American Origins and Branches Standards Based Unit of Study

The unit contains 9 lessons and is organized around the question, "How do American origins and branches of government influence our democracy today”? Students explore why the U.S. Constitution is considered to be a social contract codified by laws between the people of the United States and the government and why the framers of the U.S. Constitution organized the government into three branches with powers that are separated, shared, checked, and balanced. Students will gain a greater understanding of the Constitution by analyzing and comparing the Constitution to an existing organization’s governance document(s). The end of unit assessment will ask students to explain how the selected organization’s governance document reflects: principles of democracy, influences of individuals, political theories, and political documents on the organization, structure and powers within the organization, and how and why the governance polices can/cannot change within the organization.

American Origins and Branches Unit Overview

 

American Origins and Branches End of Unit Assessment

 

Lesson 1

AOB unit - Lesson 1 - "Protecting Our Natural Rights" Length - 3 Days

Lesson 2

AOB unit - Lesson 2 - "Classical Republicanism" Length - 2 Days

Lesson 3

AOB unit - Lesson 3 - "Constitutionalism" Length - 2 Days

Lesson 4

AOB unit - Lesson 4 - "Checks and Balances" Length - 1 Day

Lesson 5

AOB unit - Lesson 5 - "Three Branches of US Government" Length - 2 Days

Lesson 6

AOB unit - Lesson 6 - "Amending the Constitution: The Amendment Process" Length - 1 Day

Lesson 7

AOB unit - Lesson 7 - "Amending the Constitution: Change Over Time" Length - 1 Day

Lesson 8

AOB unit -Lesson 8 - "Amending the Constitution: Informal Amendments" Length - 1 Day

Lesson 9

AOB unit - Lesson 9 - "Amending the Constitution: Judicial Review" Length - 1 Day