Lesson 2 (3 Class Periods)
Key Concepts: Historical Perspective - Constitution - Representative Democracy - Individual Rights - Popular Sovereignty - Checks and Balances
Plan: In order to compare major world regions with respect to government systems, it's important to understand the characteristics of representative democracy in our country. Most students will have studies U.S. History in 5th grade. This lesson provides a review of the development of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
As an introduction to this lesson, have students view the video Field Trip Through History or read the script.
Students will use a cooperative learning activity to review background material about our government, using We the People, from the Center for Civic Education. You may do this same activity with other reading material, such as a textbook, that provides information about our Constitution and organization of our government. Organize the reading material into 4-6 lessons.