Class timeline
February 14th- February 25th
Essential Question: How has the Constitution created “a more perfect Union”?
Students analyze a quotation from James Madison about why governments are necessary.
In a Social Studies Skill Builder, students assume the role of law students taking their final constitutional law class. To pass the class and graduate from law school, they must pass a final exam in which they demonstrate their understanding of the Constitution.
January 18th- February 4th
Creating the Constitution.
Essential Question:
What compromises emerged from the Constitutional Convention?
Preview:
Students experience how difficult it was to pass laws under the Articles of Confederation by trying to make a decision about what radio station to listen to.
Activity:
In an Experiential Exercise, students imagine that they are delegates to the Constitutional Convention who have decided to throw out the Articles of Confederation and create a new government.
Processing:
Students create a poster to encourage Americans to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
Reading Further:
Students imagine that they are reporters writing a story about the Constitutional Convention in 1787. They prepare notes based on what they have learned and then use them to write a story.
January 3rd- January 14th
Essential Question
How was the Continental army able to win the war for independence from Great Britain?
Preview [15 min + 30 min vocabulary]
Students review the object and rules of Capture the Flag.
Activity [50 min]
In an Experiential Exercise, students play six rounds of Capture the Flag that are analogous to the course of the war for independence. In each round, the rules change to tilt the outcome of the game so that it reflects how the Continental army was able to defeat the British.
Processing [25 min]
Students create a simile that shows how the Americans were able to defeat the British and win the war.
Reading Further [optional]
Students write a letter to George Washington from the perspective of a young Patriot soldier.
November 11th- Dec 10th
Essential Question: What principles of government are expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
Preview [15 min + 30 min vocabulary]
Students analyze the painting Signing the Declaration of Independence.
Activity [200 min]
In a Writing for Understanding, students review the Declaration of Independence and answer related questions. They then write an essay that evaluates how well the United States has upheld the principles of the Declaration.
Processing [20 min]
Students write a paragraph that explains how one of the principles of government is expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
Investigating Primary Sources
Students create an argument to answer the question: How did Common Sense create tension in the colonies?
October 18th- November10th
Students experience what it was like for colonists to have laws imposed on them by the British.
In a Response Group activity, students step into the roles of historical figures from the Revolutionary era to participate in colonial town meetings in which they will decide whether or not to rebel against the British government.
-Students create a pamphlet persuading colonists to rebel against or remain loyal to the British government.
-Students consider what defines a hero and then write a persuasive paragraph about someone they view as a hero in their community.
October 4th- October 15th
Students consider the accuracy of several fictitious headlines from an English newspaper during the mid-1700s.
We will then step into the role of investigative journalists in the mid-1700s and travel through the colonies to scrutinize the claims made by the London Chronicle. They “investigate” eight aspects of colonial life, record notes, and draw their own conclusions about life in the colonies.
After the investigation, you write a newspaper article entitled “What Life Is Really Like in the Colonies” to be published in a reputable British newspaper.
September 13- September 24th
***On Monday, we will have a 9/11 day of remembrance lesson. ***
This week, students analyze the similarities and differences among the English colonies in North America by creating and visiting sales booths in a "Colonial Fair."
Presentations on Thursday and Friday.
September 7- September 10
Hello everyone!
This week we will focus on the Southern colonies. We will start the week with our presentation and guided work sheet.
We will then zone in on Bacons Rebellion.
We will end the week with a video about the 13 colonies, you will be asked to write out 20 facts. If everything is finished, we will watch one more short video about the colonies and then enjoy some fun Friday free time!
QUARANTINE KIDDOS, PLEASE LOOK ON GOOGLE CLASSROOM, THERE IS A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT, VIDEO AND MATERIAL FOR YOU! :)
August 30- Sept 4th
This week, we are going to finish up our lesson on Jamestown Colony and move on to the New England Colonies.
We will start our lesson, going over the answers to the play that we left off on Thursday. After that, we will continue with our powerpoint and completion of our guided notes page. New England is next on the menu! I will also have a guided note page for everyone and we will go through a presentation together. After that, we will dive into the Salem Witch trials! We will end the week with a short video on the witch trials and the Mayflower compact. It is going to be an interesting week.
Please come to class prepared, and remember, BE KIND :)
August 10th- 13th
Welcome back to our first week of school!
On Tuesday, we will go over our rules and expectations.
Wednesday will be set aside for our pretest.
On Thursday, get ready to create our classroom constitution. :)
Fun Friday: A selfie introduction! We will get to know each other a little bit more with a fun activity.