Teacher: Ms. Sara
Grade Level: 4
Objective:
Students will learn about our nations most important document, the United States Constitution and describe how the Constitution protects Americans. Students will identity the protections granted by first ten amendments of the United States Constitution, called the Bill of Rights. As well as elucidate the significance of Bill of Rights in modern day. They will be able describe the importance of the three branches of government in the United States Constitution and analyze the powers that each branch holds.
Essential Questions:
How does the Constitution protect the rights of people?
What is the function of each branch of government and how does that affect Americas today?
Why is it importance to understand the power in each branch of government?
How does each branch affect our laws?
How are the rights in in the Bill of Rights importance to us as individuals?
What is the function of each branch of government and how does that affect Americas today?
Why is it importance to understand the power in each branch of government?
How does each branch affect our laws?
How are the rights in in the Bill of Rights importance to us as individuals?
New Mexico Standards & Benchmarks
K-4 Benchmark III-A—Civics and Government: Know the fundamental purposes, concepts, structures, and functions of local, state, tribal, and national governments.
- Grade 4 Performance Standard #3: Explain the difference between making laws, carrying out the laws, and determining if the laws have been broken, and identify the government bodies.
- Grade 4 Performance Standard #3: Explain the difference between making laws, carrying out the laws, and determining if the laws have been broken, and identify the government bodies.
MondayIntroduction: students will work with one partner and write everything they know about the Constitution. This will allow the teacher to see what the student knows (or remembers) and what the students does not remember from the previous year. Once the students write everything they know, the student’s must explain using examples how the ideas listed still affect us today. This lesson will continue on with students reading Chapter 8 from the U.S. History textbook to learn the significance of the Constitution.
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TuesdayThe U.S. History textbook (chapter 8) presents the United States Constitution and the 3 branches of government in the Constitution. Be looking out for the key words in the text, such as 'key terms.' Make note on all three branches of governments as this will help you for your assignment. For this assignment, each branch of government will be represented with a specific color (red card=legislative branch, green card=executive branch, yellow card=judicial branch).
I will ask 10 questions regarding the different branches of
government. To answer the
question, students will paste the color in the column next to the question (refer to Assignment page for an example of what I am looking for). Each
card is worth one point. Once students have finished this assignment, they will answer the following critical thinking question in the blog.
Critical Thinking Question: Of the three branches of U.S. government, which one is the most powerful according to you? Explain your view by comparing the three branches with regards to their expressed powers found in the Constitution, their checks and balances toward each other, their separation of power, etc. You may want to tie in how the media and interest groups make them more or less powerful as well. For receive full credit, students will use the terms discussed this week. |
Wednesday |
ThursdayEach of the student’s U.S. History textbooks lists the Bill of Rights, or the first 10 amendments of the Constitution. The students will use notebook paper and fold it in half to make two columns. The left column is where the students will copy down the Bill of Rights. The right hand column is where students will list, in their own words, at least three protections granted by each amendment.
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FridayToday will be a continuation of the Bill of Rights. Today we will review the Bill of Rights and split the class up into two groups to make a skit depicting an amendment being violated. The class will take turns acting; the group not in the skit must guess which amendment is being broken.
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