USF's WebQuest 

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Unit Summary Teacher's Resources Day 1 Lesson Day 2 Lesson
Day 3 Lesson Day 4 Lesson Day 5 Lesson Day 6 Lesson
Conclusion Student's Web Quest  

WebQuest Title: A Citizenís Guide to the Bill of Rights      

Grade Level: 9-12

Dear Colleague: This unit will present a different way of looking at the Bill of Rights.  This unit will focus on the text of the Bill of Rights, as well as the modern-day implications of these amendments.  Students will leave this unit with an understanding of the important role these amendments play in their own lives.  This unit provides an excellent foundation for further study of the US Constitution itself and the amendment process.  Your students will leave this unit with the knowledge that the Bill of Rights is indeed as relevant today as it was the day it was created.

Author: Bisa Phillips Gilmore                

Date: April 15, 2006                  

Unit Summary:
    Goals/Objectives:

1.      Students will be able to identify the ten amendments that make up the Bill of Rights.

2.      Students will be able to explain the significance of the Bill of Rights.

3.      Students will be able to identify the modern-day implications of these ten amendments.

4.      Students will be able to offer creative solutions for making this material accessible for the ìaverage American citizen.î

 

    NCSS Themes:

   Days:

6(90 minute block schedule)

    Content:

The content will focus on the creation and implication of the Bill of Rights, which consists of the first ten amendments of the United States Constitution.  After studying the actual contents of the Bill of Rights, students will have to find the various ways that each of the ten amendments affects them today.

    Methods:

Lecture, Interactive Discussion, Cooperative Learning, Internet WebQuest, Group Presentations, PowerPoint Presentation, Class Readings and both Written and Alternative Assessments. 

 

WebQuest  Summary:
    Goals/Objectives:

Students will create a ìCitizenís Guide to the Bill of Rightsî in PowerPoint. This guide will explain the amendments in simple terms, and explain the modern-day implications of these amendments.  Students will then present their ìCitizenís Guidesî to the class.

    Days:

3 (90 minute block schedule)

    Content:

Students will use the given websites to research the contents of the Bill of Rights and the modern-day implications of these amendments.  Students will use their research to create a ìCitizenís Guide to the Bill of Rightsî that will explain their findings to the average United States citizen.     

    Methods:   

Students will use this website to gather the necessary information, create a ìCitizenís Guideî and then present the ìGuideî (in PowerPoint format) to the rest of the class.

       Teachers Resources
 

Unit Information:
    

Background Resources

 
Web-based Subject Matter Content

 The U.S. Constitution online - Teaching the Constitution: http://www.usconstitution.net/constteach.html

 PBS: Revolution- The Constitution and New America: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2narr5.html

 Teaching American History- The Constitutional Convention:

http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/

 
Web Pedagogy Content

EduScapes: http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic4.htm

 Internet for Classrooms: http://www.internet4classrooms.com/on-line2.htm

 Internet for Classrooms- Lesson Plan: http://www.internet4classrooms.com/webguide_template.htm

PowerPoint in the Classroom: http://www.actden.com/pp/
 
 Other Resources
  Constitution Facts: http://www.constitutionfacts.com/index.htm
  National Constitution Center: http://www.constitutioncenter.org/explore/TheU.S.Constitution/index.shtml

  National Archives Experience:

http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html

  The Bill of Rights Institute: http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/instructional/resources/BRINews/DailyHeadlines.asp

Brain Pop: http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/billofrights/
History Channel: Constitution: http://www.historychannel.org/perl/print_book.pl?ID=206382
 Wikipedia: The United States Constitution: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitution


Unit Lesson Sequence
 

Day 1    Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline

Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc)

Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
 

 Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)
Activating Prior Knowledge Brainstorm Instructions
Review Game Jeopardy (online)

NOTE: This game reviews the basic concepts of the Constitution and the American system of Government.  There are only a few questions about the Bill of Rights.  This can be used to activate prior knowledge, as well.

 Internet
Introduction Movie from BrainPop (online)

Internet,

Handout (Quiz)
Interactive Lecture The Bill of Rights Textbook

Day 2    Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline

Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc)

Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
 

 Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)
Attention Getter Bill of Rights in regular words  PowerPoint Presentation
Discussion Applying the Bill of Rights to modern-day situations Handout
Activity Illustrating the Bill of Rights  Instructions

Day 3    Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline

Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc)

Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
 

 Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)
Bingo Game Review of the information learned in the last two sessions  Instructions
Lecture Webquest introduction/PowerPoint overview  PowerPoint Tutorial
Assignment Group Assignments (Have heterogenous groups and assign each group member a specific role.  Refer to the student page for more specific instructions.) Webquest

Day 4    Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline

Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc)

Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
 

 Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)
Group Work on the WebQuest Students will work together to build a Citizenís Guide about the Bill of Rights Webquest Textbook

Day 5    Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline

Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc)

Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
 

 Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)
Group work on WebQuest Students continue to work on their Citizen's Guides, and prepare for presentations Webquest , Textbook

Day 6    Back to Top
Lesson Plan Outline

Method (Attention Getter, Lecture, Callout Group, etc)

Content/Key Ideas/Concepts/Facts
 

 Materials
(Transparencies, audio, handouts, etc)
Presentation Presentation of Citizenís Guides outlining the contents and modern day implications of the Bill of Rights Rubric (also available on Student page) 
Discussion Concluding discussion   
Citizenís Guides Turned in All projects will be turned in to the teacher to be graded  Rubric (also available on student page)

 Students WebQuest :

Go to Students Section

Conclusion:

At the end of this unit, students should possess a firm knowledge of the contents of the Bill of Rights.  Following the webquest project, students should know both factual content specific information, as well as the various ways that the Bill of Rights amendments affect their lives today.

Credits/References:

Magruder's American Government.  Pages 72-78 (Bill of Rights, Formal Amendment) & Pages 771-773 (Full Text).  Prentice Hall: Needham, MA (2004.