Grade 8 Social Studies lesson plan: Constitution & checks and balances
Topic: U.S. Constitution: branches of government and checks and balances. Adjust the settings, then copy the prompt.
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Planning notes for this lesson
Prerequisite skills to check: what a government is and why groups make rules; the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation as background to the Constitution.
Key vocabulary: legislative branch, executive branch, judicial branch, separation of powers, checks and balances, veto, judicial review.
Warm-up idea: Ask what could go wrong if one person could make, enforce and judge every rule at school.
Exit ticket idea: Students read a short scenario (for example, a bill the President opposes) and explain which check could apply next.
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Quiz on the same standard
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