Politics and People: U.S. Government

Describe federalism and why the United States chose it as a form of government.

For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters pp. 14–18 — (stop after first two paragraphs)

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3

Explain what plan the Constitution made for the government of the United States.

For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters pp. 16–23

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3

Describe a few of the rights protected by the Bill of Rights.

For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters pp. 24–29

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3

Writing

Write a paragraph explaining what the Constitution of the United States is and why it is important.

For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters

Standards

W.4.2W.4.2.aW.4.2.bW.4.2.cW.4.2.e

Explain what the sections "What Does the Government Look Like?," "The Three Branches," and "Checks and Balances" are mostly about.

For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters pp. 30–34

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.7

Describe why the executive branch is important and why the President's Cabinet is important.

For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters — pp. 82–83, 88, 133–137

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.8

Describe the difference between the Senate and House of Representatives and why they are both important.

For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters pp. 98–108

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3RI.4.8

Explain how bills become laws and why there are so many steps.

For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters pp. 110–115

Standards

RI.4.3

Explain what the Supreme Court is and why it's important using reasons and evidence from the text.

For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters — pp. 120–126, 128–129

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.8

Discussion & Writing

Analyze and debate unit Essential Questions using details and understandings from the text.

For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters

Standards

SL.4.1W.4.2W.4.2.aW.4.2.bW.4.2.cW.4.2.e

Informative Writing

4 days

Write an informational report about an act or amendment that is important in U.S. history.

All unit texts
US Government Research Note-Taker
Single Paragraph Outline
Informational Writing Rubric (G4)
Various websites for research

Standards

L.4.1.fL.4.2W.4.2W.4.2.aW.4.2.bW.4.2.cW.4.5W.4.6W.4.7W.4.8

Explain what candidates do to try and win an election.

Understanding Your Role... — pp. 4–5, 9–15

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.7RI.4.8

Debate if everyone has always had the right to vote.

Understanding Your Role... pp. 16–27

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.8

Describe the evidence the author gives to support the point that "to be a woman in 1840 was to be less than a man."

Roses and Radicals pp. 7–19 — Skip Know Your Radicals sections

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.8

Explain how an author uses reasons to show that a "once-promising strategy had reached a dead end."

Roses and Radicals pp. 73–80

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.8

Explain why the opposition to women's suffrage was so difficult to overturn.

Roses and Radicals pp. 88–92 — Skip Know Your Radicals sections

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.8

Explain why the New York Times called the parade "one of the most impressively beautiful spectacles ever staged in this country"?

Roses and Radicals pp. 102–110 — Skip Know Your Radicals sections

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.8

Explain who Harry Burn was and why he was important in the Women's Suffrage Movement.

Roses and Radicals pp. 129–146

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3

Create a mini-poster highlighting the key contributions of a radical.

Roses and Radicals — All Know Your Radicals sections

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3

Discussion & Writing

Analyze and debate unit Essential Questions using details and understandings from the text.

Roses and Radicals
Understanding Your Role...

Standards

SL.4.1W.4.2W.4.2.aW.4.2.bW.4.2.cW.4.2.e

Explain why Dennis "Dioniso" Chavez was important.

Portraits pp. 25–27 — Dennis Chavez

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.8

Explain the role that Thurgood Marshall played in Brown v. Board of Education and what we can learn about him from his involvement in the case.

Hand in Hand pp. 120–125 — Start at "Working for the NAACP," end at "Progress was extremely slow."

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.8

Explain how Thurgood Marshall wove equality into the fabric of American justice.

Hand in Hand pp. 125–129

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.8

Explain who and what inspired Shirley Chisholm to get involved in politics and fight for change.

Let It Shine pp. 95–104

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.8

Explain who and what inspired Sonia Sotomayor to get involved in justice and fight for change.

Portraits pp. 77–79

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.8

Analyze how Barack Obama showed that "holding fast to hope despite obstacles is the first step to making any dream come true."

Hand in Hand pp. 224–231

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.8

Discussion & Writing

Debate and analyze unit Essential Questions.

All unit texts

Standards

SL.4.1

Assessment

Gauge student understanding of unit content and skills with one of Fishtank's unit assessments.