Government · Week 3 · Foundations, Rights, and Citizenship
Ambition Checks Ambition
Reading Federalist No. 51 on checks and balances and building personal checks that slow a reaction before it becomes a regret.
- Students will
- Students explain how the Founders' view of human nature led to separated and shared powers and checks and balances, using Federalist No. 51 as evidence.
- SEL skill
- Choose a pause or personal check before reacting to a strong feeling
- What it looks like
- Students build personal checks, such as a pause or a trusted friend, that slow a reaction before it becomes a regret.
- Content focus
- Ambition checks ambition
- Format
- Collaborative analysis
Self-management
Self-management means handling your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that help you reach your goals. More self-management activities
What you get
A teacher guide with what to say, step by step, plus student pages and a supports page for students with diverse learning needs, including those with IEPs. Print or Project it, or assign it in Google Forms and Google Docs for Google Classroom. Your first 10 activities are free.
Standards
- 12.1.3: CA History Social Science Content Standard, Grade 12: Principles of American Democracy (standard 12.1, item 3)
- 12.1.5: CA History Social Science Content Standard, Grade 12: Principles of American Democracy (standard 12.1, item 5)
- CA HSS Analysis Skill: HI2 Recognize the complexity of historical causes and effects, including the limits on determining cause and effect. (Historical Interpretation)
- C3 Framework (national): D2.Civ.4.9-12 Explain how the Constitution sets up a government whose powers and limits have changed over time and are still debated.
- Literacy in history: RH.11-12.2 Determine the central ideas of a primary or secondary source and summarize them accurately.
Fits these textbook chapters
- Government Alive! Power, Politics, and You, Chapter 1: The Nature of Power, Politics, and Government
- Government Alive! Power, Politics, and You, Chapter 3: The Roots of American Democracy
- Government Alive! Power, Politics, and You, Chapter 4: The United States Constitution
- Government Alive! Power, Politics, and You, Chapter 11: Lawmakers and Legislatures
- Government Alive! Power, Politics, and You, Chapter 13: Chief Executives and Bureaucracies
- United States Government and Civics, Chapter 1: Foundations of Government
- United States Government and Civics, Chapter 2: Origins of American Government
- United States Government and Civics, Chapter 3: The Constitution
- United States Government and Civics, Chapter 5: The Structure of Congress
- United States Government and Civics, Chapter 6: Congressional Powers
- United States Government and Civics, Chapter 9: The Presidency
- United States Government and Civics, Chapter 14: The Supreme Court of the United States
- Magruder's American Government, Chapter 1: Principles of Government
- Magruder's American Government, Chapter 2: Origins of American Government
- Magruder's American Government, Chapter 3: The Constitution
- Magruder's American Government, Chapter 10: Congress
- Magruder's American Government, Chapter 11: Powers of Congress
- Magruder's American Government, Chapter 13: The Presidency
- Magruder's American Government, Chapter 14: The Presidency in Action
Textbook names are used only to help you find activities that fit what you teach. RoseThread Connect is not affiliated with these publishers.
More self-management activities for Government
- Duties of a Citizen Self-managementWeighing legal duties like jury service and paying taxes alongside chosen duties like volunteering, and committing to one small act of service.
- Judges, Evidence, and Restraint Self-managementComparing judicial activism and judicial restraint as two serious philosophies held by thoughtful people and practicing calm judgment before taking a side.
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RoseThread Connect activities are drafted with the help of AI and shaped by educators. Students never have to share anything personal. Our five SEL skills are informed by CASEL's SEL Framework; RoseThread Learning is not affiliated with or endorsed by CASEL.