SS.8.A.3.11

In this lesson, students will review the support and opposition to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Type: Lesson Plan

Using the Bill of Rights, students will delve into the specific language and interpretation of each amendment to gain a deeper understanding of their intended scope and limitations, as well as connect the infringed rights of the colonists to the Amendment created to protect those rights. Using the primary source (Bill of Rights), students will analyze and interpret the amendment in their own words using a graphic organizer.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will examine the rights protected by the Bill of Rights. This is part of a 3-lesson unit on the Federalists and Anti-Federalists and the Bill of Rights with an integration to civics. 

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will learn about the Federalists and Anti-Federalists using primary source documents. This is part of a 3-lesson unit on the Federalists and Anti-Federalists and Bill of Rights.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will use prior knowledge of the American Revolution and events leading up to the Declaration of Independence to understand the necessity for a Bill of Rights. The lesson will start with reviewing the events leading to the American Revolution. Students will then examine and analyze excerpts from the viewpoints of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists and determine the meaning of the excerpt in small groups. Using the excerpts, students will create a text message thread in two groups (Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists). As a formative assessment, students will demonstrate their understanding by connecting the viewpoints expressed to the necessity of a Bill of Rights in a short exit ticket.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will analyze support and opposition for ratification of the Constitution. Additionally, students will be exposed to how the Bill of Rights protects rights of individuals.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will be able to identify key individuals who contributed to the founding documents (Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, and George Mason).

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify George Mason and his contributions to the Bill of Rights.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will become familiar with the first Chief Justice, John Jay, and his contributions to the foundation of the American government, as well as his contribiutions to The Federalist Papers.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will recognize the views of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists on adding the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution. Students will evaluate primary source excerpts from the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers and explain which perspective each provides.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will review and make connections between the Bill of Rights, their lives, and the past debates on the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.  

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will begin this lesson by creating a social media post regarding the Anti-Federalists.  They will then collaborate by working in different roles that dissect the text and meaning of the Bill of Rights.  Students will share out their information with the group and then complete a quick write.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson is meant to engage students in critical thinking about their rights within the Bill of Rights through image analysis and dicussion. Students will collectively rank their evaluation of the most important rights in our nation. 

Type: Lesson Plan

Learn about the civic and political participation of some of the Founders, including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Learn the historical arguments for and against the ratification of the U.S. Constitution with this interactive civics tutorial. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Compare the viewpoints of the two groups on opposite sides of the great debate over ratifying the U.S. Constitution--Federalists and Anti-Federalists--with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

This Tic Tac Toe activity is intended to allow students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the Bill of Rights and to explore the impacts of rights and liberties. 

Type: Teaching Idea

Students will participate in a debate using the arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. This could be a verbal, silent, or alley debate. One group will represent the Federalists and be given information relating to their arguments. The other group will act as the Anti-Federalists and be given information relating to their arguments. Provide students time to prepare their arguments either individually or as a team, then commence the debate.

Type: Teaching Idea

This 3-part video from Mount Vernon details the struggles that led delegates from the 13 colonies to hold a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. At this convention, under the leadership of George Washington, the delegates rejected the Articles of Confederation in favor of a new, stronger federal government. After the Constitution's ratification, Washington become the new nation's first president.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation