Reconstruction Amendments
Five Step Lesson Plan
Please note the following
abbreviations: H/E-Hands and Eyes, C/Y-Class/Yes, T/O-Teach/Okay,
MW-Mirror/Words
Step 1: Question What are the basic provisions of the 13th, 14th, and 15th
Reconstruction Amendments to the Constitution of the United States? Post this
question on the board and have students tell each other how excited they are to
learn about these 3 amendments. T/O
Step 2: Answer C/Y, MW- 13th, 14th, 15th Reconstruction Amendments-Using
Vocabulary Candy tell students, Reconstruction is the time period that came
after the Civil War. T/O
C/Y The 13th Amendment
abolished slavery. (Gesture: Show the number 13, then cross arms in an X then
open them as if breaking free from chains.) Ending slavery was the first
step toward equality for African Americans. T/O
C/Y, MW-13th, 14th, 15th
Amendments-The 14th Amendment granted citizenship. (Gesture: Show the
number 14, then give a firm handshake with your own hands.) A person must
be free before they can become a citizen. T/O
C/Y, MW-13, 14th, 15th
Amendments-The 15th Amendment gave voting rights to black men. (Gesture:
Show the number 15, then while holding one hand palm-side up, write one your
hand/cast your vote, and drop the ballot in an air voting box.) A person
must be free before they can become a citizen and must be a citizen before they
can vote. T/O
Step 3: Expand C/Y, H/E Show students the first part of the Reconstruction
Amendments Power Pix (13th Amendment). Even though Abraham Lincoln's
Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery at the end of the Civil War in 1863,
the question of slavery had still not be resolved when the war ended in 1865.
T/O
C/Y Since many southern
states were rebellious, the U.S. government required each state to add the
abolition of slavery to their state constitutions. BUT (said with
emphasis), there was no law preventing states from revising their
constitutions. So, that is why the 13th Amendment was passed in 1865.
T/O
C/Y, H/E Reveal the second
part of the Power Pix (14th Amendment). The 14th Amendment was passed in
1868 and was a step up from Amendment 13. American leaders in Washington
D.C. felt people born in the U.S. should be declared a citizen. T/O
C/Y Amendment 14 gave full
citizenship to anyone born or naturalized in the U.S. This amendment says that
everyone born in the U.S. regardless of skin color, race, or religion was
legally an American citizen. T/O
C/Y, H/E Reveal the third
and final part of the Power Pix (15th Amendment). The 15th Amendment was a
milestone of 1869. The 15th Amendment prohibits or bans the government
from not allowing a person to vote based on a citizen’s race, color, or
previous servitude. African American opinions were finally heard and
counted through the power of the vote. T/O
C/Y Unfortunately, with
every law passed, some individual states created new codes and laws that
prevented full equality to African Americans, but these three amendments were
the first steps toward equality. This equality would not be fully
achieved for decades to come. T/O, C/Y
Step 4: Test Explain to students that they will be agreeing or disagreeing
with a set of statements by playing Yes/No Way. Ask students to help come
up with a gesture for "Yes" and "No Way." For example, they
might make a big check as they say, "Yes" and a big X as they say,
"No Way."
1. The Reconstruction
Amendments are the 10th, 11th, and 12th Amendments. (No Way.)
2. The 13th Amendment
abolished slavery. (Yes.)
3. A person does not have
to be a citizen of the country in order to vote. (No Way.)
4. The 15th Amendment
allowed African Americans to vote. (No Way.)
5. African Americans were
allowed to vote before slavery was abolished. (No Way.)
6. The 14th Amendment gave
citizenship to all persons born in the United States regardless of race. (Yes.)
7. These three amendments
banned slavery and granted citizenship and voting rights. (Yes.)
After each statement, have
volunteers stand up and use C/Y and a Because Clapper to explain their answers.
The class responds with Ten Finger Woos.
Q/T Test-If 90% of students
answer correctly, give the Q/T Test by having students use Smart Cards.
1. The Reconstruction
amendments include the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. (True)
2. With the passing of the
13th Amendment, African Americans were no longer considered slaves. (True)
3. Black American men were
allowed to vote in the early 1900s due to the 15th Amendment, which granted
them suffrage. (True)
4. The 14th Amendment
granted freedom of speech to all persons. (False)
5. These three amendments
did not help African Americans achieve equality. (False)
If at least 90% of my
students passed the QT Test then go on to step 5. If not, return and
reteach Step 3 with new material.
Step 5: Critical Thinking Students complete one or more of the following exercises:
- Using the 13th,
14th, and 15th Amendments, complete each sentence type in the Genius
Ladder. Students can complete this orally with a partner, and then
add their best/favorite of the three amendments to their ISN (Interactive
Student Notebook).
- Talk to your
neighbor and compare and contrast the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.
- Play What Am I?
with your neighbor. For example, students will use the Because
Clapper to describe either the 13th, 14th, or 15th Amendment and finish by
saying, "What Am I?" The other student will answer, and
then they will switch roles.
- Use Sockless Hand Puppets, then Props, then Air
Whiteboard to explain the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.