US Constitution: Building a Government (Part 1)
A United States Constitutional primer for middle schoolers, with consideration of the Bill of Rights, the Supreme Court, and States Rights
Nelson Vargas, JD; Law/Hist. Professor
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5.0
Number of reviews:(455)
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What's included
5 live meetings
4 hrs 35 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
An introduction to the U.S. Constitution and the landmark Supreme Court cases interpreting it. This five-week course will examine the Constitution’s origins, its amendments, and the structure of the federal government in relation to the states. We will also examine the bill of rights, separation of powers, as well as pivotal Supreme Court decisions and their impact. Classes will involve lectures, active discussion using the Socratic method in order to foster critical thinking. I will use slides and games, as well as providing hypothetical scenarios in order to foster discussion. Class topics will be as follows: Week 1: 1. Key concepts. 2. US Constitution, Haudenosaunee confederacy. 3. Declaration of Independence. 4. Articles of Confederation. 5. Federalist papers. Week 2: 1. Separation of powers. 2. Checks and Balances. Week 3 1. Bill of rights. Week 4 1. The US Supreme Court. Week 5 1. US Citizenship - rights and responsibilities. 2. Federalism
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
US Constitution
US Bill of Rights
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Haudenosaunee Guide for Educators, <https://americanindian.si.edu/sites/1/files/pdf/education/HaudenosauneeGuide.pdf> (last viewed October 30, 2020)
Public Broadcasting Service, Haudenosaunee Culture; The Great Law as a Model for US Democracy, <https://www-tc.pbs.org/warrior/content/modules/great.pdf> (Last viewed October 27, 2020)
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790, Albert H. Smyth, and Albert Henry Smyth. The Writings of Benjamin Franklin. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1907.
Hamilton, Alexander. Federalist No. 68. The Federalist. Ed. George W. Carey and James McClellan. Indianapolis, IN: Liberty Fund, 2001. 351–52.
Carey, George, and James McClellan, eds.The Federalist. Indianapolis, IN: Liberty Fund, 2001.
Supreme Court decisions
Dredd Scott v. Sanford, 60 U.S. 393, 15 L. Ed. 691 (1856)
Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537, 16 S. Ct. 1138, 41 L. Ed. 256 (1896)
Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483, 74 S. Ct. 686, 98 L. Ed. 873 (1954)
Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1, 87 S. Ct. 1817, 18 L. Ed. 2d 1010 (1967)
Tinker v. DesMoines Independent School District, 393 U.S. 503, 89 S. Ct. 733, 21 L. Ed. 2d 731 (1969)
N.Y. Times v. United States, 403 U.S. 713, 91 S. Ct. 2140, 29 L. Ed. 2d 822 (1971)
United States v. Alvarez, 567 U.S. 709, 132 S. Ct. 2537, 183 L. Ed. 2d 574 (2012)
Joined August, 2020
5.0
455reviews
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Juris Doctor in Political Science and Government from SUNY at Buffalo School of Law
Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Government from SUNY at Albany
⚖️ LAWYER/JUDGE
🌟 LAW/COLLEGE Professor
👮🏼♀️ FORMER PROSECUTOR
🧑🎓 JURIS DOCTORATE SUNY at BUFFALO
📜 B.S. SUNY at ALBANY
🚑 EMT/FIREFIGHTER
I am a judge, a former federal prosecutor, policy counsel, refugee officer, and college and law school professor. My bachelor's degree is from the State University of New York at Albany in Political Science and History, with a minor in Economics. I also earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Buffalo.
I was the former Deputy Chief Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), focusing on National Security cases and counter-terrorism. I was also the technology attorney and National Security and Litigation Division Counsel for DHS in Washington, DC. I’ve worked as a historian and researcher providing advice to the National Archives and to the DHS History/Law Library in Washington, DC. I have lived and worked in Africa and Asia, processing refugees seeking to come to the United States. I am also volunteer firefighter and licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
I strive to teach social studies, civics, and history in a way that inspires and entertains while fostering curiosity and critical thinking. As a proud father of three, I’ve spent the past couple of years getting used to the post-Covid homeschool experience.
I love teaching and Outschool allows me to share my passions for various subjects with young minds. I've taught (as a guest) both middle, elementary, and high school social studies, government civics, technology, and history. I’ve taught at the University of Maryland and am currently an adjunct law professor at Catholic University School of Law in Washington, DC. I have also taught at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, in Brunswick, Georgia and have published in several academic legal journals and publications
I see history as a way of understanding the past, processing the present, and helping to shape the future. Students in my class will experience a world war from the perspective of a conscript. They’ll see the New York City skyline through the eyes of a young immigrant arriving on a steamship at Ellis Island. They'll experience life in a refugee camp in Kenya from someone who lived there. I bring history to life by telling the stories of those who lived it. I present real-life examples of how our government works and affects our lives.Reviews
Live Group Class
$100
for 5 classes1x per week, 5 weeks
55 min
Completed by 76 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-12
3-10 learners per class
