American Government – Grade 8

District 2853

Month

Content

Performance Standards Addressed

Skills for Student Achievement

Assessment

 

2 Weeks

·         Who Americans Are

·         American Cultural Mosaic

·         Values that unite us

 

·         Identify ways Americans are alike and different

·         Explain why people from other countries come to America

·         Describe how diversity has affected American society

·         Describe how American values continue to attract immigrants

·         Define the basic values that unite us as a nation

·         Develop, conduct and display results of a survey on diversity

·         Work in groups to develop a system of grouping the backgrounds of Americans

·         Quizzes and tests

·         Enrichment readings of supplementary documents

2 Weeks

·         Groups, Institutions

·         Family, Religion, Education

·         Economy

 

·         Understand social rules and institutions

·         Identify the ways these institutions meet society’s needs

·         Identify human needs that our economy meets

·         Role Play:  Act out people making decisions and evaluate

·         List examples that illustrate the role school plays in society

·         Read about successful businesses and business individuals and how the students would start their own businesses

2 Weeks

·         Being an American Citizen

·         Rights, duties and responsibilities of citizens

 

·         List the legal requirements for citizenship in America

·         Explain differences between rights and duties of citizenship

·         Quizzes and tests

2 Weeks

·         Colonial Experience

 

·         Describe the role of colonists in government

·         Define rights and responsibilities of colonial citizens

·         Identify the freedoms early colonists sought

·         Write an editorial for a colonial newspaper showing a particular point of view

2-3 Weeks

·         Roots of American Government

·         U.S. Constitution

 

·         Examine the connections between American Government and ancient governments of Greece and Rome

·         Read and analyze the Constitutional Convention and the struggle for ratification

·         Read about the Federalists and Anti-Federalists

·         Explore the reasons for ratification of the Constitution

·         Chart early governments showing differences and similarities

·         Act as delegates to the Constitutional Convention

·         Write a letter to a family member describing what the Convention was like and how they felt about it

2 Weeks

·         Adding the Billing of Rights

 

·         Describe the major features of the Bill of Rights

·         Summarize the debates in Congress over the Bill of Rights

·         Describe how the Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution

·         Test and quizzes

2 Weeks

·         Congress

 

·         Read and analyze the duties of a member of Congress

·         Summarize the requirements for membership

·         Identify issues of concern in our area for members of Congress

2 Weeks

·         Powers of Congress

 

·         Describe how Congress uses its powers to meet the goals stated in the Preamble to the Constitution

·         Explain how the limits on the power of Congress protect the rights of citizens

·         Create charts to illustrate the powers of Congress

2-3 Weeks

·         Organization of Congress

·         Following a Bill in Congress

 

·         Summarize the committees in Congress

·         Explain the President’s role in the law making process

·         Describe the path a bill follows to become a law

·         Summarize the committee system in Congress

·         Create visuals to show the path a bill follows to become a law

2 Weeks

·         Roles of the President

·         Organization of the Executive Branch

 

·         Describe the President’s role as head of the Executive Branch

·         Define the role of the Executive Office

·         Explain the importance of the various executive agencies and departments

·         Explore the processes of carrying out the law

·         Read a biography about a president and create a report to share with the class

·         Select a particular government  agency and write a report to share with the class

2 Weeks

·         Role of the Federal Courts

 

·         Explain the need for laws and legal system

·         Describe the role of courts in our legal system

·         Compare the roles of state and federal courts

·         Role play a courtroom scene and legal case

2 Weeks

·         Organization of the Federal Courts

 

·         Explain the role of the Supreme Court

·         Summarize the responsibilities of federal judges

·         Class speaker – attorney, judge or court clerk to discuss his/her role in the court system and the work of the courts

1 Week

·         The Supreme Court

 

·         Explain the workings of the U.S. Supreme Court

·         Describe the power and limitations of the Supreme Court and how the Court’s power is checked by the branches of government

·         Conduct a mock trial in a case that would possibly appear before the Supreme Court

2 Weeks

·         State Legislature

 

·         Explain the role of state legislatures throughout our nation’s history

·         Describe how state legislatures are organized

·         Summarize the powers of state legislatures

·         Identify ways in which citizens can influence state governments

·         Record information about the students own state legislature

·         Work in groups to describe a law the students would propose to their state legislature

·         Study and identify state taxes for the students own state

1 Week

·         State Executive Branch

 

·         Describe the powers of the Governor

·         Explain the role of executive officials and state executive agencies

·         Group activity to find newspaper articles demonstrating the various roles of the Governor

1 Week

·         State Courts

 

·         Describe the function of the state court system

·         Show the functions of a typical state court

1-2 Weeks

·         Local Government

 

·         Explore the origin and purpose of counties and townships

·         Describe the role of citizens in the New England town system

·         Explain why special districts are created

·         Create a bulletin board display of articles about current events in local governments

1-2 Weeks

·         Local Government Services and Revenue

 

·         Summarize the role of local governments in providing public education

·         Identify examples of health and welfare programs

·         Examine local governments role to the public

·         Review the issues facing local governments

·         Analyze the major daily services provided by local governments

1 Week

·         Laws

 

·         Explain how laws bring order to society

·         Describe how laws provide safety and protection  for its citizens

·         Define the common purpose of all laws

·         Analyze the link between laws and morals

·         Review the background and reasons for laws today

2 Weeks

·         Political Parties

·         Our Two Party System

 

·         Explain how political parties function

·         Describe ways that political parties link citizens to their government

·         Summarize the history of political parties in the U.S.

·         Describe the role of third parties in our democracy

·         Compare the basic beliefs of the two major parties

·         Prepare an informational sheet on our upcoming election, the candidates and the major issues

·         Students discuss what it means to be a member of a political party

 

TECHNOLOGY USED:

            Computer used to research career projects and Presidential reports

            Selected videos on government topics

            Overhead Projector used on various social topics