Lesson Title: Paths to our American Democracy
Topic/Focus Area: Foundation of our Democratic form of governament

Lesson Overview

This lesson gives the students a look at the begining thoughts ideas and concepts that were the foundation of our unique democracy. Further students will become aquainted with the origins and fundementals of our Revolution, Declaration of independence and Constution.

Using computer technology to enhance the learning experience, certain information is only available on the internet. Students are also encouraged to use presentation modes of modern technology.

Subject : History-Social Science
Grade : Eleven
Strand : United States History and Geography: Continuity and Change in the Twentieth Century

Students in grade eleven study the major turning points in American history in the twentieth century. Following a review of the nation’s beginnings and the impact of the Enlightenment on U.S. democratic ideals, students build upon the tenth grade study of global industrialization to understand the emergence and impact of new technology and a corporate economy, including the social and cultural effects. They trace the change in the ethnic composition of American society; the movement toward equal rights for racial minorities and women; and the role of the United States as a major world power. An emphasis is placed on the expanding role of the federal government and federal courts as well as the continuing tension between the individual and the state. Students consider the major social problems of our time and trace their causes in historical events. They learn that the United States has served as a model for other nations and that the rights and freedoms we enjoy are not accidents, but the results of a defined set of political principles that are not always basic to citizens of other countries. Students understand that our rights under the U.S. Constitution are a precious inherit-ance that depends on an educated citizenry for their preservation and protection.


Substrand 11.1 : Students analyze the significant events in the founding of the nation and its attempts to realize the philosophy of government described in the Declaration of Independence.

 

 

Standard:

11.1.1

Describe the Enlightenment and the rise of democratic ideas as the context in which the nation was founded.

 

 

Standard:

11.1.2

Analyze the ideological origins of the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers’ philosophy of divinely bestowed unalienable natural rights, the debates on the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, and the addition of the Bill of Rights.

Student Learning Objectives

• Students will analyze the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution for their ideological beliefs concerning governments and human rights.
  
  Students will define the Age of Enlightenment
  
  Students will identify and relate individuals of the Enlightenment to our Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution
  
  Students will identify and relate ideological beliefs of our founding fathers as it relates to America's need for revolution, what type of governement we should have and the issue of human rights.
  
  

Activities

1. Students will take pre test to measure their understand and use a baseline. The pretest can be found under the attachments.
   
   Students will be creating a journal titled "Paths to our American Democracy" wwhich will contain information tracing the road to American Democracy from The Age of Enlightenment to our American Revolution, the Constitution and The Bill of Rights. Charts, maps, document reproduction, pictures, and diagrams will displays their knowledge and understanding of the development. Lists, essays and definitions will show the details and analysis that explain our unique Americans Democracy's heritage.
   
   Students will define and describe the Enlightenment as it relates to our Revolution, Government and Human Rights. This content will be provided through lecture, discussion, text and net. See resources attached for content.
   Students will write at least a single page describing the Age of Englightenment and briefly discuss its relationship to our American Heritage.
   
   Studnets will identify and give quotes and or beliefs of famous Enlightenment thinkers that had an impact on our Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. Text, and net.
   On at least a single page chart Enlightenment Thinkers and their beliefs and statements as they relate to the founding of our country.
   
2. Studnets will identify and give quotes and or beliefs of our Founding Fathers as they relate to ideologies (beliefs) of the Enlightenment and as they relate to our Revolution, The Declaration of Independence, and The Constitution of the United States. Text and net resources.
   Students will display this information on at least a single page.
   
   Students will analyze the Delaration of Independence to gain the five reasons given why revolution was necessary. Text, net, lecture, discussion,
   On at least one page students will display the five resons and any other information they fell is pertinant to the subject.
   
   Students will, with the teacher, go over briefly the constitution in order to understand the structure and pupropse of that structure for our government. Text, net, lectures discussion.
   On at least one page display the structure and the purpose of that structure of our government as it relates to the Enlightenment.
   
3. Studnets will briefly go over the Bill of rights. Lectures, discussion, text, net.
   On at least one page display the Enlightenment concepts and ideological beliefs contained in the Bill of Rights.
   
   Students will display a glossary of all the terms in the Vocabulary section under resources.
   
   Students will produce a Title Page and Table of contents.
   
   Students will take the post test to measure growth on knowledge.
   
   This project also lends itself to further technological usage if it were presented using a presentation format such as "Power Point". Additional motivation is gained if students are informed that some projects will be published on the net at Think Quest or other appropriate sites.
   

Resources

File Attachments

Rubric
  — 402 Kentucky Open.doc   (21.0 KB)

Pre/Post Test
  — preposttest.doc   (19.0 KB)

Pre/Post Test PDF
  — preposttest.pdf   (4.00 KB)

PowerPoint Rubric
  — PowerPoint Rubric.htm   (16.6 KB)

Journal Rubric
  — SCORE Report Rubric.htm   (4.47 KB)

Paths To Our American Democracy
  — Paths to our American Democracy.htm   (14.0 KB)

Student Sample
  — Jazmein's history page.htm   (933 bytes)

Student Sample Doc
  — Document.doc   (5.50 KB)

Student Sample - Excellent
  — PTOAD.ppt   (473 KB)

Pre and Post Test Results Chart
  — Doc2.doc   (33.5 KB)

Teacher Final PP Presentation
  — Paths To Our American Democracy.ppt   (2.52 MB)

The production of a journal titled "Paths to our American Democracy" will contain information tracing the road to American Democracy from The Age of Enlightenment to our American Revolution, the Constitution and The Bill of Rights. Charts, maps,document reproduction, pictures,and diagrams will displays their knowledge and understanding of the deveopment. Lists, essays and definitons will show the details and analysis that explain our unique Americans Democracy's heritage.

Rubrics will be used to measure student work. See attached rubrics.

This project may be done in groups with each assigned a different task and then the assignment compiled and put into journal form by an additional group. Computer technology would be used in designing and producing the journal.
This project also lends itself to further technological useage if it were presented using a presentation format such as "Power Point". Additional motivation is gained if students are informed that some projects will be published on the net at Think Quest or other appropriate sites.