Our Core Constitution

Section I: Complete a Preamble In small groups of three to four; complete a preamble for your classroom constitution. Use the following format: “We the students of ______________’s class, in order to ____________, _________________, and _________________ do hereby ordain and establish this constitution based on the principles of ____________(noun), ______________(noun) and _________________(noun).”

Preamble Example: “We the Students of Mrs. Scott’s class, in order to be positive, respectful and responsible do hereby ordain and establish this constitution based on the principles of students, teachers and Goddard Middle School.

Draft a Preamble that everyone likes As a class, discuss the different groups’ versions of the preamble. 2. As a class, agree how the preamble will be written. 3. Write the final version on a large piece of butcher paper or the board, so that it can be easily seen.

Section II: Create Your Rules   In groups, write five important classroom rules. 2. Select a writer and a speaker for sharing out. 3. Discuss these questions to help write your rules: What is respect? How can we create an atmosphere of respect? What are our responsibilities as students? What is our teacher’s responsibility to us? What are our rights in the classroom? What are our teacher’s rights?

Evaluate rules in your small groups After writing your rules, please answer these questions: Do our proposed rules fit under school guidelines and being PR²? Will each rule be fair to all? Do our rules pass the “Good Rules” test? 2. Good Rules Test: Said simply? Easy to follow? Enforceable? Not in conflict with other rules?

Section III: Drafting the Constitution Each group’s speaker may share their top 3 rules. Simply, share, do not debate, just yet. Agree on one set of rules to adopt for the class. Discuss things you don’t agree on and adjust your rules accordingly.

Can we agree on the rules for our Constitution? ___ Yea ___ Nay If there is 2/3 majority, the rules become your new Constitution! If not, hold a class discussion on the rules you would like to combine or recreate. Adjust your Constitution.

Changes to the Constitution Discuss these questions with your group: How will we change the rules if we need to in the future? Should we add a rule that addresses this option?

The Final Constitution 1. Create the final copy of your Core Constitution on a large piece of butcher paper. 2. Each person should sign the constitution, to show their approval. 3. Display the constitution on butcher paper for the class to see.

Section IV: Reflection On a half sheet of paper, write a short reflection about your Core’s Constitution. Students, please hang these reflections next to your Constitution. How do you personally plan to uphold the constitution? Why is it important to develop a class constitution together?

Stargirl Excerpt #1 Now that we’ve finished our class constitution, it’s time to think about how we affect others. During the first semester, we’ll be reading excerpts from the novel Stargirl to understand that what we think, do and say affects others, even if we don’t always realize it. Reading #1: Porcupine Necktie & Ch. I, p.1-6