The Constitution
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The Constitution |
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Harley Miller |
Teacher's Guide The US Constitution: A Living Document Through Interpretation General Goals This web site is a companion to 12th grade American Government. Before graduating from High School, all students must take this class to become aware of how our government actually works and what the rights and responsibilities of each US citizen are. Our nation was founded on the idea that government is necessary to maintain order, but that it must be limited in order to preserve the liberty that had been fought so hard for. The US Constitution establishes the form that the government of the United States follows, separating the powers into three branches of government with checks and balances instituted to prevent any individual or group from getting too much power. More than that, the Constitution is written in broad language that presents the ideas and ideals that make this country what it is. These ideals have been difficult to implement in the real world. Over time our nation has incorporated these ideals to a much greater extent than when the nation first began. I believe that the primary means to limiting the power of the government and retaining our liberty with an increased appreciation of who and what that liberty applies to is an informed and active citizenry that is dedicated to those ideas and ideals that are the backbone of our Constitution. Learner Description This web site is designed for 12th grade students. These students begin the school year at 17 years old and end it at 18 years old. At 18 they are eligible to vote, join the military service, and in general become full-fledged citizens of the United States. They are about to trade the busy lives of students with extra-curricular activities foremost in their minds for the busy lives of adults worried about making a living and providing for their families. This is the time of their lives when knowing the rights and responsibilities of a US citizen becomes extremely relevant.
Subject Matter This curriculum is centered on subject matter relevant to interpreting the US Constitution at different times in US history. Topics will include:
Learning Objectives After completing this curriculum web students will be able to:
Prerequisites In order to use the US Constitution, a Living Document Through Interpretation curriculum web, students should be able to:
Aims This curriculum is designed to help high school seniors determine their own interpretations of the Constitution based on their own values and a study of various Constitutional interpretations of major issues over time.
Rationale This site focuses on the Constitution and its amendments. The Constitution and its amendments have stayed the same in wording over the years, but the interpretations of what those words mean has changed as our society has changed. 12th grade students getting ready to take up citizenship duties will examine the text of the Constitution and its amendments and then compare some of the interpretations of the text on important issues such as gender, race, and the economy at different time periods in our history in relationship to current interpretations. By studying the various interpretations of the Constitution in light of their own values, the students will be able to formulate their own interpretations that will become the backbone of their political belief. This will allow them to make their own informed choices when voting for their representatives in our government. Evaluation Rubric for this curriculum web Below is a copy of the rubric for this web site.Click here for a downloadable word version of the rubric. Please feel free to download it, fill it in, and e-mail it to me at harleymiller@mail.boisestate.edu Thank you!
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