Dover Sherborn Middle School Curriculum Road Maps

 

 

Course Title:                 U.S. History                             Grade:              8         

 

Unit:                 The Constitution: Content and Context                                             

Month Presented:         November/December            Unit Length (in weeks):    7         

 

Essential Question (s):

·        What are the tensions between individual freedom and government?

·        What influences shaped the Constitution?

·        How can the structure of government prevent tyranny?

·        How has the Constitution evolved over time to protect people’s rights?

 

Learning Objectives:

1.  Understand the structure and weaknesses of America’s first constitution: the Articles of Confederation.   

2.  Research and identify the economic, political and social influences of the Founding Fathers.

3.  Compare and contrast the interests and “pet issues” of the 13 states.  Explain how this led to controversy at the Constitutional Convention.

4. Understand the structure of the Constitution focusing on the three branches of government and the Bill of Rights

5. Explain the benefits and costs of ratifying the Constitution. 

 

Skills:

  • Primary Source Analysis: Interpreting Government Documents
  • Secondary Source analysis
  • Researching biographical information on Founding Fathers
  • 5 paragraph essay:  developing thesis and using historical evidence

 

Instructional Strategies & Activities

·        Articles of Confederation Case Studies

·        Founding Father “Baseball Card”: who were the delegates to the Constitutional Convention?

·        Convention Compromises: Census Data 1790 Research:  population statistics for representation and slavery debates.

·        American Government Glossary:  investigate concepts that delegates included in the constitution to prevent tyranny

·        Borrowing Ideas:  Examining influences to the Constitution

·        Constitution Scavenger Hunts:  Articles I, II, and III

·        Tracking Legislation, understanding the legislative process

·        Students’ rights case studies and Question Answer session with Mr. Berkel or Mr. Nager

·        Writing Lab: Introduce 5 paragraph essay

 

Materials Utilized:

 

Assessment Strategies:

  • Legislative Branch Quiz
  • Articles of Confederation complaint letter
  • Constitutional Convention Delegate Baseball Card
  • Propose your own Bill
  • Open note Constitution unit test including 5 paragraph essay