Hana Dolan

Dr. Casey
ELD 308
11/3/15
Mini Writing Lesson
Grade:
5th Grade
Rationale:
Students will be able to relate to the process of writing the
constitution as they write a constitution for their classroom.
Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.E
Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information
or explanation presented.
Objectives:
Students will create a classroom constitution with the goal
of promoting a positive classroom community and pride in their
classroom.
Students will understand the importance of having rules to
maintain order at home, at school, in their community, and in
their country.
Procedures:

The teacher will discuss the importance of rules and will ask the
students the following questions: When do we use rules? Why do
we need rules? What would happen if we did not follow the rules?
Who enforces the rules? The teacher will explain This can be
apply to home, school, within your community, we are going to
gather information about rules and why they are needed before
making some rules for our classroom.
As the students give their responses the teacher will record them
on the whiteboard.
Then the teacher will introduce the book Shh! We're Writing
the Constitution by Jean Fritz and share that it will help them
understand how and why the U.S. Constitution was written.
Before reading the book I want you to think about the questions
we just talked about while I am reading this book
After the read aloud, the teacher will brainstorm with the class
what their thoughts were about rules they need in their

classroom this school year to maintain order and fairness.

Before writing down their responses the teacher will ask the
students what they think the word order and fairness means.
After they are clear with these terms, the teacher will have the
students turn and talk to a partner to discuss what rules they
need in their classroom.
Each pair will share one rule they came up with and the teacher
will write it down on the white board for the class to see.
Once all the rules are collected, the class with takes a vote on
which rules best fit their classroom.

Materials:
One large piece of lined poster board to write constitution on.
Different colored markers.
Assessment:
Teacher will observe students to see if they are able to complete
the process of editing and revising the list of classroom
constitution.
Teacher will determine whether students are respecting the
classroom constitution.
Differentiation:
If there are students who are not engaged or are having a hard
time coming up with a rule for the classroom. The teacher can
work one on one with the students and provide them with
examples to help them come up with their own.
Future Connections:
This can be useful in the future because if the class is every
getting out of control or there is a lack of respect in the
classroom the teacher can refer back to the classroom
constitution to bring the students back on task.