Flexibility and Elastic Clause of the Constitution Aim: Why is the Constitution considered a "living document? Included in this product: • Title page • Do Now question: What considers something or someone "alive?" • Student-centered activity brainstorming question: How is the United States different today than when the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution over 200 years ago? • Understanding the flexibility of the Constitution: amendment process, elastic clause, supreme court decisions • The Amendment Process reading passage with scaffolding questions • The Elastic Clause questions based on primary source quotation from the Constitution • Supreme Court decisions reading passage with scaffolding questions • Application/Closing/Higher Order Thinking Question • Flexibility Political Cartoon analysis for application • Answer Key for Teachers Students will research and understand the concept of the flexibility of the Constitution and what makes the Constitution a "living document" through the amendment process, the elastic clause, and supreme court decisions Adheres to Social Studies Common Core Standards - research, application, literacy, vocabulary Differentiation: cooperative {students may work in pairs/groups according to teacher's discretion for activities}; questions are scaffolded; students argue their opinions using relevant examples and details from the lesson and their knowledge of social studies Buy the BUNDLE and SAVE!! •• This product is also included in the Constitution UNIT BUNDLE! •• Paper and Tags by Ashley Hughes USA clipart by Educlips & Melonheadz KG Fonts © 2014 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Constitution Unit Federalism: Delegated, Reserved, and Concurrent Powers Aim: How does the Constitution separate the powers between the state and national governments? Included in this product: • Title page • Do Now question: Based on the quotation by a defender of the Constitution, what is the definition of federalism? • Student-centered activity brainstorming issues/laws of their local government and the United States • Delegated, Reserved, and Concurrent Powers reading passage • Application Venn diagram based on student responses and reading passage • Supremacy Clause understanding • Federalism: The Division of Powers application activity • Application/Higher Order Thinking/Closing activity • Student journal entries based on federalism for application • Answer Key for Teachers Students will research and understand the role of delegated, reserved, and concurrent powers granted by the principle of federalism - they will apply their knowledge in a multitude of student-centered critical thinking activities Adheres to Social Studies Common Core Standards - research, application, literacy, vocabulary Differentiation: cooperative {students may work in pairs/groups according to teacher's discretion for activities}; questions are scaffolded; students participate in application scenarios Buy the BUNDLE and SAVE!! •• This product is also included in the Constitution UNIT BUNDLE! •• Paper and Tags by Ashley Hughes American Symbols Clip Art by Kerri's Art Corner KG Fonts © 2014 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Constitution - Checks and Balances Checks and Balances Aim: Why is no branch stronger than another? Included in this product: • Title page • Do Now: Student-centered critical thinking question - What is the principle that created the three branches of government? What is its purpose, and why is it important? {separation of powers} • The Separation of Powers & Checks and Balances reading passage with scaffolding questions • The Branches of Government "Check" Each Other Out Activity {can be individual or cooperative activity} • Application/Closing/Higher Order thinking question • Answer Key for Teachers Students will research and understand the role of the concept of checks and balances, and abilities of each branch to check and balance another - they will understand the connection between the branches of government and make their own decision about which branch is the strongest! Adheres to Social Studies Common Core Standards - research, application, literacy, vocabulary Differentiation: cooperative {students may work in pairs/groups according to teacher's discretion for activities}; questions are scaffolded; students participate in application scenarios Buy the BUNDLE and SAVE!! •• This product is also included in the Constitution UNIT BUNDLE! •• Patriotic Papers provided by Ashley Hughes Rainbow Tags by Ashley Hughes USA clipart by Educlips KG Fonts © 2014 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Supreme Court and Judicial Branch Aim: What are the roles and responsibilities of the highest court of the Judicial Branch? Included in this product: • Title page • Do Now: Student-centered critical thinking question - Have you ever had someone settle an argument for you? What did they do or say to settle the argument? • The Supreme Court graphic organizer including the outlining of the role of the Supreme Court and the requirements of a person to be nominated to be a Supreme Court Justice • Understanding Judicial Review: Marbury v. Madison reading passage • Judicial Review simulation/explanation activity • Who's who on the current Supreme Court bench? - Identifying today's Supreme Court justices ★ NOTE: When identifying the current Supreme Court justices, I have my students research their names and nominations via internet research. The website I typically have them use is:The Supreme Court {they sometimes work with a partner} • Application/Closing/Higher Order thinking question • Answer Key for Teachers Updated October 2017 with President Trump and Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch ★ NOTE: This is usually a two-day lesson with my students. Students will research and understand the role and responsibilities of the Judicial Branch's Supreme Court, the structure of the Supreme Court, judicial review Adheres to Social Studies Common Core Standards - research, application, literacy, vocabulary Differentiation: cooperative {students may work in pairs/groups according to teacher's discretion for activities}; questions are scaffolded; students participate in application scenarios Buy the BUNDLE and SAVE!! •• This product is also included in the Constitution UNIT BUNDLE! •• Patriotic Papers provided by Ashley Hughes Rainbow Tags by Ashley Hughes USA clipart by Educlips KG Fonts © 2014 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Constitution - Electoral College Aim: How is the president of the United States elected? Included in this product: • Title page • Do Now: Student-centered critical thinking question - How is the president of the United States elected? • What is the Electoral College reading passage with scaffolding questions • Simulation/Activity: Testing out the Electoral College with a mock-Class President election • Electoral Voting Map/Map question • Schoolhouse Rock "I'm Gonna Send Your Vote to College" scaffolding questions corresponding to lyrics {NOTE: I do not attach the lyrics in this product. They are not mine to sell! However, you can find them easily online} • Application/Closing/Higher Order thinking question • Two "official" class president election ballots ;) ★ NOTE: This is usually a two-day lesson with my students. Students will research and understand the structure of the electoral college, the background and weaknesses of the electoral college, the importance of the "magic" 271 number a candidate needs to get elected, and the understanding that winning the popular vote does not determine the presidency Adheres to Social Studies Common Core Standards - research, application, literacy, vocabulary Differentiation: cooperative {students may work in pairs/groups according to teacher's discretion for activities}; questions are scaffolded; students participate in a real-life simulation Buy the BUNDLE and SAVE!! •• This product is also included in the Constitution UNIT BUNDLE! •• Digital Paper provided by Ashley Hughes Glitter clip art by Glitter Meets Glue KG Fonts © 2014 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

Constitution - Legislative Branch Aim: What are the roles and responsibilities of the legislative branch? Who are our representatives? Included in this product: • Title page • Do Now: Congress - Our National Legislature reading passage with scaffolding questions • Structure of Congress diagram • Congress: A Bicameral Legislature graphic organizer • Our State's Senators worksheet {paste a photo of your state's senators in the space provided & teach your kids who your state's senators are!} • Our District's Representatives in the House worksheet {paste a photo of your district's representative in the space provided & teach your kids who your district's representative is!} • Application/Closing/Higher Order thinking questions • Answer Key for Teachers Students will research and understand the structure of Congress, the roles, responsibilities, requirements, and special powers of each house, and who represents their own state/district Adheres to Social Studies Common Core Standards - research, application, literacy, vocabulary Differentiation: cooperative {students may work in pairs/groups according to teacher's discretion for activities} Buy the BUNDLE and SAVE!! •• This product is also included in the Constitution UNIT BUNDLE! •• Digital Papers provided by Ashley Hughes U.S.A. clipart by Kerri's Art Corner © 2014 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

United States Constitution Limited Government and the Separation of Powers Aim: How are the powers of the three branches of government separated? Included in this product: • Title page • Do Now student-centered situational scenario • Principle #2 Limited Government scaffolded notes & creation of political cartoon application • Principle #3 Separation of Powers reading passage with scaffolding questions • Federal Government diagram/flow chart • Application/Closing/Higher Order thinking question • Answer Key for Teachers Students will research and understand the meaning of limited government and the separation of powers between three branches of government Adheres to Social Studies Common Core Standards - research, application, literacy, vocabulary Differentiation: cooperative {students may work in pairs/groups according to teacher's discretion for activities} Buy the BUNDLE and SAVE!! •• This product is also included in the Constitution UNIT BUNDLE! •• Digital Papers provided by Ashley Hughes KG Fonts © 2014 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

U.S. Constitution - Preamble and Popular Sovereignty Aim: What does the Preamble to the Constitution mean to me? Included in this product: • Title page • Do Now student-centered question: what is a contract? • Principle #1 Popular Sovereignty discussion/scaffolded notes • The Preamble to the Constitution discussion/student-centered activity: students create images based on wording of the Preamble • Preamble Activity: Students use phrases of the Preamble to apply them to real life historical situations • Application/Closing/Higher Order thinking question • Answer Key for Teachers Students will research and understand the meaning popular sovereignty & discuss the Preamble to the Constitution Adheres to Social Studies Common Core Standards - research, application, literacy, vocabulary Differentiation: cooperative {students may work in pairs/groups according to teacher's discretion for activities} Buy the BUNDLE and SAVE!! •• This product is also included in the Constitution UNIT BUNDLE! •• Digital Paper provided by Ashley Hughes KG Fonts © 2014 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.

United States Constitution Six Principles of the Constitution Aim: What are the main principles of the Constitution? Included in this product: • Title page • Do Now: How the Government Affects Us student-centered question & student-created cartoon • Discussion of the definition of "principle" • Six Principles of the Constitution boxes for student notes • Six Principles of the Constitution PowerPoint Slideshow/Answer Key for Teachers to aid in whole-group discussion Students will research and understand the meaning of a principle and discuss the six principles of the U.S. Constitution: popular sovereignty, limited government, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, flexibility Adheres to Social Studies Common Core Standards - research, application, literacy, vocabulary Differentiation: auditory/visual Buy the BUNDLE and SAVE!! •• This product is also included in the Constitution UNIT BUNDLE! •• Patriotic Papers provided by Ashley Hughes KG Fonts © 2014 A Social Studies Life For personal use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or for commercial purposes is strictly forbidden. Please have other teachers purchase their own copy. If you are a school or district interested in purchasing several licenses, please contact me for a district-wide quote.