Determine Acceptable Evidence Lesson Plan Subject: Social Studies/4 th Grade/Challenges of a New Nation a. Identify the weaknesses of the government established by the Articles of b. Identify the major leaders of the Constitutional Convention and describe the major issues they debated, including the rights of states, the Great Compromise, and slavery. SS4CG1 The student will describe the meaning of b. We the people from the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution as a reflection of consent of the governed or popular sovereignty. c. The federal system of government in the U.S. Learning Goal(s): The students should be able to identify the importance the Articles of Confederation and The Constitution of the United States. Students will be able to differentiate between both documents. Why were the leaders of the new American nation afraid to establish a strong central government? How did the plan for government in the Articles of Confederation reflect the beliefs and ideals of the citizens of the newly formed United States of America? Why was the Articles of Confederation unable establish a government that would reflect the beliefs and ideals of its citizenry? What is the purpose of the Constitution of the United States? How does the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights reflect the beliefs of citizens in a popular sovereignty? How does the phrase "We, the People..." in the Preamble of the Constitution reflect the consent of the governed or popular sovereignty? Why were the states given more power than the federal government under the Articles of Confederation? Who did the phrase "We, the People" include? Why did the framers of the Constitution reduce the power of the state governments? How did the beliefs and ideals of the framers of the Constitution lead to the many compromises made at the Constitutional Convention? What were the challenges faced by the new nation?
Activate Learning: Show video clip from How Stuff Works, Shaping the Nation-The Articles of Confederation (1 min. 39 seconds). Teaching Strategies: See lessons 1 & 2. Summarizing and Authentic Culminating Assessment: Students will take on the role of a Constitutional Convention delegate and write a letter explaining the reasoning behind the writing of the Constitution. Multiple-choice and essay question test included. The Task/Activity: You have just spent the last few months secretly working on the Constitution as a delegate from your state. Write a letter to your community newspaper to inform citizens of the differences from the Articles of Confederation and why you chose to create a new document instead of changing the Articles. Part of the goal of the letter is to persuade the citizens that this new Federal government structure outlined in the Constitution is a good plan. Rubric attached. Critical Thinking Skill(s) Included *analyze and formulate conclusions Lesson Plan 1: Challenges of a New Nation a. Identify the weaknesses of the government established by the Articles of
Learning Goal(s): The students should be able to identify the importance and weaknesses of the Articles of Why were the leaders of the new American nation afraid to establish a strong central government? How did the plan for government in the Articles of Confederation reflect the beliefs and ideals of the citizens of the newly formed United States of America? Why was the Articles of Confederation unable establish a government that would reflect the beliefs and ideals of its citizenry? Activate Learning: Show video clip from How Stuff Works, Shaping the Nation-the Articles of Confederation (1 min. 39 seconds). http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/9959-shapingthe-new-nation-the-articles-of-confederation-video.htm Teaching Strategies: Verbal overview-power Point Presentation Articles of Confederation. Summarizing: Students will show evidence of knowledge about the weaknesses of the Articles by offering legitimate solutions that are supported by historical data. Ticket out the door: Predict a problem that may arise due to the limitations of the Articles of Authentic Culminating Assessment EQ: What were the challenges faced by the new nation? The Task/Activity: After Power Point, make a class chart of the weaknesses of the Articles. Then students will be placed in small groups to analyze one weakness and formulate a solution. Groups will create posters to illustrate their new solution. Students will then present their ideas to the class.
Lesson Plan 2: Challenges of a New Nation c. Identify the weaknesses of the government established by the Articles of d. Identify the major leaders of the Constitutional Convention and describe the major issues they debated, including the rights of states, the Great Compromise, and slavery. Learning Goal(s): The students should be able to identify the importance the Articles of Confederation and The Constitution of the United States. Students will be able to differentiate between both documents. What is the purpose of the Constitution of the United States? How does the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights reflect the beliefs of citizens in a popular sovereignty? How does the phrase "We, the People..." in the Preamble of the Constitution reflect the consent of the governed or popular sovereignty? Why were the states given more power than the federal government under the Articles of Confederation? Who did the phrase "We, the People" include? Why did the framers of the Constitution reduce the power of the state governments? How did the beliefs and ideals of the framers of the Constitution lead to the many compromises made at the Constitutional Convention? What were the challenges faced by the new nation? Activate Learning: Show Photostory pictures taken in Philadelphia of Congress Hall. Make a list on the board of reasons the students think that the delegates went back there and what they discussed (Students should connect with previous lesson about the weaknesses of the Articles).
Teaching Strategies: Show the video Shh, We re Writing the Constitution (United Streaming). Students will then break into rotation groups to complete the following activities. http://www.discoveryeducation.com/ 1. Computer Center: www.bensguide.gpo.gov. Students will then read about the Preamble and the Constitution. Students will then go to http://www.texaslre.org/lfei_preamble.html and play the Preamble Scramble 2. School House Rock We the People. Students will listen to the song and make up their own motions for the song. 3. Graphic Organizer-Using their textbooks as a resource, students will then fill out the graphic organizer for The Constitution. Summarizing: Students will show evidence of knowledge comparing the Articles of Confederation to The Constitution using a Venn Diagram.