Lawrence County Schools

Constitutional Convention Reenactment in LCHS Government Class!

Mr. McCoy’s LCHS government students were transported back in time to the era of the Constitutional Convention, which took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, PA. The class reenacted the convention, with students assigned specific roles representing various historical figures. These individuals represented diverse states and regions, each assigned the responsibility of voicing various interests. Initially convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, this event ultimately sparked debate and led to the drafting of the United States Constitution, making it one of the most significant events in American history.

Student Perspectives:
Lara-Mae Ben Aoun, a current LCHS junior and international exchange student from Germany, shared, “To further immerse ourselves in the subject matter, we each took on the role of a different historical figure. By embodying these individuals and delving into their perspectives, I gained a much deeper understanding of the complex issues and debates that shaped the US Constitution. It was engaging and an effective way to learn, bringing history to life in a way that textbooks simply cannot do. As someone from Germany, it was fascinating to see the foundation of the American government. And through each of us playing a different person, it made it even more fun!”

Piper Waugh, a LCHS senior, explained, “It was a great learning experience! I was able to understand new things about the convention that I had never realized before. I learned more about our founding fathers, the process of how the convention unfolded, and how decisions were made to form our new government.”

Luisa Straeten, a current LCHS junior and also an international exchange student from Germany, noted, “I think reenacting the Constitutional Convention was a good way to understand how decisions were made. Through us, the students, representing people who were involved in the convention, we were able to learn about each individual's opinion on the different topics. We also learned the rules on the procedures, such as saying aye for agreement and nay for opposition. I found I was way more fun, easier to remember, and better able to understand the whole concept by acting it out than by just reading about it. This was something I wasn’t really familiar with because it's not really discussed in Germany, so it made it a lot easier.”

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