Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Lesson Plan
Rationale:
Before studying the Constitution, students need to understand why a new form of government needed to be drafted. Many people found various weaknesses within the Articles of Confederation. Students need to understand what aspects of the first attempt at government were failures and why. Students will also be able to understand multicultural histories and herstories to get a greater understanding of the effects of the Articles of Confederation.
Curriculum Frameworks:
· Massachusetts Frameworks: USI.6-Explain the reasons for the adoption of the Articles of Confederation in 1781, including why its drafters created a weak central government; analyze the shortcomings of the national government under the Articles; and describe the crucial events (e.g., Shays’ Rebellion) leading to the Constitutional Convention. (H, C)
· NCSS Theme: Power, Authority, and Governance-The development of civic competence requires an understanding of the foundations of political thought, and the historical development of various structures of power, authority, and governance. It also requires knowledge of the evolving functions of these structures in contemporary U.S. society, as well as in other parts of the world. Learning the basic ideals and values of a constitutional democracy is crucial to understanding our system of government. By examining the purposes and characteristics of various governance systems, learners develop an understanding of how different groups and nations attempt to resolve conflicts and seek to establish order and security.
Learning Objectives:
Students will understand the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation. They will be able to understand how some people were not represented in the document and will understand people’s responses to the creation of the Articles of Confederation.
Teaching Methods:
Teaching methods include role-play, group work, and primary sources. The students have to assume the role they have been given for the entirety of the lesson. They will be working in groups; each with a different role within the group to make sure it functions as best as possible. The students will also be working from the Articles of the Confederation and using direct pieces of the document as evidence.
Procedure:
Assessment:
Assessment will be based on their work within the group (participation, staying engaged and focused) along with their presentation and posters.
Materials:
Materials will include students’ copies of the Articles of Confederation (previously handed out), poster paper, markers, popsicle sticks, graphic organizer, smart board projector, YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QGy2SbXTNE).
Before studying the Constitution, students need to understand why a new form of government needed to be drafted. Many people found various weaknesses within the Articles of Confederation. Students need to understand what aspects of the first attempt at government were failures and why. Students will also be able to understand multicultural histories and herstories to get a greater understanding of the effects of the Articles of Confederation.
Curriculum Frameworks:
· Massachusetts Frameworks: USI.6-Explain the reasons for the adoption of the Articles of Confederation in 1781, including why its drafters created a weak central government; analyze the shortcomings of the national government under the Articles; and describe the crucial events (e.g., Shays’ Rebellion) leading to the Constitutional Convention. (H, C)
· NCSS Theme: Power, Authority, and Governance-The development of civic competence requires an understanding of the foundations of political thought, and the historical development of various structures of power, authority, and governance. It also requires knowledge of the evolving functions of these structures in contemporary U.S. society, as well as in other parts of the world. Learning the basic ideals and values of a constitutional democracy is crucial to understanding our system of government. By examining the purposes and characteristics of various governance systems, learners develop an understanding of how different groups and nations attempt to resolve conflicts and seek to establish order and security.
Learning Objectives:
Students will understand the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation. They will be able to understand how some people were not represented in the document and will understand people’s responses to the creation of the Articles of Confederation.
Teaching Methods:
Teaching methods include role-play, group work, and primary sources. The students have to assume the role they have been given for the entirety of the lesson. They will be working in groups; each with a different role within the group to make sure it functions as best as possible. The students will also be working from the Articles of the Confederation and using direct pieces of the document as evidence.
Procedure:
- Students will free write for one minute about what they think the purpose of government is.
- I will show a YouTube video published by Soomo in which they interview random people on the street about the purpose of government (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QGy2SbXTNE).
- Ask students to discuss if their ideas were similar to those reported in the video-discuss similarities and differences. Ask students to think/share about why I would give them this prompt and watch this video.
- Give brief explanation on the need to create a government for a new nation.
- Students will be randomly broken up into five groups of four students. Students will pick a colored Popsicle stick with a number written on it. The number represents which group they are in (Women, Minorities, State’s Rights Supporters, Upperclassmen in the North, and Farmers). The color represents the different roles within the groups (Scribe, Presenter, Organizer, Teacher/Group Consultant).
- Students will be presented with the following prompt: You are embodying this type of person for the remainder of the assignment. As a group you need to decide if your type of person would want to keep the Articles of Confederation, change some parts, or get rid of the Articles of Confederation and create a new form of government. Students must use specific pieces of evidence from the Articles of Confederation to better explain your position. Your ideas will be presented on a poster and explained to the class through a short presentation.
- Students will have the remainder of the class time to work on their posters. I will walk around and check in with each group to monitor their progress.
- When the posters are complete, students will present them to the class.
Assessment:
Assessment will be based on their work within the group (participation, staying engaged and focused) along with their presentation and posters.
Materials:
Materials will include students’ copies of the Articles of Confederation (previously handed out), poster paper, markers, popsicle sticks, graphic organizer, smart board projector, YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QGy2SbXTNE).