Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
generationOn
Purpose:
Duration:
Two Forty-Five Minute Class Periods
Objectives:
The learner will:
- explain the purpose of the Constitution and the Preamble to the Constitution.
- state that the Bill of Rights is the origin of our guaranteed rights and explain why it was added to the Constitution.
Materials:
- Three visual cards labeled, "You," "State Government," and "Federal Government" or object representations such as a picture of a person, a state flag, and an American flag
- Index cards with decision statements (one per student)
- Tape recording of the Preamble to the Constitution (teacher voice recorded or someone with a commanding or eloquent voice)
- Guided Questions to Tape Recording (Handout One) Spanish version (Handout Three)
- Assessment Directions (Handout Two) Spanish version Handout Four)
Instructional Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set:
Describe a decision that relates to the students' lives (such as,"Who decides your curfew?") and ask, "Who makes this decision?" Write the response under the appropriate category using chart paper, whiteboard, or chalkboard. You Parents Teachers/Principal/Student Leadership Committee Elicit more decisions from students and record them. If students do not mention decisions that are shared, give an example such as, "Who decides what you wear to school?"
- Regarding each of the three groups of people, ask students, "What or who gives these groups of people the authority to make the decisions indicated in our lists?" (Possible responses: You—freedom to choose for yourself; Parents—decisions based on rules and/or personal beliefs; School—policies and guidelines in the school handbook.)
- Once the students have related this thinking process to their own lives, use the same decision thinking process when thinking about the government of the United States. Use visual cards labeled, "You," "State Government," and "Federal Government" or a state flag, American flag, and picture of a person to represent the three groups of people. Give each student a card that indicates an action or decision (see possible examples listed below). Direct students to walk to and stand by the category of people which he or she believes makes that decision. Possible examples:
- You—attend church of your choice; choose your own beliefs; decide where to live
- State Government—create public schools; set speed and traffic laws; maintain parks, roads, police and fire services
- Federal Government—create post offices; create money, control pricing; declare war; protect people against housing and job discrimination
- Shared Power—creating and collecting taxes
- When all students have selected a category by which to stand, provide students time to discuss, among their group, whether or not each decision card belongs in the group. Then give students an opportunity to make changes. When discussion and changes are complete, ask one student per group to be the reporter and share with the class the decisions in their category and why they were selected. Ask the reporter to share reasons their group gave for the selections made.
- Once students are seated, ask students, "What or who gives these groups of people the authority to make the decisions indicated in our lists?" (Accept all reasonable answers.) Tell students that they are about to listen to a tape recording that will indicate the answer to the question posed. Play the Preamble tape. Distribute Guided Questions to Tape Recording (Attachment One). Have students listen to the recording a second time, directing students to jot down responses to the guided questions which will direct their thinking. Discuss student ideas once the recording is played.
Teacher Note: (This point in the lesson's Instructional Procedure would be an appropriate place to break at the end of Day One.)
- Directly teach the concept that in both their personal lives and in the government, authority to govern belongs to the people. People keep certain rights and powers for themselves. "We the people . . ." is the significant phrase in the Preamble to the Constitution to make it clear, from the beginning, that authority and rights belong to the people. The Framers developed the Constitution to create a government which would protect the rights and welfare of the people. However, the concern that the state and federal governments may have too much power led them to add the Bill of Rights (first ten amendments to the Constitution) to prevent these groups from unfair actions against the people which may limit or infringe upon the welfare of citizens.
- A concrete representation may be helpful to employ as the concepts are being taught. For example, have students stand before the class, "holding" the power. One may make a fist, another holding a power cord, and another an empty gasoline can. Another group of students, representing state and federal government, may hold a state or American flag in one hand and a plastic shield in the other which represents the protecting power of the Constitution. This group should encircle the first group. Finally, this second group of students may be "restrained" by an enclosure of desks or third group of students holding scrolls which represents the purpose of the Bill of Rights.
Assessment:
Direct students to begin thinking about concrete, everyday objects that have different parts (i.e., a house has rooms; an apple has skin, flesh, and seeds; a tree has roots, a trunk, and leaves). Tell students they will choose an object to which they can compare the important "parts" of their document. Divide the students into three groups¾one representing the Preamble, one representing the Constitution, and one representing the Bill of Rights. Direct each group to complete the analogy statement, "The (Preamble, Constitution, or Bill of Rights) is like because ." Begin with an example to provide direction and the expectation for completing the statement.
Example: "The federal government is like parents because it must provide protection for its people like parents must watch out for the safety of their children. Second, it must also be fair to all its people, just like parents should be fair to each and all their children. Finally, the federal government is like parents because they have to be sure to treat the people they govern with respect and not abuse their power." Once verbal direction for the assessment is given and groups are assembled, provide students with Assessment Directions (Attachment Two) which clearly describes the assessment expectations.
Cross-Curriculum Extensions:
Take the 60-second Daily Civics Quiz on the Center for Civic Education home page: http://www.civiced.org/. The answer to the quiz is provided in a 60-second podcast. Explore this page for other valuable information about civic education.
Bibliographical References:
Center for Civic Education home page: http://www.civiced.org/
We the People. Calabasas, CA: Center for Civic Education, 1988. the People
Lesson Developed By:
Lisa LudwigCedar Springs Public Schools
Cedar Springs Middle School
Cedar Springs, MI 49319
Handouts:
Handout 1Print Handout 1
Guided Questions to Tape Recording
Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. What or who gives these groups of people the authority to make the decisions indicated in our lists? As you think about the question above, use the following guided questions to help you discover the answer found in the tape recording:
2. What, do you think, is the name of this recording to which you are listening?
3. Why, do you think, did the writers include this statement at the beginning of this important document? What is its purpose?
4. What seem to be important words that you hear in this tape recording?
Handout 2Print Handout 2
Assessment Directions
Your group has been directed to create an analogy for the following statement:
___________________ (Name of founding document) is like a(n) _____________________ because ____________________.
Your analogy must follow these guidelines:
- Identify the document assigned (Preamble, Constitution, or Bill of Rights).
- Compare the document to a concrete object.
- Give at least three reasons the document is like the concrete object.
- Write your completed analogy statement in a paragraph format.
- Include a labeled illustration of the concrete object to which you are comparing your document.
Here is an example to which you can refer for help, if needed:
Example:
The federal government is like parents because it must provide protection for its people like parents must watch out for the safety of their children. Second, it must also be fair to all its people, just like parents should be fair to each and all their children. Finally, the federal government is like parents because they have to be sure to treat the people they govern with respect and not abuse their power.
Handout 3Print Handout 3
Preguntas Guiadas para la Cinta Grabada
Instrucciones: Contesta las siguientes preguntas.
1. ¿Qué o quién le da a estos grupos de gente la autoridad para tomar las decisiones indicadas en nuestras listas? Mientras piensas en esta pregunta, usa las siguientes preguntas guiadas para ayudarte a descubrir la respuesta en la cinta grabada:
2. ¿Cuál piensas que es el título de la grabación que estás escuchando?
3. ¿Por qué, piensas tú, que los escritores incluyeron esta declaración al principio de este documento tan importante? ¿Cuál es su propósito?
4. ¿Cuáles palabras de las que estás escuchando en esta grabación parecen importantes?
Handout 4Print Handout 4
Instrucciones para la Evaluación
A tu grupo se le ha pedido crear una analogía para la siguiente declaración:
___________________ (Nombre del documento fundacional) es como un (a) _____________________ porque ____________________.
Tu analogía debe de seguir las siguientes directrices:
· Identificar el documento asignado (Preámbulo, Constitución, o Carta de Derechos).
· Comparar el documento a un objeto concreto.
· Dar por lo menos tres razones por las cuales el documento es como el objeto concreto.
· Escribir la analogía completa en un párrafo.
· Incluir una ilustración rotulada del objeto concreto con el que estás comparando tu documento.
Aquí hay un ejemplo que puedes usar para ayudarte, si es necesario:
Ejemplo:
El gobierno federal es como los padres porque debe de proveer protección para su gente como los padres deben de cuidar y proteger a sus hijos. Segundo, también debe de ser justo con toda la gente, como los padres deben de ser justos con cada uno de sus hijos. Finalmente, el gobierno federal es como los padres porque tiene que asegurarse de tratar a la gente que gobierna con respeto y no abusar de su poder.
Unit Contents:
Overview:Rights and Responsibilities Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- Roots of Our Rights (The)
- 2.
- "Right" Ideas (The)
- 3.
- Rights and Responsibilities Making the Connection
- 4.
- Promoting the Common Good
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
Comments
(The positive aspect of using this lesson was) making the connection between what happens to my students on a daily basis to actions and decisions that impact them on a grander scale (state and federal).
(The positive aspect of using this lesson was) students were able to understand the rational concerning the rules present in their lives. Students were able to create a connection between the past and the present by connecting the Preamble of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights with our own lives.
(The positive aspect of using this lesson was) the students remember the Core Democratic Values(CDVs) from this lesson. They loved the role play activity and the homework sheet that they did with their parents gives them one-on-one time with parents.