Lesson Summary
Working in groups
of three, the students will research and analyze the key issues debated during
the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
The key issues include State vs. Federal power, representation, and
slavery. Each student will be
responsible for one of the key issues and the group will need to develop three
arguments for each side of each issue.
Once the arguments are developed, the instructor will randomly select students
to debate the key issues in front of the class.
California Academic Standard(s)
8.2 Students
analyze the political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution and compare
the enumerated and implied powers of the federal government.
Time Frame
(2) to (3) 50 Minute
Classes
Goal
The students will
learn critical thinking skills in a team environment while understanding the
key debate issues during the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
Learning Styles
Learning Styles
- Linguistic
- Auditory
- Social
- Physical
- Logical
Lesson Plan
Anticipatory Set (10 min)
The instructor
will bring in a recent news article that demonstrates the continuing debate in
the United States regarding the States rights and federal power. The instructor will demonstrate to the class
that the issues at the Constitutional Convention are still being debated today.
Direct Instruction (15 min)
The instructor
will provide a brief lecture regarding the origins of key issues debated at the
Constitutional Convention. The
instructor will demonstrate how these issues led to the Civil War and how some
are still debated. The instructor will provide a handout with directions to complete the assignment.
Directions
Working in groups of three, you will
research and analyze the three major issues debated at the Continental
Convention in 1787. The issues include:
- State vs. Federal Power – Should the states or the federal government have more power?
- Representation – Should members of Congress be selected by popular vote or should states have equal representation?
- Slavery – Should slaves have the same rights as non-slaves?
For each one of the issues, your team
will need to develop three arguments for each side of the debate.
Each member of the team will be
responsible for researching one of the debate issues. As a team, you will work together to come up
with three arguments for each side of the issue (Meaning: you will need to have
six arguments for each issue with a total of 18 for all three).
Once you have completed the arguments,
you must be prepared to present the arguments to the class as we debate each
issue.
Modeling (10 min)
The instructor
will provide one argument example for each issue to demonstrate how to complete
the assignment.
Guided Practice (50 min)
The instructor will place the students in groups of three. Each group will complete the assignment using the textbook, library or internet.
Checks for Understanding (30 min)
The instructor
will randomly call up students from different groups to stand in front of the
class and debate the Continental Convention issues. The instructor will call up two students and
then tell them which issue is being debated and which side the student will
debate. NOTE: Depending on the class
ability will dictate how and who will debate the issues. If the instructor is not comfortable with the
students speaking in front of the class, the debate can be between groups or
done in a group environment.
Direct Instruction (10 min)
The instructor
will summarize the debate and provide some of the outcomes of the debate. The instructor will also discuss how some of
the issues are still being debated today.