Digital Unit Plan Template

Unit Title: The Bill of Rights

Name: Cathy Cabada

Content Area: U.S. History

Grade Level: 8th Grade

CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s): United States History and Geography: Growth and Conflict
8.2
Students analyze the political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution and compare the enumerated and implied
powers of the federal government. 1. Discuss the significance of the English Bill of Rights.
3. Evaluate the major debates that occurred during the development of the Constitution and their ultimate resolutions in such
areas as shared power among institutions, divided state-federal power, slavery, the rights of individuals and states (later
addressed by the addition of the Bill of Rights).
4. Describe the political philosophy underpinning the Constitution.
6. Enumerate the powers of government set forth in the Constitution and the fundamental liberties ensured by the Bill of Rights.
7. Describe the principles of federalism, dual sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, the nature and purpose of
majority rule, and the ways in which the American idea of constitutionalism preserves individual rights.
Big Ideas:
How do The Bill of Rights affect individuals day to day in the United States? What do The Bill of Rights do? Why are the Bill of
Rights the most important Amendments? How are individual rights protected?

Unit Goals and Objectives:

The goal is for students to be able to list The Bills of Rights. The objective is for students to be able to analyze how each specific
right illustrates the different ways in which the United States functions as a whole. Students can make connections about certain
policies that have been in established within their community. Students can see why it is that a government needs The Bill of
Rights.

Unit Summary:
This unit plan will start off with what are The Bill of Rights? Students will explore in depth what each Amendment entails. Along
with a lecture introduction students will learn the historical aspect as to why The Bill of Rights were created during that time
period. Students will explore causes and issues that arose during the time of our founding fathers which gave birth to the Bill of

Rights. Students will also analyze different issues and problems that are relevant in todays world. They will explore many
questions such as why certain policies may or may not be fair and why do we still follow many of them. By the end of this unit
students will have learned all ten amendments and have a greater understanding of ways in which the U.S. democratic system
works in the real world.
Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level: Students will log on to
SurveyMonkey and answer the questions
listed. This is an online tool that students
can find more engaging. The teacher is
able to identify what students may know
prior to the lecture.

Formative: Within the lecture process

students can access Quizlet. I have
provided flash cards with words that
students need to be familiar with in order
to fully comprehend the lecture.
Puzzlemaker is another form of online
tool students can use to acquire more
knowledge about important components
The Bill of Rights. Another online tool is
Quiz center it contains questions which
enables students to work in groups and
interact to understand the rules and
functions of the government. The last
online tool is Quia Web which is a great
place for students to match categories on
terms they have learned. A great way to
recap information.

Summative: The online rubric explains

how students will be graded. It shows the
way in which they will be rated based on
their presentation. Students will perform
a debate and this rubric is what they
need to follow in order to receive a good
grade. The last thing students will do is
write an essay to demonstrate what they
have learned. Followed by the guidelines
intel has provided.

Lesson 1
Student Learning
Objective:
Students will be able
to define and
recognize The Bill of
Rights. They can
analyze Amendments
in different context.
Students will be able
to explain the reasons
that influenced the
ratification of The Bill
of Rights to keep only
the ten Amendments.

Acceptable Evidence:
Students can explain
and describe the
functions of The Bill of
Rights giving proper
examples.

Instructional
Strategies:
Communication
Collection
Collaboration
Presentation
Organization
Interaction

Lesson Activities:
* This Lesson will start out with a YouTube video on The Bill
of Rights. Once students get a glimpse on The Bill of Rights
they will get into groups of four to discuss what goes into
creating Amendments. Issues or necessities that influence
the formation of Amendments. Followed by in depth lecture
on each Amendment. Students will then be able to watch
another YouTube video that can introduce the students how
some Amendments vary in the way they are carried out from
one state to another and the ways in which it can cause
debates among different state policies. Students can then
discuss amongst each other and make connections to see
how these issues may be relevant in their community. What
issues does their particular community encounter. This will
be followed by a quick write where students will write about

the importance of voting and how that affects what policies

are executed. Students can then do an activity online on
icivics where they can play a game. The game deals with
critical thinking skills. In addition it will give them scenarios
they can judge for themselves. This will be followed by
homework on an online tool. Students will access voice
thread and make comments about their thoughts on their
topic on the icivics game.

Lesson 2

Student Learning
Objective:
Students will be able
to navigate the web
to answer questions.
They can become
familiar with other
online resources to
help them better
understand the topic.
Lesson 3

Acceptable Evidence:
Students know how to
navigate the web.
They can find reliable
online sources with
information on their
own.

Instructional
Strategies:
Communication
Collection
Collaboration
Presentation
Organization
Interaction

Lesson Activities:
Students will complete a Webquest that includes online
navigation. They will be provided questions that will have
links to open different online sources. This is an online
assignment. All questions will be answered by navigating the
internet.

Student Learning
Objective:
Students can analyze
the main points of The
Bill of Rights. The
purpose they carry.

Acceptable Evidence:
Students have insight
as to why an event
such as the death
penalty can be
controversial.
Students know what
Amendments protect
them.

Instructional
Strategies:
Communication
Collection
Collaboration
Presentation
Organization
Interaction

Lesson Activities:
Students will create a graphic organizer. This will help them
with the main ideas. Students can do a lot of critical thinking
while completing this assignment. This will be an assignment
done individually. This task will help them write their
personal thoughts on this topic. Students will organize topics
in categories. It will be a breakdown of what The Bill of
Rights do for society and individuals.

Unit Resources:
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/46032385/1902-09-05/ed-1/seq-2/
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/bill-of-rights/index.html
http://docsteach.org/home/constitution

Useful Websites:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYEfLm5dLMQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMFsBsqOQaU#t=12
http://www.slidesnack.com/
http://www.projeqt.com/education