Government · Week 2 · Foundations, Rights, and Citizenship
Ideas the Founders Borrowed
Tracing how Greek, Roman, English, and Enlightenment thinkers shaped the Constitution, then noticing which voices have shaped students' own beliefs.
- Students will
- Students analyze how Greek, Roman, and English traditions and the writings of Locke and Montesquieu influenced American government, and evaluate which ideas still shape civic life.
- SEL skill
- Describe an idea from another thinker's point of view before comparing it to your own
- What it looks like
- Students practice seeing the world through the viewpoints of thinkers from different times and places and notice whose voices shape their own beliefs.
- Content focus
- Ideas the Founders borrowed
- Format
- Think write pair share
Social awareness
Social awareness is understanding how other people see the world and caring about their viewpoints, including people from different times and backgrounds. More social awareness 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
- 12.1.1: CA History Social Science Content Standard, Grade 12: Principles of American Democracy (standard 12.1, item 1)
- CA HSS Analysis Skill: HI1 Show the connections between particular historical events and larger social, economic, and political trends. (Historical Interpretation)
- C3 Framework (national): D2.Civ.8.9-12 Evaluate social and political systems in different times and places that promote civic virtues and democratic principles.
- Literacy in history: RH.11-12.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
Fits these textbook chapters
- 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
- 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 24: Comparing Political and Economic Systems
- Magruder's American Government, Chapter 1: Principles of Government
- Magruder's American Government, Chapter 2: Origins of American Government
Textbook names are used only to help you find activities that fit what you teach. RoseThread Connect is not affiliated with these publishers.
More social awareness activities for Government
- Landmark Cases, Changing Minds Social awarenessTracing the shift from Plessy v. Ferguson to Brown v. Board of Education and reflecting on what helps a person or a nation change its mind.
- Government Close to Home Social awarenessMapping who provides water, schools, roads, and tribal services in the Coachella Valley, including the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and noticing the unseen people who keep a community running.
- A Free and Responsible Press Social awarenessDiscussing why a free press matters and comparing how two outlets cover the same event, practicing curiosity about why others trust different sources.
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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.