Unit 1: Foundations of American Government; National Government:
Legislative Branch, The Executive Branch, The Judicial Branch
Main Idea: Students will examine the purpose, forms, and limitations on government. They will learn about key philosophers like John Locke and explore practical examples of government functions. Students will complete this unit with an understanding of different forms of government, key influences on American democratic principles, and distinguishing features of governments around the world.
Legislative Branch, The Executive Branch, The Judicial Branch
Main Idea: Students will examine the purpose, forms, and limitations on government. They will learn about key philosophers like John Locke and explore practical examples of government functions. Students will complete this unit with an understanding of different forms of government, key influences on American democratic principles, and distinguishing features of governments around the world.
Focus Questions:
1. What are the different forms of political leadership?
Answer: A group webquest in which the students will search for the pros and cons in 4 forms of governments. The students will then collaborate and create a Powerpoint presentation that will be presented to the class. http://it.pinellas.k12.fl.us/Teachers6/oharam/quest1.html
2. What are the origins and development of the American government?
Answer: In which John Green teaches you where American politicians come from. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r161cLYzuDI
3. What are the enlightenment philosophies that influence US democracy?
Answer: In this lesson, we discuss the varied and diverse 18th-century intellectual movement known as the Enlightenment. In addition to exploring its background and nature, we highlight several of the era's chief philosophers and their ideas.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-enlightenment-thinkers-their-ideas.html
4. What is the purpose of each major section of the Declaration of Independence?
Answer: Khan Academy: In this tutorial Walter Isaacson walks Sal through the United States Declaration of Independence. In doing so, they discuss the philosophical underpinnings of the American Revolution and the United States in general. Walter Isaacson is the President and CEO of the Aspen Institute.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/history/1600s-1800s/declaration-of-independence
5. Why were there drawbacks to the Articles of Confederation?
Answer: In this video, historian Joe Ellis and Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Isaacson discuss the Articles of Confederation, state sovereignty, Shays Rebellion, the Annapolis Convention and Alexander Hamilton. https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/aspeninstitute/aspen-founding-docs/articles-of-confederation/v/introduction
6. What was the purpose of the Bill of Rights?
Answer: https://www.icivics.org/games/bill-of-rights
7. How does the Constitution justify the separation of powers?
Answer: In which Craig Benzine teaches you about the US Government's Separation of powers and the system of
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bf3CwYCxXw
8. What are the roles and responsibilities of each branch of the government?
Answer: Do you like running things? Branches of Power allows you to do something that no one else can: control all three branches of government! You’ll have the power to write any laws you want about issues you choose. Careful, though, there’s a lot to juggle when you're playing all three branches.
https://www.icivics.org/games/branches-power
9. What are the roles and responsibilities of the President?
Answer: Ever wanted to be President for a day? In Executive Command, you can be President for four years! Try to accomplish what you set as your agenda while facing the challenges and responsibilities that crop up along the way. Being commander-in-chief and chief executive is no easy job! See how you do! https://www.icivics.org/games/executive-command
10. Describe each branch’s contribution to the legislative process in the U.S.
Answer: BrainPOP: How a bill becomes a law. There ought to be a law ... In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby will teach you about the complicated process by which a bill becomes a law! Discover who can come up with an idea for a law, how that idea gets into Congress, and where a bill comes into the picture.
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/howabillbecomesalaw/preview.weml
11. How is Congress able to expand on provisions of the Constitution?
Answer: Study.com: The process of amending the Constitution- Amending the United States Constitution is a complicated process. It's only been accomplished 27 times. This lesson outlines the process by which the U.S. Constitution can be amended.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-process-of-amending-the-constitution.html
12. How are state and federal government similar? Different?
Answer: In Power Play, you’ll coach a team of players competing to win power for state or federal. https://www.icivics.org/games/power-play
1. What are the different forms of political leadership?
Answer: A group webquest in which the students will search for the pros and cons in 4 forms of governments. The students will then collaborate and create a Powerpoint presentation that will be presented to the class. http://it.pinellas.k12.fl.us/Teachers6/oharam/quest1.html
2. What are the origins and development of the American government?
Answer: In which John Green teaches you where American politicians come from. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r161cLYzuDI
3. What are the enlightenment philosophies that influence US democracy?
Answer: In this lesson, we discuss the varied and diverse 18th-century intellectual movement known as the Enlightenment. In addition to exploring its background and nature, we highlight several of the era's chief philosophers and their ideas.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-enlightenment-thinkers-their-ideas.html
4. What is the purpose of each major section of the Declaration of Independence?
Answer: Khan Academy: In this tutorial Walter Isaacson walks Sal through the United States Declaration of Independence. In doing so, they discuss the philosophical underpinnings of the American Revolution and the United States in general. Walter Isaacson is the President and CEO of the Aspen Institute.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/history/1600s-1800s/declaration-of-independence
5. Why were there drawbacks to the Articles of Confederation?
Answer: In this video, historian Joe Ellis and Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Isaacson discuss the Articles of Confederation, state sovereignty, Shays Rebellion, the Annapolis Convention and Alexander Hamilton. https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/aspeninstitute/aspen-founding-docs/articles-of-confederation/v/introduction
6. What was the purpose of the Bill of Rights?
Answer: https://www.icivics.org/games/bill-of-rights
7. How does the Constitution justify the separation of powers?
Answer: In which Craig Benzine teaches you about the US Government's Separation of powers and the system of
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bf3CwYCxXw
8. What are the roles and responsibilities of each branch of the government?
Answer: Do you like running things? Branches of Power allows you to do something that no one else can: control all three branches of government! You’ll have the power to write any laws you want about issues you choose. Careful, though, there’s a lot to juggle when you're playing all three branches.
https://www.icivics.org/games/branches-power
9. What are the roles and responsibilities of the President?
Answer: Ever wanted to be President for a day? In Executive Command, you can be President for four years! Try to accomplish what you set as your agenda while facing the challenges and responsibilities that crop up along the way. Being commander-in-chief and chief executive is no easy job! See how you do! https://www.icivics.org/games/executive-command
10. Describe each branch’s contribution to the legislative process in the U.S.
Answer: BrainPOP: How a bill becomes a law. There ought to be a law ... In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby will teach you about the complicated process by which a bill becomes a law! Discover who can come up with an idea for a law, how that idea gets into Congress, and where a bill comes into the picture.
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/howabillbecomesalaw/preview.weml
11. How is Congress able to expand on provisions of the Constitution?
Answer: Study.com: The process of amending the Constitution- Amending the United States Constitution is a complicated process. It's only been accomplished 27 times. This lesson outlines the process by which the U.S. Constitution can be amended.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-process-of-amending-the-constitution.html
12. How are state and federal government similar? Different?
Answer: In Power Play, you’ll coach a team of players competing to win power for state or federal. https://www.icivics.org/games/power-play