Texas TEKS 3.8

3.8 is a TEKS knowledge and skills statement. These are the student expectations under it.

• 3.8.A

  identify the purposes of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights

• 3.8.B

  describe the concept of "consent of the governed."

01

What Students Need to Do

Students explain why each founding document was created and how its purpose differs from the others. They also explain that government gets its authority from the people through voting and elected representatives.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

Students can match each document to its purpose and support the match with a clear detail. They can identify an example of citizen consent and explain how it gives government authority.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may think the Declaration created the current government or that the Constitution declared independence. They may also think citizen consent means every person agrees with every law or votes on every decision.

04

How to Assess It

Exit ticket: State one purpose of each founding document, then describe one way people give consent to their government.

1. 01

   Sort purpose, freedom, and government cards under Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights headings, then explain each choice to a partner.

2. 02

   Write a response to this prompt: How do elections show that government power comes from the people?

3. 03

   Play a three-corner review game where students move to the document named by each purpose or example read aloud.

4. 04

   Compare a student council election with a government election, then list two ways voters give representatives permission to make decisions.

• 4.13

  Government. The student understands important ideas in historical documents of Texas and the United States. The student is expected to:

• 3.7

  Government. The student understands the basic structure and functions of various levels of government. The student is expected to:

• 2.8

  Government. The student understands the purpose of governments. The student is expected to:

• 5.14

  Government. The student understands important ideas in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The student is expected t...