Due:
2nd Nine Weeks, Week 4
Monday, Nov 2, 2026: Introduction/Bell Ringer #43: Students will answer the following question: How does the Constitution reflect the principle of separation of powers? Give at least 2 examples of how the system of checks and balances reflect the principles of limited government. Students will write a one paragraph response to the prompt and be prepared to share with the class. Classwork: Today we will complete an activity on the Bill of Right, or the first Ten Amendments to the Constitution. Students will read in their textbooks on pages 238 - 240 What Fundamental Liberties Does the Bill of Rights Ensure? To understand what these amendments do and what rights and liberties they give to us as American citizens. Students are NOT allowed to work in groups for this activity. Students will then be given a worksheet to complete, Creating A School Bill of Rights. Students will need to come up with ten amendments that they feel are necessary for our school to be successful. Students will make a list of ten amendments and then take their top 5 and explain why you chose these as absolute necessities for the rights of a student here at Lake Middle School. Students should use the Bill of Rights listed in the American Constitution as a guide for what they should look for in an amendment. Homework: Students will need to complete this worksheet, Creating a School Bill of Rights, for homework if it was not finished in class. Students will also be given their new list of vocabulary today, Topic 4, List 3. This list of vocabulary will be due next Tuesday, Nov 10th!
Tuesday, Nov 3, 2026: Introduction/Bell Ringer #44: Students will answer the following question: Imagine your school tried to stop students from forming a club to discuss a local environmental issue. Which two specific rights from the 1st Amendment would this action likely violate? Students will write a one paragraph response to the prompt and be prepared to share with the class. Classwork: We will begin on Topic 4: A Constitution for the United States (1776-Present) Lesson 6: Federalism and Amendments on page 237 of our textbook. Students will be prepared to take notes from the board as we go through and discuss the first sections of this lesson. Students will cover sections in Lesson 6 today: Constitutional Amendment and What Fundamental Liberties Does the Bill of Rights Ensure? (slides 86 - 90) After completing the lecture for today the students will be given a project where they will each be assigned an amendment to the Constitution. Coach Hanna will assign these randomly! (Amendments 1-26!) They will complete their project for their one amendment only. This project will consist of a 2 page paper to be written and a creative component that is used to explain their amendment even further. This project will be due on Wednesday, November 18, 2026. We will spend the 18th,19th, and 20th, presenting the creative components to our classes. Homework: Begin your project!! Do some research and get started on what type of creative component you want to make!!
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Introduction/Bell Ringer #45: Students will answer the following question: Why do you think the Framers devoted four amendments to protecting the rights of the accused? Students will write a one paragraph response to the prompt and be prepared to share with the class. Classwork: Students will take a small break today from covering content in the textbook to working on some skills that will assist them in ELA, Writing, and other areas that require reading, map and chart skills, and other important standards. Students will be given a packet of worksheets to complete in class today where they will work on skills such as analyzing political cartoons, predicting consequences, distinguishing fact from opinion, reading a table, understanding what you read, recognizing cause and effect, drawing conclusions, reading circle graphs, and reading timelines. If the students complete the packet of worksheets in class, they may use the remainder of the class time to work on their Amendment Project. Homework: Remind students not to forget about their vocab that is due next Tuesday, Nov 10th, Topic 4 List 3. Students will also need to finish the packet of worksheets that was given in class today for homework if they were not completed today.
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Introduction/Bell Ringer #46: Students will answer the following question: If a public school can punish a student for something they post online from home that is highly critical of the principal, are their First Amendment rights violated? Why or why not?" Students will write a one paragraph response to the prompt and be ready to discuss with the class. Classwork: We will continue today on Topic 4: A Constitution for the United States (1776-Present) Lesson 6: Federalism and Amendments on page 241 of our textbook. Students will be prepared to take notes from the board as we go through and discuss the first sections of this lesson. Students will cover sections in Lesson 6 today: Why Have Additional Amendments Been Created?, State Government, and What Responsibilities Do Local Governments Have? (slides 91 - 96). After completing the lecture for today the students will complete the Lesson Check for Lesson 6 on page 245 of the textbook. Students will write the question and an answer for questions 1-4 and write a paragraph response for question 5. Here the students will continue to work on their essays where they will use tone and personal feelings to enhance their writings on whether or not the government should have more or less power over the people. Students will turn these questions in if they finish them. Homework: If they do not finish the questions in class they will need to finish them for homework.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Introduction/Bell Ringer #47: Students will answer the following question: In what ways are most state constitutions similar to the U. S. Constitution? In what ways are the state constitutions often different from the U.S. Constitution? Students will write a one paragraph response to the prompt and be ready to discuss with the class. Classwork: We will begin today on Topic 4: A Constitution for the United States (1776-Present) Lesson 7: Citizens’ Rights and Responsibilities on page 247 of our textbook. Students will be prepared to take notes from the board as we go through and discuss the first sections of this lesson. Students will cover sections in Lesson 7 today: American Citizenship and Civic Virtue, Citizenship, and Democratic Values. (slides 97 - 100). After completing the lecture for today, students will use the remainder of the day to work on their Topic 4, List 3 Vocabulary that is due on Tuesday or work on their Amendment Project. Homework: Continue to work on Topic 4 List 3 Vocabulary and Amendment Project!