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8.2 Students analyze the political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution and compare the enumerated and implied powers of the federal
government.
2. Analyze the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution and the success of each in implementing the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.
3. Evaluate the major debates that occurred during the development of the Constitution and their ultimate resolutions in such areas as shared power
among institutions, divided state-federal power, slavery, the rights of individuals and states (later addressed by the addition of the Bill of Rights), and the status
of American Indian nations under the commerce clause.
5. Understand the significance of Jefferson’s Statute for Religious Freedom as a forerunner of the First Amendment and the origins, purpose, and
differing views of the founding fathers on the issue of the separation of church and state.
6. Enumerate the powers of government set forth in the Constitution and the fundamental liberties ensured by the Bill of Rights.
7. Describe the principles of federalism, dual sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, the nature and purpose of majority rule, and the
ways in which the American idea of constitutionalism preserves individual rights.
Why is the U.S. Constitution such an important document in the United States?
Why is the U.S. Constitution a revolutionary document both when it was created, and now?
How does the U.S. Constitution affect me, and what rights does it give me?
Unit Summary:
In this unit, students will learn about the beginnings of the U.S. Constitution, from the struggle of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger federal
government, along with modern day issues that are still being discussed due to the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the rest of the Amendments. During this unit students
will learn about the purpose behind why the Articles were created to be so weak, such as creating a weak central government so as to never let anyone person (or
government) take too much control over people’s lives. Additionally, students will learn about the Checks and Balances system of government that we cherish today as
Americans, and where the rules for the government are created and found in our Constitution. Students will also learn about how the Constitution, our founding document,
has lasted over 200 years as a central piece of the American government due to its ability to change with the times, even if it is hard to do so. Towards the end of the unit,
students will learn how the limitations of government work in their own lives and how they can even be seen as working in a classroom setting by comparing individual
liberties of students and teachers, along with what rules need to be followed in order for a “peaceful” classroom environment.
Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level: Formative: Summative:
Quizlet; Articles of Confederation to the Bill of Rights Carousel Activity: Weaknesses of the Articles Essay: Students will write a 4 paragraph essay
overview quiz. This quiz will consist of basic of Confederation about how the Constitution and Bill of
information from the creation of the Articles of Matching Activity: U.S. Constitution (original),
Rights influence their lives today (one
Confederation to the reasons for creating the Bill of students match article numbers with their
purpose
body paragraph for each topic)
Rights and what they stand for. Exam: Students will complete a timeline,
Matching Activity: Bill of Rights, students
match amendment numbers with their purpose matching the Amendments from the Bill
Socratic Seminar: Students discuss the of Rights, and answer a short response
influence the Constitution and Bill of Rights about how the Electoral College works
have on their daily lives (from Article 2 of the Constitution)
Direct the class to draw from information they listed on Worksheet 1 to create a bill of rights for
the classroom.
Unit Resources:
Constitution Primary Source Documents:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-constitution/id915841986#
Useful Websites:
ICivics: This website is a great resource that helps make learning about the U.S. government easy to understand and simplifies the content to appropriate
grade levels. From learning about the earliest American documents, like the Declaration of Independence, to modern day times, this website goes ahead
and brings the American government to a basic understanding.
https://www.icivics.org/search-results?keywords=Constitution
Constitution Center: This is a great website that allows visitors to read the Constitution of the United States, along with activities, and scenarios that can
be used to help students of all ages learn more about the Constitution and the impact it has on all Americans today.
https://constitutioncenter.org/learn/hall-pass
Library of Congress: This resource hub (stored information) includes many different primary and secondary sources that begin from before America was
even a nation, all the way to today. From letters, to pictures, to political cartoons, and even the documents that govern our country in the past, and
present.
https://www.loc.gov/teachers/constitutionday.html
National Archives: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation's record keeper. Of all documents and materials created
in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they
are kept by the NARA forever. Those valuable records are preserved and are available to everyone, including students, whether they want to see if
they contain clues about family history, need to prove a veteran's military service, or are researching a historical topic that interests them.
https://www.archives.gov/legislative/resources/education/bill-of-rights
Teaching American History.org: This site gives summaries and timelines that occurred from the beginning of America to today. It also divides the sections of
American history into important sections, that allow for an easier grasping of information since it is organized based on details of each section. If looking for
specific time periods of American History, this website would be a great resource to use.
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/constitution/