Separate But Equal" video

Course(s)/Subject(s):Civics

Grade Level(s):8

Key Words:Fourteenth Amendment, "equal protection under the law", Supreme Court, interpretation

Developer(s) Name:Kim Myron

School:Carl Sandburg MS

Attached Files:sepbutequal.
Approximate Time Frame: Nine class periods (video and lab time)

Materials/Equipment Needed:"Separate But Equal" video; computer lab

Description of Lesson (includes context):Students will watch the video "Separate But Equal," the story of the South Carolina case that was part of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Bd. of Education(Topeka), 1954. They will choose an incident or event from the video that is interesting, instructional, or meaningful to them and about which they want to write an objective news article and an editorial. The chosen event must relate to the main idea of the video, the legal struggle to end segregation. Students will write a rough draft of the objective news article and an editorial prior to going to the computer lab. In the computer lab, students will use a two-column format with a header to create a newspaper for their articles. They will use either the graphics library or the scanner to insert pictures.

LESSON OUTLINE

What is the objective of this lesson?

FCPS POS Standards:
8.1Students will identify and understand the rights and responsibilities of citizens of
the United States.

8.2Students will know, understand, and explain the importance of the political and
civic beliefs, values, and principles that support and maintain American
constitutional government and the workings of their own and other governments.

FCPS POS Benchmarks:
8.1.1Students will be able to explain the meaning of American citizenship and analyze
issues involving the rights of citizens of the United States.

8.2.2	Students will demonstrate an understanding of the structure and function of the
	judicial system in the United States.

FCPS POS Indicators:
8.1.1.bIdentify the founding documents and the fundamental principles of our
democratic republic including constitutionalism and limited government, rule of

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law, democracy and republicanism, individual worth and dignity, sovreignty, consent of the governed, and majority rule and minority rights.

8.1.1.c	Analyze fundamental liberties, rights, and values including religion, speech,
	press, assembly, petition, due process, and equality under the law.

8.1.1.dApply constitutional protections to everyday situations.

8.2.2.aExplain the dual system of state and federal courts.

8.2.2.b	Explain original and appellate jurisdiction and the exercise of the power of
	judicial review by both state and federal courts.

8.2.2.cDistinguish between constitutional, civil, and criminal law.

VA SOL(s) (including Computer/Technology):Civics 7.1, 7.5, C/T 8.1, 8.3. 8.4

Other:

EVIDENCE

What will we examine as evidence of students' knowledge and/or skill?

Product(s):News article and editorial.

Performance(s):

Other:

DIRECTIONS

What exactly will the students and teacher do during the lesson?

Directions to students for proceeding with the lesson:
1. Watch for events in the video that would provide interestingsubject matter for a news
article and an editorial.
2. Choose pictures ahead of time if using the scanner.
3. Use Chronicles of Americato write a second news article or to locate a period
advertisement for extra credit.

Directions to teacher/administrator using the lesson?
1. Students must have a rough draft in order to use the computer...no exceptions. Those
who are unprepared are given one day to produce a rough draft (during the time in
which the other students are being familiarized with the program).
2. Use first day in the lab to instruct students how to set up a two-column format with a
header and "play" with the graphics library feature. Have students finish the first day
with a completed masthead.
3. Remember to use a section break so that the header with the masthead will appear only
on the first page of the newsletter.

APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS/MODIFICATIONS

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What options in presentation(s) and/or response(s) are suggested in order to provide the opportunity for all students to demonstrate achievement of the benchmark(s) and indicator(s)?

Students who are finished ahead of time may use the Chronicles of Americaor other similar reference book to find another current event from that period of time on which to write a second objective news article.

Students who are finished ahead of time may use the Chronicles of Americaor other similar reference book to find an advertisement for a product that was popular during that time period. Students will design an original ad for that product.

Students who require more time for the initial assignmentare encouraged to come in after school.

Complexity of subject for news article is student choice.

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