2008 Constitutional Connections Summer Institute
Featured Speakers - Diana Hess & Jack M. Beard
July 28 – August 1, 2008
ESD 112 Conference Center
The 2008 Constitutional Connections Summer Institute was a delight. One participant wrote, “This was one of the best summer seminars I’ve been to. I wasn’t so resentful of giving up 4 days of glorious summer. I almost didn’t come because summer was just too much to give up. I’m glad I came.”
On the first two days, Diana Hess focused teachers’ attention on why and how to organize classroom discussions of controversial public - and constitutional - issues. Days Two and Three, Jack M. Beard provided an insider’s view of the role of the Constitution in constructing foreign policy. Throughout those three days, Carol Wright, Tanya Manabat, and Keri Doggett of the Constitutional Rights Foundation provided classroom-ready plans connected to the week’s themes. On the fourth day, we used a criterion-based tool to interpret our students’ work, celebrated the growth evident in evaluation data, and planned our next steps – whether those be participation in a Lesson Study group or attendance at our 2008-2009 speaker series.
Through it all, spirits were high. In a sentiment shared by many, another teacher wrote, “Even though I was not planning to focus on new SS curriculum this year – after this week I definitely will. I am recommitted to teaching my students more about the Constitution and its relevance to their world today. Thanks for giving me more work!”
Handouts and Links:
- Discussion in Social Studies: Is it Worth the Trouble?
- Deliberating in a Democracy – Structured Academic Controversy
- Deliberating in a Democracy
- So Many Cases, So Little Time
- Elements of an Law Related Education Case Study
- Landmark Supreme Court Cases
- America’s Foreign Policy: Military Intervention
- The Patriot Act: What is the Proper Balance Between National Security and Individual Rights?
- 18 in ‘08
- Constitutional Connections 07-08 Evaluation Data Summary Packet