Activity

Documents That Shape Society

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Documents That Shape Society activity also includes:

The Bill of Rights is a foundational document of American democracy, much like the Nuremberg Laws were a foundational document of the Reichstag of Nazi Germany. But that's where their similarities end. Engage high schoolers in a discussion about the documents, including the rights both allotted and denied to various citizens, and encourage them to view the primary sources through different historical perspectives.

38 Views 26 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Incorporate into a lesson on totalitarianism or when working toward a World War II unit
  • Have members of a campus tolerance group review the activity during a meeting
  • Prompt learners to choose a class discussion question to base an argument essay
Classroom Considerations
  • Inform parents before you plan to implement the lesson in class; make the objectives, procedures, and connections to your unit as clear as possible
  • Consider eliminating the role-play part of the lesson if you deem it too controversial for class members to pretend to be Nazi sympathizers
  • Does not include a rubric
  • Based on a visit to the Museum of Tolerance, but applicable to a classroom with an appropriate amount of background information
Pros
  • Thought-provoking twist to a typical lesson on the Bill of Rights
  • Provides multiple options for formative and summative assessment
Cons
  • None