History Lesson Plan Database

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Title:
Georgia's Role at the Constitutional Convention - LP5

Author:
Matthew Graham

Linked Essays:
Constitutional Ratification _Graham

Overview:
In this lesson students will examine the role of Georgia at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 by examining the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise (also known as the Connecticut Compromise) for representation in Congress.  Students will make flip-charts with two flaps, one showing & explaining representation in the House of Representatives, and the other showing & explaining representation in the Senate.

Materials:

• Anticipation Guide (Before Lesson & After Lesson)
• Notes on the Constitutional Convention of 1787
• Flip-Chart paper
• Scissors
• Markers
• Coleman, Kenneth. A History of Georgia, 2nd ed. Athens, GA:  University of Georgia Press, 1991. (excerpts in Linked Files)
• London, Bonnie B. Georgia and the American Experience. Atlanta, GA: Clairmont Press, 2005. (excerpts in Linked Files)

Projected Time:
One 50 minute class period

Lesson Plan Sequence:
5

Essential Question:
How does Georgia's key role at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 impact Georgians today?

Bell Assignment:

• Give Anticipation Guide (Before Lesson)

Activating Strategy:

• Discuss students' answer choices for the "Before Lesson" Anticipation Guide.

Instructional Activities:

• Distribute copies of  attached handout, "Background Notes on Georgia at the Constitutional Convention",  which gives background on the two options (New Jersey Plan & Virginia Plan).  Discuss why proponents of each plan wanted representation determined according to their ideas.  (Excerpts from Coleman and London books listed in Materials.)
• Next have students make a flip-chart (see instructions below in the Notes section) with two flaps, one showing & explaining representation in the House, and the other showing & explaining representation in the Senate.  Flip-charts should be turned in no later than the following day if they were not finished in class.

Summarizing Activities:

• Give Anticipation Guide (After Lesson) 
• Have students summarize representation in Congress in their journals.
• In an class discussion, identify ways that Georgia's role in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 continues to influence contemporary Georgia.

Notes:

Instructions for making a flip-chart 

1. Take an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper and fold it long ways (hot-dog style), leaving about a 1/2" sticking out, which will give students enough room to write "Representation in Congress" across the bottom. 
2. Next, cut the top flap in half allowing each side to flip up so students can write underneath.  On the front of the left flap students should write "SENATE" and on the right flap "HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES". 
3. Then they should open the flaps and write the details of each underneath. 
4. Students should draw a picture on each flap to help them remember how representation is determined.

Linked Documents:
None

Linked Files:
Background Notes on Georgia at the Constitutional
AnticipationGuide_LP5_Yr2 Graham

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