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The Constitutions of Mississippi lesson plan
Martha Hutson, Clinton, Mississippi
OVERVIEW
Throughout the school year, students will analyze Mississippi's four
constitutions to determine the various forces that influenced the writing
of each one. They will identify specific examples in the documents that
indicate how the writers responded to those forces. Students will seek
to answer these questions:
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How do the "times" affect the writing of a constitution?
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Does it matter who writes a constitution?
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CONNECTION TO STANDARDS
Mississippi Studies Framework: Competencies 1,3,4; Objectives 01, 03.
TEACHING LEVELS
Grades 7 through 12
MATERIALS
Mississippi History Now article
Various Mississippi History texts
Butcher paper/markers/overhead transparencies
Any additional teacher-provided resources
OBJECTIVES
Note to teachers: Mississippi History Now has all Mississippi constitutions online.
Students will:
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determine various factors that influenced the writing of Mississippi's
four constitutions.
(Note: prevailing political and social philosophies/beliefs, sectional
controversies, economic rivalries, current events, etc.)
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identify specific examples in each constitution which show the
influence of current events and prevailing factors.
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prepare a chart to indicate their knowledge of the subject.
(Note: chart headings: CONSTITUTION (DATE); AUTHORS; INFLUENCING
FACTORS; EXAMPLES)
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determine the composition of a current constitutional convention.
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OPENING THE LESSON
Ask students if they have ever felt left out. Some may want to share
their feelings. Relate this to the history of Mississippi's four constitutions.
Explain to students that because of a number of factors, many people have
been left out of the political process throughout much of the state's
history. Lead students to understand how much they can learn about the
state by studying its four constitutions.
DEVELOPING THE LESSON
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Divide the class into four cooperative learning groups. Assign
each group to research one of Mississippi's constitutions. They
will determine the prevailing issues/ideas of the time period and
will gain an understanding of those issues. Students will also study
the constitution to find specific examples of how the issues impacted
the actual documents.
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Students will detail their information for display on a large piece
of butcher paper or on an overhead transparency.
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Each group will make oral presentations to the class. Teacher will
reinforce understanding by leading a class discussion after each
presentation.
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Students will devise their own individual chart contrasting each
of the four documents. They will use the headings suggested in the
objectives.
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CONCLUDING THE LESSON
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Re-form the learning groups to include representatives of each
constitution in all groups. Distribute guiding questions from the
OVERVIEW and other teacher-made questions (if you wish). Students
will discuss answers to the questions in their group and will also
discuss the writing of a new state constitution, what prevailing
issues would shape it, and who the authors should be.
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Groups will share their conclusions with the class so that comparisons/contrasts
can be made.
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ASSESSING STUDENT LEARNING
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Group presentations (Note: Teacher may use a rubric.)
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Observations; class participation
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Individual chart development
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Students will write an essay describing the makeup of the "perfect"
constitutional convention for today.
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Students will devise an agree/disagree paper regarding this statement:
"Mississippi's constitutions have consistently become more
democratic."
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EXTENDING THE LESSON
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Students will research amendments to the 1890 Constitution to show
changes to the document.
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Students could conduct a poll in their community concerning the
need for a new state constitution. They should ask citizens their
ideas on who should write it.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
"Chained to the Past," a four-part series on the 1890 Constitution,
The Clarion-Ledger and Jackson Daily News, January, 1988.
Mississippi, An Illustrated History, by Edward N. Akin, Windsor
Publications, Inc., 1987.
Mississippi: Conflict & Change, Loewen and Sallis, editors, Pantheon
Books, 1974.
Politics in Mississippi, Joseph Parker, editor, Sheffield Publishing
Company, 1993.
Understanding Mississippi's Constitutions – An Historical Perspective,
Barbara Carpenter, editor. Mississippi Humanities Council, 1989.
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