History Social Science Content Standards:
12.4 Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.
8.2.6. Enumerate the powers of government set forth in the Constitution and the fundamental liberties ensured by the Bill of Rights.
8.2.7. Describe the principles of federalism, dual sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, the nature and purpose of majority rule, and the ways in which the American idea of constitutionalism preserves individual rights.
PURPOSE: To encourage students to comprehend these points of emphasis and relate them to the study of the three branches of our federal government. Several activities are described. The culminating activity is the "Power Grab Game" given before the final test on the Constitution Unit.
This activity can be done on- or off-line. If you have access to a lab, make the U.S. Constitution Search the start page. Read the questions and have the students search the site for the answer, either individually or in groups. If you don't have access to the web, your students can work from a hard copy of the Constitution.
Power Grab Game