Unit 1: American Government under the Constitution
1. The Articles of Confederation
EQ: Why did the national government under the Articles of
Confederation fail?
Students will understand that the national government under the Articles
of Confederation had no power to make the States do anything.
SCOS: 2.05
A.
B.
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F.
G.
Introduction: America now faces the task of creating a government.
 Word Wall Words: Republic and Constitution
 Discussion of New Vocabulary; connect to the world today (GLOBAL AWARENESS)
Video Clip: The Articles of Confederation
Read Article: The Articles of Confederation from NC Constitution Study Guide using AVID
Critical Reading Strategies. Students will answer focus questions.
Review Key concepts in the Article (problems with the Articles of Confederation and the
lack of power to the national government)
Analogy: States and National Government are like the individual classrooms/teachers in our
school
Preview tomorrow: Delegates from each state decide to meet to revise the Articles but will
end up creating a whole new document
Formative Assessment: Exit Ticket: Why did the national government under the Articles of
Confederation fail?
2. Creating the Constitution
EQ: What has enabled the Constitution to successfully govern America
for over 200 years?
Students will understand that the Constitution created the Congress,
presidency, and judicial system that are still in place today. The
separation of powers and the system of checks and balances has allowed
this government to stay in place.
SCOS: 2.05
A.
Introduction/Review
 Hot Seat Questions (questions taped under desks; students in hot seats stand to
answer and the class “grades”)
B. PPT Lecture with Cornell Notes
1. Constitutional Convention (video clip)
Who met, when, where, why, significance
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2. Significance of the Constitution (creates the government we still have in place)
3. Separation of Powers and the 3 Branches of Government (Notes will provide a brief
summary of each branch—purpose, who makes up that branch, how they are chosen by
the people)—we will make connections to our government today
C. Wrap Up: Students will write questions for each slide of notes. (Notes should answer
questions) Students will write learning summary of the lesson.
D. Extra Credit Opportunity Presented: Memorize the Preamble of the Constitution
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I will project it and read it.
School House Rock Video
Barney Fife video of reciting the Preamble—what not to do!
3. Review: Creating the Constitution
EQ: What has enabled the Constitution to successfully govern America
for over 200 years?
Students will understand that the Constitution created the Congress,
presidency, and judicial system that are still in place today. The
separation of powers and the system of checks and balances has allowed
this government to stay in place.
SCOS: 2.05
A. Review Game:
 With groups, students will write on post-its as many things as they can remember
from yesterday’s lesson on Creating the Constitution.
 The Group with the most correct wins.
B. Quiz: Creating the Constitution and Powers of Government
4. Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
EQ: What has enabled the Constitution to successfully govern America
for over 200 years?
Students will understand that the Constitution created the Congress,
presidency, and judicial system that are still in place today. The
separation of powers and the system of checks and balances has allowed
this government to stay in place.
A. Introduction/Review:
 I will read several statements describing each branch of government.
 Students will stand up and make a L, E, or J with their arms as an answer to the
statement.
 Pass back and go over quizzes.
B. Reading Assignment: The Structure of Government from the NC Constitution Study Guide
 This reading assignment explains the powers and duties of each branch of
government. It also addresses how the other branches will check and balance its
power.
 Students will work in their cooperative groups to complete a guided reading
outline/chart of each branch.
C. Wrap Up: Cooperative Group Game (hands on activity)
 Each group will receive a chart of each branch.
 They will also receive a bag of duties, descriptions, etc.
 They are to match each item with the correct branch of government. Fastest group
wins.
 We will model on a blown up version on the board.
5. The Federal System
EQ: How is power shared between the national and state governments
according to the Constitution?
Students will understand that the States retain any powers not
specifically given to the national government but state laws and powers
must be consistent with national laws because national laws are higher.
SCOS: 2.05
A. Review: Discuss that our focus so far as only been on the national government. Explain that the
Constitution created a federal system, which means that the individual states have certain powers
as well.
 Add Federal to Word Wall
B. PPT Lecture with Cornell Notes: The Federal System
 Powers for National Government
 Powers for States
 Shared Powers
 Supremacy Clause
C. Wrap up: Create a Venn diagram with Cooperative Group comparing and contrasting the powers of
the state and national governments. Why is it important that the national government is supreme?
6. The Bill of Rights
EQ: What rights to we have as Americans?
Students will understand that the freedoms granted to Americans under
the Bill of Rights and that because these amendments were written in
vague language, they have been able to be interpreted to fit the times.
SCOS: 2.05, 9.01 (3 class periods)
A.
Guided Reading Activity with the Sub; complete the chart explaining your freedoms and
complete the Challenge question (North Carolina Constitution Study Guide)
B. Class Discussion of Bill of Rights
 Intro: Ask Students—what is a republic? Who holds the Power? (The People) Explain that the
Constitution established how the Government would work but many people in the states were
not satisfied with it until it included the specific rights of the people.
 Quick write: What are rights? Allow students to share their responses/give examples.
 Intro Key Vocabulary: Amendments, Amend, Bill of Rights (students put in interactive
Notebook)
 Video Clip: The Bill of Rights Rap (Flocabulary)
 Class Discussion: Go over the Freedoms given to Americans under the Bill of Rights (students
are checking their answers/correcting as necessary)
 Connect to Current Issues: Free Speech, gun control, death penalty, religion, privacy, etc.
 Wrap Up: Bill of Rights Song (Justin Beiber Remix)
C.
Applying the Bill of Rights
 Hot Seats: Students have a number taped to desk. They stand and summarize the rights
given to them in that amendment.
 Cooperative Group Activity: Each group is given ten scenarios. They are to decide if
their rights are being violated and explain what amendment supports their decision.
 Making Instruction Relevant: Examining your rights as a Juvenile and a Student
 Read Article in Scholastic Junior: 5 Supreme Court Cases Ever Teen Should Know
 Juvenile Crime
 Freedom of Speech in School
 Right to Privacy at School
 Freedom of the Press at School
 Violent Video Games
Students will read a summary of each case and explain the Supreme Court’s ruling.
7. Test: American Government under the Constitution
(Assess all EQs and SCOS objectives)
 Multiple Choice
 Short Answer
8. Anchor Activities: Our Great Democracy workbook; Current Global Events
Articles/Magazines
9. Technology Project: Founding Fathers Facebook Page
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Students choose one of the 55 men who attended the Constitutional Convention.
They will conduct research on that person. (IT Facilitator will do Safe Search/Research Skills
Lesson
They will compile this information into a Facebook Template
They will share their pages at a mock Constitutional Convention.