The U.S. Constitution: Discover How Democracy Works

Description

Where did the American democratic tradition begin? From ancient civilizations in Greece and Rome to the Enlightenment in Europe, democratic ideas throughout time have influenced the development of democracy in the United States. In The U.S. Constitution: Discover How Democracy Works, children ages 9 through 12 learn about the foundation of democracy and how the documents crafted hundreds of years ago still have an impact on our country today. They explore the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, among others. These documents provide a framework with which we make the laws and processes that help keep democracy a vital paradigm. Through hands-on projects, which include analyzing how the promises made in the Preamble of the Constitution were put into practice and investigating how to balance the freedom of speech in the digital age, students investigate how American democracy operates. With colorful illustrations, interesting sidebars, and links to online primary sources, this book asks readers to consider the effect of technology on democracy and make predictions about future documents that will be important to the preservation of democracy around the world.

Carla Mooney is the author of several Nomad Press books including Forensics: Uncover the Science and Technology of Crime Scene Investigation and The Industrial Revolution: Investigate How Science and Technology Changed the World. Carla lives in Pittsburgh, PA. Tom Casteel has illustrated several books for Nomad Press, including Cities: Discover How They Work and Explorers of the New World: Discover the Golden Age of Exploration. Tom lives in South Bend, IN.

Praise for The U.S. Constitution Discover How Democracy Works Booklist Online Exclusive "This book explains how history, civics, philosophy, and current events all play an important role in understanding how the U.S. government works both in theory and in practice... By using active learning as a capstone to critical concepts and by including essential questions to guide readers, the book provides an interactive introduction to ideas that are vital to responsible citizenship." School Library Journal "Mooney adds another informational volume to the series with an overview of the U.S. Constitution. Casteel's color illustrations are simple and inviting, and they illuminate important points clearly. VERDICT A handy and useful resource for upper elementary and middle school classrooms with an interest in government and politics." Praise for other books by Carla Mooney: Great George Washington Projects Booklist Spotlight on Crafts Top 10 Pick "This very readable account of Washington's life is paired with appealing projects from the colonial period." Comparative Religion: Investigate the World Through Religious Tradition Booklist "The abstractions of religion make it a tricky topic for objective and clear middle-level resources, but this dynamic book manages to be both informative and accessible..." Praise for other books in the series: The American Revolution: Experience the Battle for Independence School Library Journal "Featuring a lively page design, this volume asks readers a series of questions to prompt them to consider the American Revolution... Along with the standard textual information, pages are filled with sidebars, vocabulary words, and definitions, and QR codes that provide access to primary sources." Jamie Kallio, author and youth services librarian, Chicago, Illinois "A fresh look at a defining moment in American history. With its bright and colorful pages, active language, and interesting sidebars, The American Revolution asks pertinent questions and suggests hands-on activities to encourage young readers. Provides a full picture of the experience of American independence as our new country found its way." Micronations: Invent Your Own Country and Culture Katrinka Somdahl-Sands, Assistant Professor of Geography and Environment, Rowan University "Micronations is a fun and informative text, good for teachers and their students. It teaches geography, civics, and economics in an engaging manner kids will enjoy. The activities support the learning goals and are varied enough to appeal to many different learning styles." Seth Dixon, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Rhode Island College "A delightful resource to help students understand all the inner workings of a country. Micronations combines free-flowing creativity with a structure and real-world applicability that will make the knowledge meaningful. This hands-on, creative approach will capture imaginations and is destined to make geography come alive for countless children."