Understanding the Preamble to the Constitution Activity

“We the people” means all Americans deserve the same rights and protections under the law. 

Through this activity, students will interpret phrases in the Preamble to the US Constitution and translate them into modern, easy-to-understand language. 

The Google Slides format is designed with drag-and-drop interaction and is a practical resource for a remote learning classroom. 

This activity is also available as a cut-and-paste PDF worksheet for students to work on independently or with a partner. 

Scaffolding + Extension Tips 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your American government and history lessons. 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

Allow students to use print or online resources to help them arrange the pieces. They can also use their dictionary and reference book skills to help clarify words they still do not understand. Pair students for partner work.

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

Use in tandem with a read-aloud version of the book “We the Kids” by David Catrow (see video below). Have students examine the pictures on each page for hints about the meanings of each part of the Preamble.

✋ Class Review

Turn this activity into an assessment at the end of your lesson or right before a test to give students some extra practice. Project the Google Slide and read through each explanation. Call on students to drag and drop the explanation and match it with the Preamble phrase it most closely resembles. Discuss the similarities in each of the phrases as a group. 

In addition to individual student work time, use this activity as a guided reading group, whole-class, or homework assignment related to your lessons on:

• US History
• Government
• Social Studies 
• Civil rights
• Constitution Day (September 17)
• Presidents’ Day (third Monday in February)

Listen to a read-aloud of the Preamble to the Constitution via We the Kids.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. 

Display this activity to your class using a digital whiteboard or share it in Google Classroom for virtual instruction. Students drag and drop the explanations into place. (Google Slides users must be in Edit mode to move the pieces, not Presentation mode.)

Print PDFs as cut-and-paste worksheets for students to complete as a lesson warm-up or wrap-up, fast finisher activity or homework assignment.    

To create a reusable activity, print on cardstock and cut out the explanations. Slip the Preamble worksheet into a clear sleeve to protect it, and attach velcro to the explanations and boxes. Students will move the explanations to the appropriate matching statement, held in place with the velcro.

Don’t stop there! Your lesson plan wouldn’t be complete without these activities and teaching resources too: 

teaching resource

Presidential Oath of Office - Vocabulary Activity

Learn new vocabulary while studying the Presidential Oath of Office with this differentiated activity.

teaching resource

Levels of Government Worksheet - Responsibilities of Each Level

Sort the duties of state, local, and national government with a free sorting worksheet.

teaching resource

Explaining the Bill of Rights Organizer

Describe the concepts related to the first ten amendments of the United States Constitution.