Module 9: Principles and Documents of American Government- Social Studies 3 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, students will learn to connect the relationship between rules and a classroom/school to the relationship between laws and society, define the ideals that are considered the hallmarks of the American character, and interpret what the Declaration of Independence says and its impact on American history. They will interpret the main ideas of the United States Constitution and identify its impact on American history, interpret what is stated in the Bill of Rights, and describe the impact the Bill of Rights had on American history.

Module Materials:

  • Pencils
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • Notebook
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Highlighter
  • Markers
  • Blank paper

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Laws, Rules, and Consequences
  1. Connect the relationship between rules and a classroom/school to the relationship between laws and society.
2 American Ideals
  1. Define the ideals that are considered the hallmarks of the American character.
3 The Declaration of Independence
  1. Interpret what the Declaration of Independence says and its impact on American history.
4 United States Constitution
  1. Interpret the main ideas of the United States Constitution and identify its impact on American history.
5 The Bill of Rights
  1. Interpret what is stated in the Bill of Rights.
  2. Describe the impact the Bill of Rights had on American history.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
rules
laws
society
ideal
hallmark
American
Declaration of Independence
freedom
America
United States Constitution
government
Bill of Rights
Amendments

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
1 Laws, Rules, and Consequences 6 Rules and Laws Assignment
2 American Ideals 5 American Ideals Assignment
3 The Declaration of Independence 5 The 5 Ws of the Declaration of Independence Assignment

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Laws, Rules, and Consequences After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain why we have rules and laws and what the consequences are if they are broken.
2 American Ideals After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain the following: what ideals are, what a hallmark is, and the four ideals that shaped America and their hallmarks.
3 The Declaration of Independence After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain the purpose of The Declaration of Independence and its impact.
4 United States Constitution After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain the main ideas and impact of the Constitution.
5 The Bill of Rights After completing this lesson, ask your student to describe the purpose of The Bill of Rights, the 10 amendments, and the impact of The Bill of Rights.

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
Laws, Rules, and Consequences
  1. Why do we need rules?
American Ideals
  1. What are the ideals that shaped America?
The Declaration of Independence
  1. What is the Declaration of Independence?
United States Constitution
  1. What is the United States Constitution?
The Bill of Rights
  1. What is the Bill of Rights?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level
1 The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence Judith St. George and Will Hillenbrand
2 The Interactive Constitution: Explore the Constitution with flaps, wheels, color-changing words, and more! David Miles and Albert Pinilla
3 What Does the Constitution Say?: A Kid's Guide to How Our Democracy Works Ben Sheehan and Mary Kate McDevitt
4 A Kids' Guide to America's Bill of Rights: Curfews, Censorship, and the 100-Pound Giant Kathleen Krull and Anna DiVito

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing