Handouts

If there is no access to the technology needed for this lesson, try the following options:

• Mini Lesson: Instead of showing the animated program, show students a provocative newspaper headline about an important issue facing our country, and discuss their opinions about the issue.
• Student Activity: Instead of directing students to the website, distribute Handout 1.1a: Issue Introductions.
• Lesson Summary: Instead of using the website to show students the six-step process, focus on the printed Step by Step Checklist.

Objectives

The class will watch an animation that introduces the Constitution Today unit. The class will brainstorm issues that are important in their community. Students will read an introduction to six important issues involving Constitutional rights and share their opinions. Students will also learn the six steps in the Constitution Today unit and the class will explore the student website together.

Focusing Question

Mini Lesson

Today we are going to discuss some of the most important issues people are debating in our country. We are going to watch a short animation that will explain some of the things you will be doing in this unit. Then we will talk about your opinions of the issues you have been hearing and reading about in the news.  

Let's talk about this animation.

1. Liberty says that there are important issues affecting you. What are they?
Sample Responses: There are homeless people. There is a war going on. People are afraid of a terrorist attack.  

2. When Liberty passes the TV screens in Times Square, she says that people are arguing about what the government did or didn’t do. What have you heard people debating?
Sample Responses: People are arguing about whether or not we should be at war in Iraq. Some people are worried about the school tests we have to take. Some people are upset about not having good jobs to pay the bills.  

3. Liberty talks about newspaper articles that are saying that we need to get rid of some old laws and write new ones. Have you heard about people that are upset about some of our laws?
Sample Responses: Some people are upset about the police searching people in subway stations. Some people want new laws about privacy as a way to deal with terrorism.

4. Liberty talks about learning how to fight for the rights that are yours. What rights is she talking about?
Sample Responses: I have the right to say what I want. My parents let me go to R-rated movies and buy M-rated video games. I have the right to have a cell phone in school.  

5. Some of you mentioned important issues that people are debating today, like the war in Iraq. What are some other important issues in our country?
Sample Responses: Gas prices are too high. The earth is getting warmer. There is too much pollution. People are afraid of terrorist attacks in New York. People are worried about natural disasters like hurricanes.  

These are all important issues. There are other issues in the news too. Has anyone heard anything in the news about guns?
Sample Responses: Sometimes there are shootings in the city. A police officer was shot and killed a few days ago. People in gangs use guns to commit crimes.  

Let’s read about the issue of gun control in the Issue Introductions. Would someone like to read this paragraph about gun control for the class?

Why might some people want to buy and own guns?
Sample Response: People want to own guns for protection, to keep their family safe, to hunt animals.

Those people think that owning guns is a good thing. Why do some people think that it is a bad thing that people can easily buy all types of guns?
Sample Response: Some people think that machine guns will make us less safe. They think that if people own these types of guns, they might use them for crimes.

It is important to understand what people on both sides of the issue think before we express our opinions. Now that we know both sides, which side do you agree with and why?
Sample Responses: I think that people should be allowed to buy assault weapons. Criminals have these weapons, so we need to protect ourselves. I think that people should not be allowed to buy these weapons. If they are illegal, we will be safer.

Those are good responses because both of them supported their opinions. Read about the rest of these issues – the Death Penalty, Violent Video Games, Subway Searches, Religion and Science, and Privacy and Security. Make sure you understand both sides of the issue before you write your opinion. Support your position.

Student Activity

1. Monitor individual student’s progress. Observe students’ writing. Encourage students to explain their opinions in their writing.
2. Group together students who may have difficulty reading the Issue Introductions independently so that it will be easier to assist their efforts.
3. Instruct these students to listen to the Issue Introductions as a group and guide a discussion about the issues and their opinions.
4. Encourage some debate to motivate students to read about the issues and to write their opinions.
5. If necessary, limit the number of issues that students will read during this class period.
6. Instruct students who complete the writing activity early to view other students’ opinions on the discussion board and respond to them.

Lesson Summary

As you complete tasks on this checklist, check them off. Make sure that you complete all of the tasks for each step before you move on to the next step.

Assessment