Tag Archives: Government

2022 Vol 7: Moving to Learn

Branches of Power: Using Drama to Communicate Understanding 

Wendy Tolbert, 2nd Grade, Starmount Academy of Excellence

Curriculum Unit (PDF)

Click on the arrow to read the Synopsis.


Synopsis: This unit was a struggle to teach second graders in the past. I found an innovative and exciting way to bring this unit to life. Drama allows students to move, retain details, and be engaged all at once. The unit introduces the students to how it feels to be under Great Britain’s rule. They are forced to give up their goods and pay taxes. Then they go to war with Great Britain. Students show this by posing in a still moment using a tableau to retell history. This leads us to the discussion of the Declaration of Independence, the document that allows the colonist to separate from the king’s rule. The United States Constitution is a document that is the foundation of our democracy that states “it’s for the people by the people.” The constitution consists of three branches of power, the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. In addition, students use a reader’s theatre to act out each branch. They will show their understanding by creating a triarama. The tableaux vivant demonstrates and interprets the three branches of government. 

2018 Curriculum Units Vol 5: Exploring American Sacred Values

What Does It Mean To Be American: Who Are We and What Does It Mean To Be One of Us?

Ryan Steele, American History, Mallard Creek High School

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

Synopsis

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2017 Curriculum Units Vol 7: The Rise (and Fall) of Democracies around the World

Democratization in the Arab World

Michael Richards, World History, Bailey MS

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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2016 Curriculum Units Vol 1: Literacy and Literacies in the 21st Century

Cultural Views on Government Over Time

Michael Richards, Social Studies, Bailey Middle School

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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2012 Curriculum Units Vol 4: American Political Parties: Their Failures and Their Futures

The Amazing Race: American Politics and the Battle to be First

Jeff Joyce, AP Government and Politics, William A Hough High School

Final Unit (PDF)

Implementing Common Core Standards

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