5th+Grade+Unit+6-+The+Constitution

Key Vocabulary Essential Question(s) Enduring Understandings Unit Objectives Suggested Activities Suggested Assessments ||
 * Suggested Materials

Key Vocabulary/terms: = constitution, execute, bill of rights, economic depression, legislative/executive/judicial branch, compromise, separation of powers, federalism, electoral college, checks and balances, veto, override, impeach, amend =

__Essential Questions:__

· What is the purpose of the Constitution? · Why do we need a Constitution? · What is the difference between an individual’s //rights// and //responsibilities//?

__ Enduring Understandings: __

· The Constitution is a framework that establishes the 3 branches of government & a system of checks and balances. · The Constitution protects citizens' rights.

__ Unit Objectives: __

· Students will be able to explain the purpose and necessity of the US Constitution. · Students will be able to analyze the Bill of Rights. · Students will be able to understand how and why the government is organized into three branches as well as the system of checks and balances. · Students will be able to identify leaders of the executive branch at the national, state and local level (President, Governor, First Selectman).


 * __Suggested Activities:__ ** [[file:Our living Constitution.notebook"/> SmartBoard Notebook file[[file:Learning about the how the Constitution was constructed.doc]]

** Ø ** ** United Streaming Video on the Constitution - [] ** ** Ø ** ** Students write a journal entry or post a comment on teacher's blog on ‘What is the purpose of the Constitution?’ **
 * Ø **** Open Discussion (class discusses topic together by adhering to a few guidelines without raising hands) on ‘What is the purpose of the Constitution?’ **
 * Ø **** Students read/discuss information about the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation (resources include A History of US, American Nation, Kids Discover). **
 * Ø **** Small groups debate the Virginia Plan vs. the New Jersey Plan. **
 * Ø **** Whole class discussion on the Three-Fifths Compromise. **
 * Ø **** Jigsaw – Small groups read various hand-outs on the following topics: League of the Iroquois, Magna Carta, John Locke and Montesquieu - and present key information to class. **
 * Ø **** Jigsaw - Small groups read various hand-outs on the following topics: executive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch - and present key information to class. **

** __Suggested Assessments:__ **

// Formative Assessments- // Observe student performance on activites above such as: Discussion on Articles of Confederation Debating the Plans Whole class discussion on the Three-Fifths Compromise The Journal/blog entry on the Essential Question

// Summative Assessment: // Instead of (or in addition to) some kind of 'unit test' the following performance task is suggested-

Students re-write the Preamble to The Constitution in their own words. Students write a one to two paragraph essay explaining what they would add/change to The Constitution and why.

=**Here are files for an essay about Compromise and the US Constitution:**=