Government, Presidents, and Elections
Grade Level: 3rd-6th Grade
Length: 8 weeks
Reason of Study:
It is important for all Christians to understand wisdom in choosing elected officials as well as seeing wisdom in decisions leaders make. It is also important to understand how our government works and how one person can make a difference, so that they may know how they can effect our world by Godly direction. To do this, one must see how the making of a bill comes about, what the Constitution says, and how one can actively participate in our country's elections.
Unit's Objectives:
- After a study of the presidents, students will be able to name all the presidents and discuss some of their contributions.
- After a study of the Constitution, each student will correctly identify and map the Articles and discuss the beginnings of the Constitution.
- After a study of the American election process, each student will list requirements and jobs of the president and participate in a mock campaign and election.
- During this study, students will reflect and apply Bible wisdom for Christians concerning government and their duties to such.
- After a study of the government branches, each student will be able to match each governmental function to its proper Cabinet.
Concepts:
Constitutional Convention and the Constitution
U. S. Government organization
Founding Fathers
Election process
Presidents
Democratic and Republican parties
Vocabulary
constitution
delegate
Founding Fathers
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Great Compromise
ratify
Bill of Rights
amend
government
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
President
Congress
House of Representatives
Senate
Supreme Court
term
amendment
2/3 majority
Democrat
Republican
bill
law
veto
ballot
cabinet
Whiskey Rebellion
election
vote
platform
primary election
general election
Electoral College
campaign
register
Candidate
inauguration
Christian Character/Bible:
Wisdom
Scriptures: Mat 22:21, Rom 3:1-7, 1 Tim 2:1-2, 1 Pet 2:13,14, Prov. 11:14, Prov. 29:12, Prov. 29:2, Prov. 20:8, Prov. 20:28, Prov. 16:10, Prov. 25:2, Prov. 29:4, Prov. 31:2-4
Resources:
Teacher Resource Books:
- Sterling, Mary Ellen, U. S. Constitution, Mary Ellen Sterling, © 1993, Teacher Created Materials
- The Mailbox: Intermediate,
Aug/Sept 1992, © The Education Center, Inc.
- Teacher's Friend,
November
- Teacher's Friend,
February
- Classmate,
Sept/Oct 1988, © Frank Schaffer
- Booklets Presidents, © The Education Center
- Hulcy, Jessica and Thaxton, Carole, Konos Curriculum Volume II,
- Heritage Studies for Christian Schools Teacher's Edition3, Bob Jones University Press
- Turner, Thomas N., Essentials of Classroom Teaching Elementary Social Studies, © 1994 Allyn and Bacon Pub.
Student Reference Books:
- Heritage Studies for Christian Schools 3 ©
Bob Jones University Press
- The History of Our United States, 1981,
A Beka Book
- Marshall, Peter and Manuel, David, The Light and the Glory For Children, 1992, Baker Book House
- Findlay, Bruce Allen and Findlay, Esther Blair, Your Rugged Constitution, 1950, Standford University Press
- Cleveland, Will and Alvarez, Mark, Yo, Millard Fillmore!, 1993, Goodwood Press
- Rubel, David, Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Presidents and Their Times, 1994, Scholastic, Inc.
Living Books:
- Brenner, Barbara, If You Were There in 1776, 1994, Simon and Schuster Pub.
- Barnes, Peter W. and Cheryl, House Mouse, Senate Mouse, 1999, Scholastic Inc.
- Levy, Elizabeth, If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution, Scholastic Inc.
- Gross, Ruth Belov, If You Grew Up With George Washington, 1982, Scholastic, Inc.
- Freedman, Russell, Lincoln: A Photobiography, 1987, Scholastic Inc.
- Maestro, Betsy and Giulio, A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution, 1987, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books
- Harness, Cheryl, Young Abe Lincoln: The Frontier Days, 1809-1837, 1996, National Geographic Society
- Harness, Cheryl, Abe Lincoln Goes to Washington 1837-1865, 1997, National Geographic Society
- D'Aulaire, Ingri and Edgar Parin, Abraham Lincoln, 1939, Doubleday and Company, Inc.
- Miers, Earl Schenck, That Jefferson Boy, 1970, The World Publishing Company
- How We Choose A President
, by Lee Learner Gray, 1964, St. Martin's Press, Inc.
- D'Aulaire, Ingri and Edgar Parin, George Washington, 1936, Doubleday & Company
- Wise, William, American Freedom and The Bill of Rights, 1975, Parents' Magazine Press
- Fritz, Jean, Shh! We're Writing the Constitution, 1987, G. P. Putnam's Sons
Audovisual Materials:
Computer Resources and Games:
- Presidents Rummy
Game Cards, School Zone
- Internet Sites:
Materials:
copy/blank paper
newspapers
ingredients for victory party treats
objects for cabinet positions
U. S. Map worksheet
Craft sticks
Fourth of July decorations
materials for mock elections - ballots, voting booth, registration cards, etc.
materials for banners and slogans
posterboard
materials to make up flash cards for cabinets and president facts
Field Trip(s):
Activities:
Throughout the Unit:
- Collect newspaper clippings on the 2000 election
- Add presidents and Founding Fathers to timeline
- Discuss vocabulary as needed
- Learn the Presidents and some information relevant to them
- Research project on president of choice
- Read a variety of books on the unit theme
Week 1:
- Read a biography on George Washington and write a mini-biography
- Discuss Washington's Whiskey Rebellion decisions and the two parties during his second term - Federalists and Republicans
- Write list on Bible wisdom on what a good leader is
- Mr. President, Who Will You Choose simulation
Week 2:
- Decorate classroom up for election
- Do a Presidents booklet from Mailbox
- Search the web sites mentioned above to get a overview of the election process
Week 3:
- Read biography of Thomas Jefferson
- Visit Monticello on the web and create a model of it
Week 4:
- Answer comprehension questions about the making of the Constitution.
- Write a letter to a candidate discussing some of his platforms
- Participate in a co-op day
- Electoral College Tug of War
- Make a Constitutional Book using short phrases to summarize the articles and pictures students' draw to help visualize these articles.
- Discuss Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise
- Fill in voter's registration form and discuss requirements for voters and presidents (copies of form to be picked up at post office)
- Discuss public image and create students' idea of the perfect candidate and their platform
- Create banners and slogans for candidates
Week 5:
- Read a biography on Ben Franklin
- Use some of Ben Franklin's wise sayings for penmanship practice
- Do a speech for co-op on a platform issue
- Read a biography of James Madison
- Mock campaign victory party
- Do a study of the Electoral College and investigate each states electoral votes
- Learn and place presidential election processes in order
- Internet research and understanding of current political platforms of each party
- Build platform with craft sticks of running candidates platforms
- Participate in a mock campaign and election with co-op
Week 6:
- U.S. Government Branches and Functions Poster
- Begin playing Presidents Rummy card game and continue throughout the rest of the unit
- Visit the White House on the Web
- Discuss amendments that have overcome voting denials
- Discuss how Constitution can be amended. Read Bill of Rights and discuss.
Week 7:
- Match responsibilities with the Cabinets
- Sort function cards into proper box marked with government branch
Week 8:
- Match Presidents with historical events
- Present President Project
- Participate in on-line election (web site mentioned above)
Cumulating Activity:
- Watch the election night results
- Color code Electoral College votes and election ballot votes on U. S. Map
- Participate in an on-line election quiz (web site mentioned above)
Assessment:
Project and Activity evaluations worth total 640 points
© Tamra Monroe, 2000
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