September 13, 2016

THE BASICS

Topic: Constitution Day 2016

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/290068-khan-didnt-plan-to-display-constitution-during-convention

Articles

Starbucks now offers stories about citizen do-gooders to go with your coffee (9/7) (Houston Chronicle)

Good News About the US Constitution (opinion) (8/13) (Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Ekweremadu to deliver US Constitution Day Lecture (8/7) (Daily Trust)

Moment in Convention Glare Shakes Up Khans American Life (8/5) (The NY Times)

Pocket Constitution Sales Soar After Trump Feud With Khan Family (8/1) (The NY Times)

Questions to Consider

Does the celebration of Constitution Day at the time of the 2016 Presidential election have special meaning? How relevant are the principles of the Constitution in making decisions about the candidates?

Why is Constitution Day also called Citizenship Day? What is the connection between the two designations?

Which principles should be on a list of basic constitutional beliefs? Why is it important to be familiar with the Constitution and its founding principles?

How does the legacy of Justice Hugo Black both honor the Constitution and point out the contradictions that accompany his life? How do we deal with contradictions in interpreting the Constitution?

What role has the US Constitution played in influencing the rise of democracy in Africa and in other countries? How have other countries expanded upon the rights in the US Constitution?

Should pocket constitutions be given to all American citizens? Why or why not?

What rights do students have under the US Constitution? Why are certain constitution rights not afforded to juveniles?

THE EXTRAS

Pre-teaching, Extensions & Further Reading

Hugo Black, unabashed partisan for the Constitution (8/12) (Constitution Daily)

A brief of pocket constitutions and their meaning (8/2) (Constitution Daily)

To Navigate Brexit, Borrow from the US Constitution (6/29) (Freedom House)

Lesson Plans

Teaching with Documents: Constitutional Issues: Separation of Powers (National Archives)

New Online Interactive Constitution for Students and Educators (College Board)

Teaching Six Big Ideas in the Constitution (National Archives)

Constitution Day! (Center for Civic Education)

Whats the Connection?

Constitutional

What are the three main parts of the Constitution? (Reference.com)

Notable sections of the US Constitution (US Constitution)

Oregon

Ever seen the Magna Carta? Its in Portland (8/2) (KOIN)

Students

Benson, Lincoln Student Leaders: District Officials Must Be Held Accountable for Lockout (9/12) (Willamette Week)

Portland students protest forces public talk about school bond, walkout planned (9/7) (Oregonian)

Student Knowledge of the US Constitution (2002) (Alaska Justice Forum)

Oregon State Social Science Standards

8.26. Examine a controversial event, issue, or problem from more than one perspective.

HS.33. Explain the role of government in various current events.

HS.35. Examine the pluralistic realities of society (e.g., race, poverty, gender, and age), recognizing issues of equity, and evaluating need for change.

HS.59. Demonstrate the skills and dispositions needed to be a critical consumer of information.

HS.60. Analyze an event, issue, problem, or phenomenon form varied or opposing perspectives or points of view.

CCSS Anchor Standards

2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.

8. Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.

We the People Lesson Connections

Middle School, Level 2

Unit 6, Lesson 29: What are the rights and responsibilities of citizenship?

High School, Level 3

Unit 6, Lesson 33: What does it mean to be a citizen?