In this unit students will learn basic inquiry skills. They will practice creating open-ended questions to guide their research and learn how to evaluate sources of information to determine which information is useful and trustworthy. Students will also analyze the rights and responsibilities of a citizen and identify a right that they feel should be added to the Bill of Rights by participating in the Bill of Rights Day Contest sponsored by the Judicial Learning Center. Students will have the choice to construct a piece of art or an essay to submit to this contest and have the opportunity to win $500!

Key Unit Terms & Concepts:

• Role of the Citizen

• Common Good

• Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances

• Federalism

• Bill of Rights

• The Preamble

• Natural/Human Rights

• Rule of Law

• Voting Rights

Instructional Resources Used:

• Citizen Inquiry 

• Responsibilities of a Citizen

• Tools for Collaboration & discourse

• Media Literacy NCSS

• Media Literacy PBS

• Federalism

• Bill of Rights Institute

• Video: The Story of the Bill of Rights

• The Constitution

• Constitutional Amendments

• National Archives

• What Does It Mean to Be a Citizen

• Constitution Day

• National Constitution Center - Bill of Rights

• Center for Civic Education

• Classroom Constitution

• SIRS Issues  Database 

• Constitutional Rights Foundation

• We The People Resource Center

• Understanding Democracy: A Hip Pocket Guide (Annenberg Center)

• iCivics Sortify Citizenship Game