We the People: The Story of Our Constitution

Title: We the People: The Story of Our Constitution

Author: Lynne Cheney

Illustrator: Greg Harlin

Genre: Non-Fiction

Awards: None

Age Group: 3rd-5th

We the People: The Story of Our Constitution is just that. It tells of the journey that our Founding Fathers went through to compromise and come up with a way to properly guide our country. In order to do this, the Founding Fathers agreed that we needed a solid foundation. The Revolutionary War had just been won, and now the Articles of Confederation did not prove to be effective. Delegates gathered at a convention in Philadelphia, where James Madison declared that the people need to have a say in the government. They discussed having a government with 3 branches, but it was hard for everyone to agree on the distribution of power among larger and smaller states. That is when the Great Compromise was created. There was still a lot of disagreement, but it was finally adopted. The committee also named the parts of the government and established the Supreme Court. As they were creating the Constitution, it was important for them to include the people in the decisions that would be made. It was signed and then finally ratified on July 4, 1788. Our nation's Constitution represents the freedom that we still have as citizens. 

I would use this book in my classroom if I taught upper elementary. It is a good overview of the events that occurred post-Revolutionary War. It presents the information in a simple but factual and understandable way that is good for children. History can be an overwhelming subject to learn since there are so many dates, events, and people involved, but I think this book is a good resource for learning about the Constitution.

I would recommend this book for 3rd through 5th grade, as the story flows and is simple enough for elementary students to understand. Plus, I think the Constitution is a bit more familiar for students than other elements of American history. Students will definitely need some guidance through this book, but it is definitely do-able!

The first thing I think of when I look back on learning about the Constitution in school is memorizing the Preamble. Of course, we listened to the School House Rock video, and the song has stuck with me ever since. I think that is just a given to use with this book! There is so much that could go along with this book! I picture lots of foldables, graphic organizers, matching activities, and hands-on games to make the Constitution come to life.