Teaching 6 Big Ideas in the Constitution with Resources from The National Archives &

1. Teaching 6 Big Ideas in the Constitution with Resources from The National Archives & The Center for Legislative Archives

3. http:// www.archives.gov/legislative/resources/education/constitution/

4. We teach about: What Congress Does And Why it Matters

5. Archives and history classes share a common mission: engaging students in history.

6. When we engage students in active learning with original records, we trigger powerful discoveries

7. that help them better understand today and inspire civic engagement tomorrow.

8. When we invite students to analyze President Thomas Jefferson’s decision to acquire the Louisiana territory

9. Or challenge them to formulate a congressional compromise to save the Union in 1850

10. Through active learning with primary sources, we open their eyes to history as a living set of choices and unfinished revolutions.

11. We take them to the defining moments that shaped our national destiny

12. and inspire them to contribute their voices to shaping the next chapter of our history.

13. Educational Resources from the National Archives http://www.archives.gov

14. http://www.archives.gov/legislative/

15. http://www.archives.gov/legislative/resources/education

16. “The vast majority of Americans cherish the U.S. Constitution but do not know much about it. http://www.constitutioncenter.org/ncc_home_Landing.aspx

18. Honor the TEKS

19. 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter B, Middle School

20. (16)  Government. The student understands the American beliefs and principles reflected in the U.S. Constitution … • (D)  analyze how the U.S. Constitution reflects the principles of: • limited government • republicanism • checks and balances • federalism • separation of powers • popular sovereignty • * individual rights (See our lesson: Congress & the Creation of the Bill of Rights)

21. Start where the students are

23. Study primary sources

26. Mapping the Constitution prepares students to consider questions such as the following: According to the map, which topics received the most attention from the Founders? In what ways does the map suggest how the Founders weighed the relative importance of various sections and powers in the new government? What significance is suggested by the order of topics discussed in the Constitution? To what extent does the map match today’s government?

27. The Founders’ Social Network

28. Biographical Resources for Constructing An 18th Century Social Network http://usconstitution.net/constframedata.html http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html

29. Likes

30. Finding 6 Big Ideas in the Constitution • Divide the students into groups with each group assigned a Big Idea. • Supply each group with a transcript of the Constitution (printed or electronic). • Have the students identify text in the Constitution that refers to their big idea. • Have them place the ideas on a chart.

31. A second technique for identifying 6 big ideas in the Constitution

32. Relate the 6 Big Ideas to History Analyze historic documents Determine which of the 6 Big Ideas each matches

34. Apply what the students learn to their lives

35. Relate 6 big ideas in the Constitution to civic life today: • becoming politically active by debating big ideas • Each debate assigns five participants to each side of an issue. • Each speaks for no more than two minutes. • Teams alternate speakers.

36. Debate Topic Example

37. Teaching History with the Records of Congress http://www.archives.gov/legislative/resources/education

38. Active citizens are engaged in civic action informed by the Constitution The National Archives And the Center for Legislative Archives Are your partners in civic education.