TITLE:    Human Bingo

AUTHOR:   Lisa Crow, Harwood Junior High, Bedford, Texas

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT: 8th grade U.S. History class

OVERVIEW:  An activity to introduce students to the
provisions of the United States Constitution.

PURPOSE:  To help students realize that the constitution
influences most of their daily activities and motivate the
students to locate parts of the Constitution dealing with
specific powers of government.

OBJECTIVES:  The students will be able to:
1.   locate articles and sections of the constitution which
     bestow specific powers on a particular branch of the
     government.
2.   list at least 10 specific ways their life is affected
     by the Constitution every day.
3.   identify the 3 branches of the federal government.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
1.   Bingo cards, easily generated by the teacher. I use
     different examples almost every year but always gear
     them to the students so they will have a personal point
     of reference.
2.   Student text book with a copy of the Constitution.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
1.   Give each student a Human Bingo card and explain to the
     class that they are going to play a little game. The
     cards are simply xeroxed handouts divided into
     approximately 9 to 12 boxes which each contain a
     different phrase and a blank space for a signature. The
     phrases should be things that are regulated or
     established by the Constitution. For example:
     Someone who is at least 5 feet tall
     Someone who has mailed a letter
     Someone who has a 5 dollar bill
     Someone who has a friend or relative in the armed
       forces
2.   Give the class a few minutes to collect signatures on
     their cards. Another classmate can sign a space on the
     game card if they meet the "qualifications" but can
     only sign a card once. At the end of the designated
     time period, have the students take their seats and
     find out who collected the most signatures. Sometimes I
     have little prizes for the "winners."
3.   Ask the class what all of the items on the game cards
     have in common. If they can't answer, explain that each
     of the examples are governed by the Constitution.
     Divide the class into groups of 3 or 4 and have them
     look through the Constitution to find the particular
     part that pertains to each of the situations on the
     bingo cards. One of the group members should be
     designated as the secretary to record their answers.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:  When the groups have had several
minutes to work, call on each group to share their results
and encourage discussion over that each found. Ask if anyone
was surprised to find out how many different areas are
addressed by the Constitution and whether their opinions or
perceptions of the Constitution's importance have changed.
This will hopefully prepare the students to learn about the
Constitution in greater detail and demonstrate that they are
directly influenced by it every day.