Activity Overview
This introductory activity will allow students the opportunity to understand the fundamental reasons for the Constutitional Convention of 1787 along with potential connections to the direction impact it has on our daily lives. Students will create a spider map that represents the essential background information about the Convention. Students are required to create five questions surrounding the Constitutional Convention using the 5Ws: "Who, What, When, Where, and Why".
Extended Activity
Students will create a T-Chart that reflects the formulation of another government in world history. Depending on the curriculum, students may compare the United States convention with another democracy. Teachers may ask students to create a T-Chart that compares the two governments or contrast the differences of both.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a 5W analysis of the Constitutional Convention: Who, What, When, Where, and Why.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the title box for each cell, type Who, What, When, Where and Why.
- In the descriptions, answer the question.
- Create an image for each cell with appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 5 Points | Emerging 3 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The student clearly, thoroughly, accurately chooses and answers the who, what, where, when, and why questions. | The student chooses and answers the who, what, where, when, and why questions. Some of the information is clear, thorough, and accurate. | The who, what, where, when, and why questions and answers are incomplete, confusing, or inaccurate. |
| Illustrations | The illustrations represent the written information using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations relate to the written information, but are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the written information. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
Activity Overview
This introductory activity will allow students the opportunity to understand the fundamental reasons for the Constutitional Convention of 1787 along with potential connections to the direction impact it has on our daily lives. Students will create a spider map that represents the essential background information about the Convention. Students are required to create five questions surrounding the Constitutional Convention using the 5Ws: "Who, What, When, Where, and Why".
Extended Activity
Students will create a T-Chart that reflects the formulation of another government in world history. Depending on the curriculum, students may compare the United States convention with another democracy. Teachers may ask students to create a T-Chart that compares the two governments or contrast the differences of both.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a 5W analysis of the Constitutional Convention: Who, What, When, Where, and Why.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the title box for each cell, type Who, What, When, Where and Why.
- In the descriptions, answer the question.
- Create an image for each cell with appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 5 Points | Emerging 3 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The student clearly, thoroughly, accurately chooses and answers the who, what, where, when, and why questions. | The student chooses and answers the who, what, where, when, and why questions. Some of the information is clear, thorough, and accurate. | The who, what, where, when, and why questions and answers are incomplete, confusing, or inaccurate. |
| Illustrations | The illustrations represent the written information using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations relate to the written information, but are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the written information. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
How Tos about Constitutional Convention 5 Ws - Who What Where When Why
How to Facilitate a Class Debate on the Outcomes of the Constitutional Convention
Engage your students in a lively debate by assigning roles as historical figures from the Convention. This activity helps students understand multiple perspectives and the real-life impacts of the decisions made in 1787.
Assign roles based on historical delegates
Choose key figures like James Madison, George Washington, or Alexander Hamilton and assign them to students. Give each student a brief background on their delegate’s views and contributions.
Provide guiding questions for discussion
Prepare questions such as ‘Should states have equal representation?’ or ‘How should the government balance power?’ These prompts focus the debate on major issues discussed at the Convention.
Set clear debate rules and time limits
Establish respectful discussion norms and time periods for each argument. This keeps students on task and ensures everyone has a chance to participate.
Encourage reflection and connect outcomes to today
Ask students to reflect on how the Convention’s decisions affect modern government. This step helps students make meaningful connections to current events and civic life.
Frequently Asked Questions about Constitutional Convention 5 Ws - Who What Where When Why
What are the 5 Ws of the Constitutional Convention?
The 5 Ws of the Constitutional Convention are: Who attended (delegates from 12 states), What was done (drafting the U.S. Constitution), When it happened (May–September 1787), Where it took place (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), and Why it was held (to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation).
How can I teach the Constitutional Convention using the 5 Ws?
To teach the Constitutional Convention using the 5 Ws, have students answer: Who was involved, What happened, When and Where it took place, and Why it was important. Encourage creating visual aids like spider maps or storyboards for each W to help students organize and remember key facts.
What is a simple activity for students to understand the Constitutional Convention?
A great activity is for students to create a 5W spider map about the Constitutional Convention. Have them answer Who, What, When, Where, and Why, then illustrate each answer with relevant images. This helps reinforce understanding of the event's core details.
Why was the Constitutional Convention held in 1787?
The Constitutional Convention was held in 1787 to fix problems with the Articles of Confederation, which made the U.S. government too weak. Delegates met to create a new framework—the U.S. Constitution—that gave the government more power to function effectively.
How can students compare the U.S. Constitutional Convention to another government formation?
Students can use a T-Chart to compare the U.S. Constitutional Convention with the formation of another government in world history. They should list similarities and differences in structure, purpose, and outcomes for each side of the chart.
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