The State Constitution

Help your fourth graders learn about the plan behind their own state government! In this one-page worksheet, students read a short passage about the state constitution, sort six features by whether they belong to the U.S. Constitution, the state constitution, or both, then fill in four blanks with a word bank.

The passage explains that each of the 50 states has its own constitution, a written plan for the state government. Students learn why the rules are written down and that, like the U.S. Constitution, a state constitution sets up three branches: the legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch, led by the governor, carries them out, and the judicial branch decides what laws mean. The passage also shows that a state constitution lists the rights of the people, sets up public schools, and can be changed by an amendment. Students learn that a state constitution can never go against the U.S. Constitution, the supreme law of the land. The three-column sort has a box for each answer, so students know how many go in each column. The word bank fill-in then locks in the key terms. The content works for any state, and everything students need to answer is right on the page.

What's inside:

• A short passage with key words in bold
• A 6-item U.S., State, or Both sort
• 4 fill-in-the-blank sentences with a word bank
• A visual answer key with every answer marked in red

How teachers use it:

• As an introduction to a state government unit
• For morning work, centers, or an exit ticket
• As homework or sub plans, with no prep needed

It takes about 5 to 10 minutes and prints clearly in black and white. This worksheet is part of our Reading in Civics series for grade 4, covering state and local government, citizenship, and how laws are made.