Founding & Constitution

Day-by-day calendar

1. Day 1

   Launch the unit

   TimelineWalk the era timeline; students note three turning points.

   MapLocate the places in this unit on the source map.

   QuestionPost the unit question: Where do our rights come from, and did the Constitution protect them? Students write a first-guess answer to revisit on Day 10.

2. Day 2

   Investigate: Where do our rights come from?

   Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 6 sources with the graphic organizers.

   Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.

3. Day 3

   Lesson: Socratic Seminar

   Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).

   Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).

4. Day 4

   Investigate: Were the colonists justified in declaring independence?

   Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 8 sources with the graphic organizers.

   Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.

5. Day 5

   Lesson: Mock Trial: The Colonies v. Parliament

   Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).

   Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).

6. Day 6

   Investigate: Should the Constitution have been ratified?

   Source setWork through the suggested sequence of 8 sources with the graphic organizers.

   Leveled readingsUse grade 4, 7, or 10 versions of key passages next to the original wording for readers who need support.

7. Day 7

   Lesson: Role-Play: The Ratifying Convention

   Teach itRun the lesson kit (copy the Slides and Lesson Plan from the set page).

   Quick checkClose with the 5-question Quick check (copy the student Doc; answer key included).

8. Day 8

   Gallery Walk

   Gallery WalkPost the Founding era cartoon stations; students label parts A, B, C and write what they see.

9. Day 9

   DBQ workshop

   DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “Where do our rights come from?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.

   DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “Were the colonists justified in declaring independence?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.

   DBQ builderBuild a DBQ packet from “Should the Constitution have been ratified?”: pick 5 to 7 sources and print.

   WorkshopStudents annotate the documents and outline an answer.

10. Day 10

    Final writing task

    Writing taskWrite an argument: Did the Constitution and Bill of Rights secure the rights that the Declaration of Independence claimed? Use at least four sources from the unit, including one Federalist and one Anti-Federalist source, and answer a counterargument.