The U.S. Constitution and You

by Syl Sobel

Analyzes the contents of this great document by explaining how it gives all citizens many rights, including the right to vote, freedom of speech and worship, the right to defend oneself in court, and more. Original.

Genres: American History, Government

48 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Natalie]

“The U.S. Constitution and You” is a timely history of our constitution and an explanation of the parts of the constitution. It has a very good explanation about why the Articles of Confederation didn’t work. The book explores each of the articles of the constitution as well as the amendments.

Syl Sobel’s treatment of this topic is non-partisan. There is an extensive glossary and a list of additional reference material if the reader is interested. Throughout the book key terms are in bold to help guide the reader. The book explains why the constitution matters today and how you can get involved.

Classroom Considerations: “The U.S. Constitution and You” would be great for any history/social science class, grades 5-12, that explore the U.S. Constitution. Though intended for a younger audience, this would definitely work with older kids as well.

This book is great for kids (and adults) who are interested in how the U.S. Constitution was created and how it is supposed to work.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Sourcebooks Kids, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[PK]

It’s an easy review of the Constitution.

[نورَا حَايِك]

صحيح أنه كتاب مبسط و مُعد لطلاب المرحلة الابتدائية لكن حسيته بسيط و بيوضح بإيجاز كيف يعمل الدستور الأمريكي :)

[Hannah Shaffer]

Pre-read for my Fourth grader next year. The concepts of the constitution in simple, understandable terms.

[Shannon]

This is a great read if you need a refresher on how things work in the US government. 😅 I didn’t pay much attention in school my senior year and decided not to be one of those dumb Americans anymore, so here we are.

[Allison DeMeo]

Personal Reaction: Fun and interactive way to learn the constitution and its purposes as a kid. Really liked the layout of this book, the pictures were very helpful when reading. I liked how this book told you information in a story format.

Purpose:
Read Aloud- This would be a good read aloud book for a social studies unit. I chose the higher grades for this because learning about the purpose of the constitution and what rights it gives the Americans these days is a lot of information for the younger grades. Learning about the constitution should be read to the students so as a teacher I can explain in more detail the things they don't understand. (i.e. the branches of government in more depth).

Independent Read- I could see this being a homework assignment. Reading parts of this book and then writing down details of for example The Bill of Rights. Reading it and then comprehending the information with an activity would be a good way to see if the students understood the information.

[M]

The U.S. Constitution and You is a straightforward, non-partisan introduction to one of the most important documents in American history—perfect for kids ages 7 to 10. This updated Kindle edition comes at a time when understanding the Constitution feels more essential than ever. The book does a great job breaking down the Constitution’s structure and purpose in simple, accessible language without talking down to its audience.

I appreciated the eye-catching infographics and illustrations that help reinforce the concepts, along with the solid glossary and thoughtful discussion questions to spark further conversation. It’s detailed enough to be informative but still age-appropriate. Definitely a great resource for classrooms, libraries, or any young reader starting to learn about civics.

Thank you to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Kids | Sourcebooks Explore, and Syl Sobel J.D. for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica]

*Constitution*
*Bill of Rights*
*Founding Fathers*
*Articles of Confederation*
*A new nation*
*Revolutionary War*
*Reference*

[Jennifer]

Very kid friendly.....love it!!