Individual Lesson View
Slavery in the Constitutional Structure
From: Gilder-Lehrman
Grade Level: MS, HS, College
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1-2 Class Periods
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
Making a Covenant with Death: Slavery in the Constitutional Structure
Each group reads an assigned portion of the Constitution that deals with slavery. Students write the main ideas on a large sheet of paper. Hang these sheets of paper on the walls and have each group present on their overviews. Then debate, as the founders, which aforementioned portions to keep in or leave out of the Constitution. Finally Students create a written dialogue between a founder and a slave.
Lesson Identifier: 6I[um_bookmarks_button post_id=””]
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Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)
- We put these in parentheses because there is no specified age group for the activity.
- However, we think it would be excellent for Middle School (MS), High School (HS), and College Students.
Remote Ready: With Modifications
- Links to the reading assignments can easily be emailed or posted for students.
- It’s much easier for small groups or pairs to coordinate a phone call or video conference meeting than for the entire class to sync their schedules. Have these small groups post answers, a synopsis, or a video of their discussion to your LMS.
- A debate might be possible with a video conferencing call.
- Students can email their written dialogue to you or upload it to your LMS.
Primary Source Icon
This means that this activity utilizes primary sources
Group Work Icon
This activity calls for working in pairs, a group, and/or having a class discussion
Writing Icon
This icon represents a long writing assignment such as an essay or a several paragraph response to a prompt. Almost all activities require students to answer questions, but that's not what this icon represents.
Debate Icon
This activity involves a student debate
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