Revolutionizing the Early Republic with The Power Wheel
Teaching history can be a challenge, especially when it comes to complex topics like the Early Republic. How do you make the establishment of the U.S. government and the balance of power engaging for 11th graders? Enter the Power Wheel!
This dynamic activity, designed for my 11th-grade U.S. history class, brings the Early Republic to life. Instead of passively absorbing information, students become active participants in exploring landmark Supreme Court cases like Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland, and Gibbons v. Ogden.
Here's how it works:
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Laying the Foundation: Before diving into the Power Wheel, students engage in a brief warm-up to activate prior knowledge and connect to the theme of conflict resolution. Then, through direct instruction, they explore the context of the Early Republic, including the formation of the government and key events.
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Analyzing Landmark Cases: Students analyze handouts on three landmark Supreme Court cases, focusing on how these cases shaped the balance of power between the three branches of government.
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Building the Power Wheel: Each student receives an individual Power Wheel, a tri-fold graphic organizer with sections representing the judicial, executive, and legislative branches. They fill in these sections with information from their research, explaining how each branch exercised power in relation to their assigned case.
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Collaboration and Display: The individual wheels are then assembled into a larger, interactive display, transforming the classroom into a gallery where students can examine each other's work and see the interconnectedness of the cases and the branches of government.
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Assessment and Extension: Students analyze the information on each Power Wheel, summarizing the data and demonstrating their understanding of how governmental power evolved. Advanced students can even digitize their findings using an online program, potentially earning college credit!
The Power Wheel has been a game-changer in my classroom! It fosters active learning, collaboration, and critical thinking. Students are engaged, motivated, and develop a deeper understanding of the Early Republic and the delicate balance of power within our government.
Want to learn more about implementing the Power Wheel in your classroom? Feel free to reach out! Here are the partial resources –