Founding Documents
Goals & Objectives
Students will understand the meaning of the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents to the foundation of American Government. Students will analyze one portion of a primary source document and make a poster to teach the class.
California state standard
12.1.3 Explain how the U.S. Constitution reflects a balance between the classical republican concern with promotion of the public good and the classical liberal concern with protecting individual rights; and discuss how the basic premises of liberal constitutionalism and democracy are joined in the Declaration of Independence as “self- evident truths.”
12.2.1 Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy.
12.7.4 Discuss the Ninth and Tenth Amendments and interpretations of the extent of the federal government’s power.
12.2.1 Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy.
12.7.4 Discuss the Ninth and Tenth Amendments and interpretations of the extent of the federal government’s power.
Lesson Introduction
Have students take out a piece of paper and write the three most important documents to our government, or the history of our government. 45 seconds.
Call on students to assess prior knowledge.
Call on students to assess prior knowledge.
Vocabulary
Discuss the meaning of “primary source” documents.
Content Delivery
Students will read a primary source document. Each group will receive a portion of the document. The documents are the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights will be the third document.
decindependence.pdf | |
File Size: | 72 kb |
File Type: |
usconstitution.pdf | |
File Size: | 106 kb |
File Type: |
Student Engagement
Use the Power Point Presentation to explain the directions and tips for presenting. Teacher will then put students into groups of twos and pass out the primary source documents to each group. Students in each group will read the text together. They will create a graphic organizer on a poster about their text. The directions are to:
· Rephrase the text in your own words
· Label each section
· Define any important vocabulary
· Draw something to represent the information from the text
· Rephrase the text in your own words
· Label each section
· Define any important vocabulary
· Draw something to represent the information from the text
founding_document_groups.ppt | |
File Size: | 112 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
doc-constitution-groups-activity.doc | |
File Size: | 25 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Demonstrated learning
On Day 2, each group must present their poster to the class. They must explain the main idea in their own words, label each section, define the important vocabulary, and draw something to represent the information from their specific text.
Students will also fill out guided notes as each group presents.
Students will also fill out guided notes as each group presents.
fill-in_notes-primary-source.doc | |
File Size: | 162 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Lesson Closure
Exit Slip: What is the purpose of the Constitution and Bill of Rights?
Lesson PLan
primarysourcelp.docx | |
File Size: | 93 kb |
File Type: | docx |