Preamble of 1819 resemble the US Preamble? If students do not mention how this shows there are similar beliefs shared presented in the federal document and the state document then ask leading questions to help students identify these similar beliefs. Discuss with students that these "in order to" statements show our core values as a state and nation.
Assignment: Have students use their notes, the anchor chart information, and primary sources to create a paragraph to inform others about Alabama's Preamble of 1819.
