FQ1: How was the United States Government formed? (EQ1,2,4)

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Writing the Constitution
Government structure (3 branches)

S3; PS3 Identify and analyze the various causes and effects of movements of groups of people.

S5; PS2 Explain how the Constitution divides the power of government among the executive, legislative and judicial branches, and how each branch can check the power of another.

S5; PS6 Explain how an individual's rights to life, liberty and property are protected by the constitution and criminal and civil laws.

FQ2: How are state and local governments structured today? (EQ2,3,4)

Compare state and local government structures to the federal structure

S1; PS6 Analyze data in order to see persons and events in their historical context, understand causal factors and appreciate change over time.

S1; PS8 Develop written narratives and short interpretative essays, as well as other appropriate presentations from investigations of source materials.

S5; PS3 Explain how and why powers are distributed among the national, state and local governments.

S5; PS4 Identify their representative in national and state legislatures, and the heads of the executive branch at the national, state and local levels.

S6; PS6 Identify and apply criteria useful in selecting political leaders at the local, state and national levels.

NOTES TO TEACHER:

Slavery will be a continual theme throughout many units of the 4th and 5th grade curriculum. Connect the development of government to your beginning of the year establishment of class rules, rights and responsibilities. Include in your discussions information about those groups that were disenfranchised: women, African Americans and Native Americans.

RESOURCES:

Provided resources:

We the People
America Will Be - Chapter 12
America Will Be - Constitution pg. 532-551

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES:

Create a classroom constitution.
Simulate government structure.
Invite a town counselor in to discuss local government.
Diagram the branches of government - local, state, federal.

ASSESSMENTS:

Essential questions
Focus questions
Performance tasks
Tests/quizzes
Teacher observations