Unit+One-+American+Identity+and+the+Constitution

Unit One: American Identity and the Constitution

**Class One: All 9/3** //Focus Question:// Introduction to US History

//Activities:// 1. Receive Readers and go over daily agenda 2. Introductions:

Homework: complete p. 2- What it means to be an America? Due 9/4- All

**Class Two: 9/4- All** //Focus Question:// Course introduction

Activities: 1. Explain homework- go through each of the American Identity readings and identify each author (pages 5-11) 2. Go over course expectations 3. Go over readers and wikispace

**Homework**: **Orange- No homework** **Green and Blue- Below assignment due Monday** Assign American Identity readings ( pages 5-11 Reader)– read and annotate- especially from the lens of how each of these authors perceive their role as an American Assignment due for Green and Blue on Monday 9/9

**Class Three: 9/6- Orange 9/9- Green and Blue**
 * Focus: **


 * How have Americans redefined “We the People” over time?
 * What are the promises of being an American and what are the contradictions in this promise?

Activities: 1. Finish going over course syllabus (Green and Blue only) 2. Go over homework- Create t-chart- why are there differences in responses of what it means to be an American? 3. Where do what we consider "American ideals" come from? 4. Read Declaration of Independence- take notes- p. 3 5.Where does the statement “We the People” come from? b. Why is this statement a piece of the Constitution that people remember c. When reading the Constitution what/who does the statement “We the People” include? d. Then ask: Is what defines a citizen in 1789 the same as in 2013? 6. Read preamble to Constitution- p. 4 - What are our nations Ideals? -Are they a reality for all?

Homework: Assignments due next class **Orange Only-** Assign American Identity readings ( pages 5-11 Reader)– read and annotate- especially from the lens of how each of these authors perceive their role as an American **All-** Read and annotate assigned Immigrant Vignette- pages13-20 (Again only read the ONE you were assigned) Check below if you were absent for the specific readings you are assigned:

Giuliana Psyhogeos- Please read/annotate page 5 and answer questions on page 12 (Based on your reading p.5) Please read and annotate pages 19+20

**Class Four:** Orange Monday 9/9 Blue/Green Tues 9/10 **Focus:** What are the promises of being an American and what are the contradictions to that promise?

Activities: 1. Jigsaw- De-Brief readings pages 5-11. 3. Socratic Seminars- Comparing responses 4. Jigsaw- Immigrant Vignettes- p. 21

Homework: American Identity Paragraph- p. 22 Due all classes Friday Sept. 13th- Orange must be handed in by 2:30

**Class Five: Orange +Blue (9/11) Green 9/12** Focus: What problems need to be resolved when creating a new government? Great Gift Ever Day!!

Activities: 1. Writing a Constitution-24+25 2. Identify Problems/Needs/Fears- led to Constitutional Convention 3. Brief Lecture- Constitutional Convention 4. Receive greatest gift 5. Go over major Compromises- pages 26+27

Homework: Paragraph page 22- Due Friday all sections- Orange we don't have class- so put in folder outside room or hand to me Read Constitution and complete pages 28+29

**Class Six: Orange (9/12) Blue and Green (9/13)** Focus: How does the Constitution protect against tyranny of the masses? American Paragraph due for Blue and Green

Activities: 1. Read "Creating a New Government:- pages 30+31 2. Go over major principles of Constitution  a. Federalism- Pages 34  b. Separation of Power- Page 32+33  - Who is in branch  - Outlines duties  c. Elastic Clause- p. 35

Homework: Read the Constitution and complete pages 28+29

**Class Seven: Monday 9/16- All Classes** Focus: How does the Constitution protect against tyranny of the masses?

Activities: 1. Structure of the Constitution- see powerpoint below 2. Checks and Balances- 36+37 3. Elastic Clause

Homework: Read and annotate 49-56- Due class 9 (Orange 9/18 Blue/Green 9/19)

**Class Eight: Orange (9/17) Green/Blue (9/18)** Focus: How does the Constitution protect against tyranny of the masses? What was the major debate over ratifying the Constitution?

1. Electoral College 2. Go over political cartoon assignment- p. 57 of reader 3. Read Ratifying the Constitution- pages 40+41 4. Go over differences in Fed v. Anti Fed 5. Present Different advertisements
 * ​Activities:**

Homework: Read and annotate pages 49-56

Focus: Why was the Bill of Rts. added to the Constitution? What are your rights?
 * Class Nine: Orange 9/18 Green/Blue 9/19 **

Activities: 1. Go over Political Cartoon Assignment 2. Amendment Process- p. 39 3. Complete Bill of Rights- 43-46 4. Begin Judicial Branch Powerpont

Homework: Make your claim and evidence that will address the political cartoon assignment Read //War of Words// - p.58-61 and answer questions p.62 and 63 Political Cartoon Due Wednesday 9/25

**Class Ten: Orange/Blue (9/20) Green (9/23)** **Focus:** What are the qualities that make the Constitution an enduring document?

Activities: 1. Judicial Branch p. 64 2. If time permits, work with partner sharing claims for political Cartoons.

Homework: Study for test- Wednesday September 25th

**Class Eleven: Monday Orange (9/23) Blue/Green (9/24)** Junior Thesis is assigned- see link for reader


 * Class Twelve: Wednesday 9/25**
 * Test**