Content Organizer Lesson Plan 1

Content Organizer Curriculum Framework Essential Understandings

The student will demonstrate knowledge of the Constitution of the United States by examining the ratification debates and The Federalist. Students will evaluate how the debates over ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America focused on power given to the national government and how the amount of power given to the national government polarized the ratification debates. Students will identify that nine of thirteen states needed to ratify the constitution. Students will state the positions and views held by The Federalist and AntiFederalist. Materials and Lesson Preparation

Internet access, textbook and chalk board or dry erase board. A graphic organizer in the form of a chart displayed on the front board of the classroom will be set up before class for students to fill out after research is gathered from the textbook and relevant websites. Students will then present findings to the class. “Biographies of the Founding Fathers.” Colonial Hall. 2001. Web. Oct. 2009. . This Web site features 103 biographical sketches of America's Founding Fathers divided into three groups: Signers of the Declaration, Signers of the Articles of Confederation, and Signers of the U.S. Constitution. Fraga, Louis R. United States Government: Principles In Practice. Austin: Holt McDougal, 2010. Print. Content Information and Vocabulary

Ratification debates • Nine of thirteen states needed to ratify constitution • Anti-Federalist position – Suspicious of a strong central government – Wanted bill of rights to protect personal liberties • Federalist position – Believed that a strong central government was the best way to protect freedom The Federalist was a series of essays supporting adoption of the Constitution of the United States of America. Connections – Cross-Curricular and Real-World

Homework assignment that involves students writing a one page, properly formatted letter, written in character as a delegate from the 1787 Philadelphia Convention to another delegate of the opposing viewpoint. The student will display understanding and knowledge of the subject material by citing classroom activities, textbook or web resources to support their argument.