| Lesson Plans:
A Mock Constitutional Convention
The purpose of this lesson is to provide students an opportunity to
step into the shoes of the framers of the United States Constitution
to analyze and evaluate the social, political, economic and
geographical forces that shaped the United States Constitution.
Amending the Constitution
In this lesson, students become familiar with both ratified and failed
amendments, connect a current amendment proposal before Congress with
past efforts, determine how decisions are made with regard to
amendments, and develop an original proposal for an amendment.
Class Constitution
In this lesson, students analyze the basic components of the U.S.
Constitution in order to create a "class constitution" to be used to
maintain order and discipline throughout the school year.
Teaching the Amendments
The general purpose of this unit is to teach students the amendments
to the Constitution through the use of CongressLink, Internet
resources, and creative activities. In this unit students will gain a
sense of their rights as United States citizens, as well as the
reality that many rights are limited and controversial.
The Job of a Member of Congress
The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to the complex job
of a Congress member. While the U.S. Constitution outlines the general
qualifications and responsibilities of the office, the tasks accruing
to a Congress member because of pressures not expressed in the
Constitution and the elastic clause make the job more complex than a
casual observer might think. The United States Constitution,
past/current events, and CongressLink resources will facilitate
student understanding of the complex role of a Congress member.
Declare the Causes: The Declaration of Independence
After completing the 8 lessons in this unit, students will be able to:
1) Describe and list the sections of the Declaration of Independence
and explain the basic purpose of each; 2) Demonstrate an awareness of
the Declaration of Independence as a historical process developed in
protest of unfair conditions.
Powers of Government
After completing this lesson, students will be able to identify and
explain the difference between Delegated Powers, Reserved Powers, and
Concurrent Powers.
The Declaration of Independence
After completing this lesson students will be able to summarize the
political and philosophical influences on the content of the
Declaration of Independence.
The U.S. Constitution Power Grab Game
This activity will increase student
knowledge of the Constitution and it's fundamental ideas: checks and
balances, separation of powers, Bill of Rights and amendments. (The
content will need to be modified for 7th grade.)
Class
Constitution
In this lesson, students will learn the purpose
of the U.S. Constitution, the language and meaning of the Preamble.
Students will also work in cooperative groups to write a class
constitution
Church
and State Separation: The Challenge and Debate
In this more advanced lesson students will describe the basic elements
of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment as it relates to the
separation of church and state and freedom of religion; (Note: Lesson
is written for 10th grade)
Democracy and Iraq: Creating a Constitution
After completing this webquest the student will have demonstrated
knowledge of the foundations of American constitutional government.
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Language Arts