8th Grade Government For The People, By The People Lesson Plan Example

Topic: Government for the people, by the people

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will understand the meaning of a government for the people, by the people and its importance in a democracy.

Materials

• Map of the United States
• Quotes from famous Americans about government
• Handout with definition of government for the people, by the people and its importance in a democracy

Warm-up

• Have students think about their own government and its role in their lives.
• Ask them what they think it means for a government to be "for the people, by the people."
• Write their answers on the board and discuss as a class.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of democratic government, explaining that it is a system of government where the people have a say in how they are governed.
• Discuss the Preamble to the Constitution, which states that the purpose of the government is to "establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity."
• Discuss the different branches of government and their roles, including the legislative branch, which makes the laws; the executive branch, which enforces the laws; and the judicial branch, which interprets the laws.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and give each group a copy of the Constitution.
• Have the groups read through the Constitution and look for passages that support the statements in the Preamble.
• Have each group share their findings with the class.

Independent Practice

• Have students choose one of the rights listed in the Preamble (e.g. "the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness") and research how that right is protected in the United States.
• Have students create a poster or presentation to share their findings with the class.

Closure

• Review the main points of the lesson, including the meaning of "government for the people, by the people," the importance of protecting rights, and the concepts of majority rule and minority rights.
• Ask students to reflect on what it means to be a citizen of the United States and how their participation in government affects the way they live their lives.

Assessment

• Observe students during the independent practice and give feedback on their presentations.
• Collect and grade the project-based learning activities.
• Administer a quiz to assess understanding of the meaning of "government for the people, by the people" and the importance of protecting rights.