Constitutional Powers Lesson Plan for 8th Grade Example Students

Topic: Constitutional powers

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will understand the different types of constitutional authorities and their respective roles and functions.
• Students will be able to identify and explain the components and functions of the legislative authority, the executive authority, and the judicial authority.
• Students will be able to identify and explain the relationship between the Senate and the House of Representatives.
• Students will understand the objectives and functions of the judicial system and the principles of separation of powers.

Materials

• Textbook or other written materials on constitutional powers
• Handouts or worksheets on the different constitutional authorities and their functions
• Whiteboard or chalkboard and markers
• Classroom furniture (optional)

Warm-Up

• Have students work in small groups to complete a KWL chart on constitutional powers. K=what they know already, W=what they want to know, L=what they learned.

Direct Instruction

• Begin the lesson by asking the students what they know about the U.S. Constitution.
• Use the KWL chart to guide the discussion and fill in any gaps in the students' knowledge.
• Next, introduce the concept of constitutional authorities and the three branches of government.
• Explain that the Constitution establishes three separate and independent branches of government with distinct and separate powers: the legislative authority, the executive authority, and the judicial authority.
• Discuss the components and functions of each branch, using the handouts as a guide.
• For the legislative authority, discuss the composition of the House of Representatives and the Senate, their roles and responsibilities, and the relationship between the two bodies.
• For the executive authority, discuss the role of the President and the Cabinet, their roles and responsibilities, and the mechanisms for appointments and removal.
• For the judicial authority, discuss the role of the Supreme Court and lower courts, their roles and responsibilities, and the structure of the Judicial Council.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and give each group a different constitutional authority to research.
• Have the groups use the Internet or other resources to gather information about their assigned authority, including its components, functions, and history.
• Have the groups present their findings to the class, encouraging discussion and further inquiry.
• If time permits, have the class create a visual representation of their research, such as a timeline or a mind map.

Independent Practice

• Have students individually or in small groups create a brochure or pamphlet that explains the three constitutional authorities to a hypothetical new citizen.
• Encourage students to use visuals and clear language to simplify the sometimes-complex concepts.
• Have students share their brochures or pamphlets with the rest of the class, encouraging discussion.

Closure

• Review the objectives of the lesson and ask students to summarize their understanding of the components and functions of the three constitutional authorities.
• Ask students to share any questions or thoughts they still have about the lesson.

Assessment

• Observe students during the group work and independent practice to assess their understanding of the topic.
• Collect and grade the written work for understanding of the components and functions of each constitutional authority and the relationship between the three authorities.
• Administer a quiz at a future date to assess retention of the material.