Title: Understanding the Differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution

Grade Level: 7th Grade

Objectives:

1. Students will be able to identify the key differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
2. Students will be able to explain the reasons why the Articles of Confederation were replaced by the Constitution.
3. Students will be able to analyze the impact of the Constitution on the development of the United States.

Materials:

1. Copies of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution
2. Whiteboard and markers
3. Handouts with questions and prompts for discussion
4. PowerPoint presentation

Procedure:

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Begin the lesson by asking students if they have heard of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Ask them if they know what these documents are and what they were used for.

2. Introduce the topic by explaining that the Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States, but they were replaced by the Constitution in 1787. Explain that the Constitution is the document that still governs the United States today.

3. Ask students to brainstorm some of the differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Write their ideas on the whiteboard.

Main Activity (40 minutes)

1. Divide the class into small groups and distribute copies of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution to each group.

2. Ask each group to read through both documents and identify the key differences between them. Encourage them to take notes and discuss their findings with each other.

3. After 20 minutes, bring the class back together and ask each group to share their findings. Write their ideas on the whiteboard.

4. Use a PowerPoint presentation to highlight the key differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Use examples and visuals to help students understand the impact of these differences on the development of the United States.

5. Distribute handouts with questions and prompts for discussion. Ask students to work in pairs or small groups to answer the questions and discuss their findings.

Closure (10 minutes)

1. Bring the class back together and ask each group to share their findings from the handouts.

2. Summarize the key differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution and ask students to reflect on the impact of these differences on the development of the United States.

3. End the lesson by asking students to write a short paragraph about what they learned and what they found most interesting about the differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.