Origins of Constitution- Vocabulary Development, Notetaker, Assessment

The Origins of the Constitution- Vocabulary Development, Notetaker, Assessment is a comprehensive 44-page editable lesson developed to give students from grades 7-10 a thorough understanding of the origins of the United States Constitution within its historical context. Our foundational principles spring from deep roots in Ancient Greece and the Roman Republic, Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu, English law,, such as the Magna Carta, the formation of Parliament, the Petition of Rights, the English Bill of Rights, colonial laws, such as the Mayflower Compact, the Toleration Act, freedom of religion for all in Rhode Island, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, as well as the Iroquois Confederacy. Students will read a short text and complete two assignments for it-- a graphic organizer and K.I.M. Vocabulary Development, which includes 16 terms: government, constitution, tyrannical, oppressive, democracy, separation of powers, republic, representative government, divine rights, natural rights, social contract, consent, legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branch.

The Resource includes:

• a forced copy link to the Google Doc

• Hyperlinked Table of Contents

• About this Resource-a reference guide of the resource for the teacher

• Essential Question-

• 5 Guiding Questions-

  • How did Ancient Greek democracy and Roman republicanism influence the foundational principles of the U.S. Constitution?

  • What Enlightenment ideas from philosophers like John Locke and Montesquieu are reflected in the Constitution?

  • In what ways did the government of the Iroquois Confederacy contribute to the development of American democratic principles?

  • How did English law and colonial governments influence the formation of the Constitution?

  • How did early American experiences with governance shape the principles found in the Constitution?

• A detailed lesson plan with objectives and learning targets aligned to the Common Core Standards

• Understanding Essential Terms for the Origins of the Constitution

• The Origins of the Constitution Reading

• The Origins of the Constitution Graphic Organizer

• K.I.M. Vocabulary for Essential Terms of the Origins of the Constitution and Key

• The Origins of the Constitution Study Guide and Key

• The Origins of the Constitution Test and Key

Check out my other United States Constitution Resources at my store- Intentional Teaching and Learning