“Shh! We’re

Writing the

Constitution!”

Ms. Mercer Fifth Grade Nicholas Elementary

Spelling Words1. caring2. writing3. liking4. smiling5. staring6. icing7. owned8. grading9. chimed10. shaky

11. behaved12. escaping13. polluted14. puzzling15. twinkling16. united17. described18. revising19. arrived20. draped

Word Knowledge

What is the pattern?

coming

contributing

existing

running

Word Knowledge

What is the pattern?

coming

contributing

existing

running

The pattern is stressed –ing endings

coming

contributing

existing

running

Word Knowledge

What is the pattern?

time

arrived

pride

decide

Word Knowledge

What is the pattern?

time

arrived

pride

decide

The pattern is long /ī/ sound

time

arrived

pride

decide

Word Knowledge

What is the pattern?

conform

confederation

conjoin

concurrent

Word Knowledge

What is the pattern?

conform

confederation

conjoin

concurrent

The pattern is the con- prefix (it means with)

conform

confederation

conjoin

concurrent

Word Knowledge

What is the pattern?

united

described

revising

draped

Word Knowledge

What is the pattern?

united

described

revising

draped

The pattern is dropped e with suffix

united

described

revising

draped

Sentences

She will be contributing to the existing fund.

He will decide when the time has arrived.

Members agreed to conform with the laws set forth by the confederation.

When the last delegate arrived, they united to discuss and write the Constitution.

Vocabulary

• nation • confederation • convention • constitution• federal

nation• The last thing they wanted was to become

a nation. They were the citizens of their own separate states, just as they had always been.

• The people of the nation gather together to celebrate their unity.

nation• The last thing they wanted was to become

a nation. They were the citizens of their own separate states, just as they had always been.

• The people of the nation gather together to celebrate their unity.

a group of people living in a particular area under one government

confederation

• So the Congress wrote the Articles of Confederation which outlined rules for a “firm league of friendship.”

• The confederation of Southern states fought against the North in the Civil War.

confederation

• So the Congress wrote the Articles of Confederation which outlined rules for a “firm league of friendship.”

• The confederation of Southern states fought against the North in the Civil War.

the act of joining states together for a common purpose

convention• In 1786, these men, among others,

suggested to the Congress that all the states send delegates to a Grand Convention in Philadelphia to improve the existing form of government.

• My mom attended a convention for lawyers.

convention• In 1786, these men, among others,

suggested to the Congress that all the states send delegates to a Grand Convention in Philadelphia to improve the existing form of government.

• My mom attended a convention for lawyers.

a formal meeting for some special purpose

constitution• They didn’t call the document they were

working on a “constitution”; they referred to it as “the plan.”

• While in court, the lawyer cited the Constitution.

constitution• They didn’t call the document they were

working on a “constitution”; they referred to it as “the plan.”

• While in court, the lawyer cited the Constitution.

the basic principles used to govern a state, country, or organization

federal• Because they knew that the country was sensitive

to the word “national”, they tried to stick to “federal”, a word they were used to and one which didn’t reduce the power of the states.

• Some people think that money for schools should come from the federal government, not the local government.

federal• Because they knew that the country was sensitive

to the word “national”, they tried to stick to “federal”, a word they were used to and one which didn’t reduce the power of the states.

• Some people think that money for schools should come from the federal government, not the local government.

formed by an agreement of states or provinces to join together as one nation

BackgroundGeorge Washington (1732-1799) served as commander in chief the

American army during the Revolution. He then went on to become the first American president, serving from 1789-1797.

Background

Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) served as the U.S. secretary of the treasury from 1789-1795. He worked to improve industry, increase trade, and build a strong central government.

Background

James Madison (1755-1804) served as secretary of state and later became the fourth United States president. He was nicknamed “the Father of the U.S. Constitution,” and he sponsored the Bill of Rights.

Background

Edmund Randolph (1753-1813) went on to become the attorney general and secretary of state under Washington.