James Madison and the Constitutional Convention: Compromise and Limited Government

We started by playing sharks and minnows to remind the boys of Benedict Arnold “trading teams,” as one boy out it.  They loved it.  Then they played more on the trampoline until it was time for our workout.

Today they did burpees for one minute and pull-ups.  We recorded their numbers. They are getting so much stronger!

We then did the Pledge of Allegiance and went over the class rules and affirmations

• I am a warrior
• I play hard
• I work hard
• I respect others
• I never quit
• I defend those who can't defend themselves
• I fight for what is right
• I am a son of God

We then reviewed last week's hero, Benedict Arnold, before introducing our new hero: James Madison.

We were going to read excerpts from A Picture Book of Dolley Madison and James Madison but it was just too dry for a group with their energy level.  

Instead, I printed off a copy of the constitution and talked about what it was- we started with rules and then laws and then told them it is the Supreme Law of the land.  I’m hopi nvm they can remember what it is and that we need to protect it.

Then we watched Schoolhouse Rock’s song about the Preamble.  The boys didn’t love it but it’s catchy and more engaging than the video I originally intended- Liberty's Kids Episode 140, "We the People."  It’s a great episode but not for a group of boys.  I think parents would have life success with one boy at a time.

These are very difficult concepts for children at this age but they are SO important to hear again and again.   It would be wonderful if the boys learned any of the following ideas:

• James Madison is known as the "Father of the Constitution" because he came up with a plan (the Virginia Plan) on which our Constitution is largely founded.
• It was HARD to get the states to agree and get the Constitution written.  It took a great deal of compromise.
• The Constitution is the "Supreme Law of the Land." It trumps all other laws, was inspired of God, and we should be VERY careful about ignoring it or tampering with it.
• The Constitution was intended to be "chains" on the government- to limit its power and NOT to limit its citizens. (This idea was articulated by Thomas Jefferson.)
• Separation of Powers and Checks and balances
• Federalism- the separation of powers between the state and federal governments.

I intended to use a hot beverage to demonstrate Separation of Powers.  I might do this next week.  We’ll feel how hot it is, then we pour it into three separate cups to demonstrate how power was divided by three branches of government to prevent any one entity from having too much power.

We then played Rock, Paper, Scissors to demonstrate checks and balances.  Without going into specifics, we shared how each branch of government could check or beat the other two branches.  I’m not sure this idea clicked at all but the boys loved it and so we’ll be playing this again as a tournament.