Week 7, Syllabus

Mr. Ditzenberger, American Government
Time: 5 Periods, 3:30 hours
Unit 1 Lesson: U.S. Constitution
Week: 7 Dates: September 24-28
Objectives:
1. Students will analyze the benefits and results of compromise in the formation of the Constitution.
2. Students will list and summarize the main components of each of the seven articles.
3. Students will develop an understanding of the principles of constitutional government through a game.
4. Students will discuss the Bill of Rights in a teacher led lecture.
5. Students will reflect on the importance of constitutional principles in their own lives.
Materials: Textbook, http://ditzenberger.blogspot.com/index.html; textbook, lectures, game materials.
Monday
Opener: Turn to your new neighbor and compliment them. Then tell them why the A of C were weak.
Survey-Christmas party.
Compromises.
Tuesday.
1. Opener: Find someone from another group and decide whether they are a big state or a small state. Then tell them what they would get out of the new Constitution.
2. Directions: Using a copy of the Constitution, answer the following questions. Do NOT read the document—just look at it (10 minutes).
a. How many separate sections (called articles) does the Constitution have?
b. How many pages is the Constitution? Is it longer or shorter than you expected?
c. How does the length compare to the ICS student handbook?
d. The first article is about the legislative branch, the second article is about the executive branch, and the third article deals
with the judicial branch. Without reading the articles themselves, what can you infer about how the Founders viewed these
three branches of government?
e. What can you tell about the Constitution based on the way it is organized?
f. How many people signed the Constitution?
g. Is this number higher or lower than you expected?
h. What do you notice about the makeup of the list of signers?
3. Form groups based on the Constitution card that you received (20 minutes).
a. Locate your quotation in the Constitution and then carefully read and explain your section(s) of the Constitution, filling out the correct
section in Handout D.
b. Get in new groups and fill in the remainder of the handout.
4. Homework: read through the entire Constitution in one sitting. Sign your name and submit it-honor code. Due tomorrow.
Wednesday
1. Opener: “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” –Patrick Henry Do you agree? Why or why not?
2. The Cube game (Constitutional principles).
3. Oral quiz
4. Power Grab Game
Thursday
1. Opener: Plessy vs. Ferguson
2. Lecture, Bill of Rights
3. Write a letter to a representative, minister (secretary), or another elected official about a civil rights issue in your country that concerns you. Due Friday.
Friday
Opener: Opportunity Quiz
Reflection: Principle of Balance of Power/Separation of Powers applied. How will you, next year, apply this principle in your own life? List some ways. These will be shared in class (anonymously). Due Monday.
Review of this past week’s material. Jeopardy.
Current Event: An article relating to civil rights in your passport country.