Content
Skills
Essential Questions
Assessment
Standard
5.1.12 A-F
Unit 1 Early Inspirations Beginning of School Year–Mid September
Ancient Athens – Democracy
Why democracy developed
Students will recognize why democracy
developed in Athens and how if
functioned. They will recognize
democratic traditions in the USA.
What is democracy?
General – Vocab,
notebook and reading
quizzes, unit test
Strengths and weaknesses of democracy
Students will understand the greatness of
democracy and its impact on the rise of
Athens as well as its weaknesses that led to
the city’s downfall. Students will know that
the strengths and weakness of citizen
participation apply to America today.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of
democracy?
Academic – Multiple
reading quizzes, unit
test
How do we use and restrict democracy
today?
Honors – Multiple
reading quizzes,
journal entries
connected to unit
content, unit test,
presentation and book
review of Hardball by
Chris Matthews.
Why the Republic developed
How the Republic grew and reformed
Corruption and downfall of the Republic
Ancient Rome – The Republic
Students will know why a republican form
of government began in Rome and why it
What is a republic?
was the best form of government for them
and why we have a republic in the USA.
Students will comprehend the need for
reform, the changes made and how it made
the Republic more reflective of the
How does a republic best reflect its people?
peoples’ concerns and connect them to the
electoral reforms of the USA.
Students will identify the flaws of the
What dangers occur in a republic and
Republic and why it fell and what concerns
threaten its existence?
these flows may pose to the USA.
England – Constitutionalism
How the monarchy’s power eroded
Updated 8/20/2014
Students will grasp the changes in
government that may weaken one branch.
How did the power of the monarch slowly
fade away?
CC.8.5.1112A-E, H
Charles I and the English Civil War’s
impact on the rise of Parliamentary
power.
Parliamentary assertion of power over
the executive.
Updated 8/20/2014
Students will discern differences in
legislative and executive branches and the
balance of power between them.
Students will realize the effectiveness of
restrictions on a branch of government.
How did the legislative branch restrain the
executive?
What was the final step in restricting the
executive branch?
Unit 2 Foundation of America –Mid - Late September
Colonial settlement and government
British citizenship
Discrepancies between American and
British expectations.
Actions of the British government against
citizens.
Declaration of Independence.
Structure of the Articles of Confederation.
Major flaws with the Articles of
Confederation.
Colonial America
Students will tell the difference between
different types of colonies and how they
How did the colonies develop and why?
were governed and the lasting impact on
the USA.
Students will know that Americans’
How did American identification change after
identification as British citizens changed
the French and Indian War?
over time and why.
Road to revolution and declaring independence.
Students will understand the difference
How did the Americans and British come to
between what American perceived as their
see their relationship differently?
rights as British citizens and the view of
Britain that the relationship revolved
What differences in perception existed
around the concept of mother country and
between the Americans and the British?
colonial subjects.
What taxes were passed by the British
Students will identify the various acts of
government that applied to Americans?
restriction and taxation that the British
How did Americans respond to British
government enacted against the
taxation?
Americans.
How did the British government respond to
the American protests?
What are the influences of the Declaration of
Students will read and comprehend the
Independence?
primary document and the major ideas
What are the major parts and ideas of the
included.
Declaration of Independence?
How does the Declaration apply to us today?
Flaws of Articles of Confederation
How were the branches of government
Students will know how the three branches
represented and granted powers within the
were represented in early America.
Articles and state governments?
Students will comprehend the flaws of the
Articles of Confederation and why they
were bad for America.
What were the flaws of the Articles of
Confederation?
How were the flaws harmful to America?
Creating the Constitution
Constitutional Convention
Updated 8/20/2014
Students will know about the type of
leaders attended the convention, the
What was the makeup of the convention and
what solutions were created to create a
General – Vocab,
notebook and reading
quizzes, unit test,
project demonstrating
understanding of civic
virtue.
Academic – Multiple
reading quizzes, unit
test, begin local
government research
and presentation.
Honors – Multiple
reading quizzes,
journal entries
connected to unit
content, unit test,
presentation and book
review of Hardball by
Chris Matthews.
5.12.A-F
CC.8.5.1112A-E, H
problems they faced and the compromises
they made.
better American government?
Legislative Branch, Article I
Students will know the basic legislative
structure and powers.
Executive Branch, Article II
Students will know the basic executive
structure and powers.
Judicial Branch , Article III
Students will know the basic judicial
structure and powers.
Articles IV-VII
Students will know the amending process,
full faith and credit and supremacy clauses,
and the ratification procedure.
What is Congress, what can it do and what
can’t it do?
Who is the executive, how do we select this
person, who is this official aided by and what
powers does the office have?
How and why was the judicial branch
structured in a simple manner?
How can the Constitution be changed?
How must the states respect each other?
What is the highest law in the land?
How did the Constitution become law?
Unit 3 Executive Branch - Early October – Mid October
Presidency
Presidential power over time
Students will know the development of the
presidency over time.
How has the imperial presidency evolved?
Strong presidents
Students will understand the various
characteristics and leadership styles of
leaders.
What style of leadership does the president
have in reference to his enthusiasm for the
presidency and relationship with advisors?
Vice-President
Cabinet
Updated 8/20/2014
CC.8.6.1112 A,C-H
Students will be able to explain the balance
and weaknesses of the electoral voting
system.
Vice-President and Cabinet
Students will know about the role of the
vice-president.
Students will know what function the
cabinet serves and what advantages and
disadvantages there are to being in and
having a cabinet.
What responsibilities and duties does the
vice-president have?
How can being a cabinet member be helpful
or hurtful to a member or the president?
5.12.A-F
CC.8.5.1112A-E, H
Why was the electoral college designed and
how does it not reflect the will of the people?
Weak presidents
Electoral college
General – Vocab,
notebook and reading
quizzes, unit test.
Academic – Multiple
reading quizzes, unit
test, complete local
government research
and presentation,
movie review.
State and Local Government
Foreign Governments
Patronage (Spoils) system
Civil Service
Updated 8/20/2014
Other Executives
Students will know about the types of state Who is the executive of the state and local
and local executives and their roles.
government and what responsibilities do they
have?
Students will recognize the differences
between the presidency and executives of
What is the difference between the president
other nations.
of the USA and executives of Great Britain,
France, Germany, Iran, China, and Saudi
Arabia?
Bureaucracy
Students will know about the flaws of the
Why was the patronage system unethical?
patronage system of hiring.
Why is the current system of hiring, firing and
Students will recognize the efficient and
promotion better than the spoils system?
neutral nature of the civil service system.
How does the hierarchical nature of the civil
Students will realize the broad scope of
service allow for better service to the people
government power and services.
and hinder efficiency?
Students will understand the hierarchical
and merit based structure of the civil
service system.
Honors – Multiple
reading quizzes,
journal entries
connected to unit
content, unit test,
media presentation on
elections.
Unit 4 Legislative Branch - Mid-October – Mid November
House
Qualifications and Elections
Students will know the qualifications and
powers of the House of Representatives
Structure
Students will realize the broadness and
limitations of Congressional action.
What are the qualifications of the House of
Representatives?
General – Vocab,
notebook and reading
quizzes, unit test,
congressional
presentations
What are the powers that are specific to the
House of Representatives?
Senate
Qualifications and Elections
Students will know the qualifications and
powers of the Senate
What are the qualifications of the Senate?
Structure
Students will realize the broadness and
limitations of Congressional action.
What are the powers that are specific to the
Senate?
Academic – Multiple
reading quizzes, unit
test, continue working
on persuasive projects.
Combined
Legislative Action
Students will know how laws are made and
what compromises are necessary to pass
legislation.
What is the legislative process?
What actors are involved in making a law?
How can a bill be killed?
Leadership and Power Over Time
Students will know key leaders and
legislative compromises from American
history.
Students will understand the struggles and
compromises that were necessary from
specific historical examples.
Updated 8/20/2014
Honors – Multiple
reading quizzes,
journal entries
connected to unit
content, unit test,
continue working on
debate presentations.
5.12.A-F
CC.8.5.1112A-E, H
Who are significant party leaders and
Speakers from Congressional history?
Leaders and Compromise
What major legislative pieces passed after
lengthy debate and what middle ground was
established?
Other Legislatures
Students will know how the state and local
government legislative process takes place.
Students will understand the differences
between the US Congress and legislatures
of other nations.
State and local legislature
Foreign legislature
Updated 8/20/2014
What are the organizations that make laws at
the state and local level and what powers do
they have?
What are the legislatures of the UK and
Germany and how do they differ from the
USA?
Unit 5 Judicial Branch – Mid November – Mid December
Students will be able to state
the duty of the judicial branch
and recognize the significant
cases that are important to
our cultural/political
development and how these
cases and judgments can be
viewed as loose or strict
constructionist.
What major cases have impacted
the USA?
General – Vocab, notebook and
reading quizzes, unit test.
How has the court evolved over
time?
Academic – Multiple reading
quizzes, unit test, begin working
on persuasive projects.
Basic Investigation and
Trial
Students will recognize how
the court system works.
How do criminal and civil courts
work and what is a citizen’s
relationship with them?
Other Courts
Students will understand the
state and local court systems.
What are the different levels of
the state and local court system?
US Supreme Court
Students will recognize the
differences between the
SCOTUS and foreign courts.
5.12.A-F
CC.8.5.11-12A-E, H
Honors – Multiple reading
quizzes, journal entries
connected to unit content, unit
test, begin working on debate
presentations.
How are these court systems
different?
Unit 6 America Politics – Mid December – Mid January
Voting
Updated 8/20/2014
Students will know the
importance of voting and the
process of doing so.
What do you have to do in order
to vote?
What are your voting rights?
General – Vocab, notebook and
reading quizzes, unit test.
Academic – Multiple reading
5.12.A-F
CC.8.6.11-12 A,C-H
Political Parties
Campaigns and Elections
Students will know the
difference between the two
major parties and where their
political beliefs lie.
What are the major parties and
what are the differences in their
political beliefs?
Students will understand the
electoral process and how
people get chosen for office.
How does one run for office?
Media
Students will recognize media
sources and their potential
for bias.
Civic Virtue
Students will understand
the importance of
community participation,
education, and obeying the
law.
Updated 8/20/2014
What are the different sources of
news and how might they taint
information?
What makes a good citizen?
quizzes, unit test, present
persuasive projects.
Honors – Multiple reading
quizzes, journal entries
connected to unit content, unit
test, present debate
presentations.