Unit Plan 10 (Grade 8 Social Studies): From Articles to Constitution
Identify the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and explain how debates over power led to the Constitution’s structured government—branches, checks and balances, and federalism—to create a stronger, more effective union.
Focus: Identify the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and explain how debates over power led to the Constitution’s structure—branches, checks and balances, and federalism—to form a stronger union.
Grade Level: 8
Subject Area: Social Studies (U.S. History • Civics)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students trace how post-Revolution problems (war debts, interstate disputes, weak national authority) exposed limits of the Articles and precipitated the Constitutional Convention. They then analyze how the Constitution’s structure was designed to solve those problems through separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism, applying these ideas to concrete scenarios.
Essential Questions
- Why did the Articles of Confederation struggle to govern the new nation?
- How does the Constitution’s structure (branches, checks & balances, federalism) address those weaknesses?
- In real cases, who has authority—federal or state—and how are powers checked?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Construct a cause–effect chain linking Articles-era problems to calls for reform.
- Describe the three branches, key checks and balances, and federal–state power relationships.
- Apply constitutional structure to mini-cases (lawmaking, veto/override, court review; federal vs. state powers).
- Explain how Constitutional design choices attempted to balance liberty and effective governance.
Standards Alignment — 8th Grade (C3-based custom)
- 8.C3.Hist.2: Explain causes/effects for major developments (Revolution → Constitution).
- 8.C3.Civ.2: Describe constitutional structure (branches, checks & balances, federalism) and apply to real cases.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can map Articles weaknesses → Constitutional fixes.
- I can name each branch, a key power, and at least one check it faces.
- I can decide whether an issue is state, federal, or shared, and justify with constitutional principles.