I Before the Field Trip

Teacher Guide: The following activities can be used before, during, and after the Discovery Education virtual field trip to the United States Senate in Washington, D.C. Your students can follow along using the attached Student Worksheet.

I – Before the Field Trip

Discussion questions about the Constitution - What is the purpose of the federal government?

- Why do you think many political systems in the United States and around the world have written constitutions? How might things be different in systems without them?

Discussion questions about Congress and the Senate - Describe the overall organization of the federal government as designed by the Framers. What basic roles does the Constitution assign to Congress?

- What is a bicameral legislature? Why did the Framers create a bicameral legislature for the federal government of the United States?

II – During the Field Trip

The Virtual Field Trip will have two parts: - A visit with Dr. Betty Koed, the Senate Historian

- Interviews with two United States Senators who serve on the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, Sen. Ted Cruz (R – TX) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D – CT).

Students should listen carefully to the interviews in the Virtual Field Trip and answer the questions on the Student Worksheet.

III – After the Field Trip

Discussion questions for after the field trip

To learn more about Discovery Education Social Studies Techbook™ visit DiscoveryEducation.com/SocialStudies

 Discovery Communications, LLC - Review the “Before the Field Trip” questions. How have students’ answers changed?

- Ask students to complete and discuss the Reflection question on the Student Worksheet.

- Ask students what they would want to see if they visited the Capitol Hill. Why?

Activities for after the field trip - Ask students to develop one question that interests them about the history and role of the U.S. Senate, or the work of U.S. Senators. Why does this question interest them? Ask students to brainstorm on what kinds of resources would help answer that question. Have students search the Senate’s Web page (https://www.senate.gov/) to find resources that might answer their questions.

- A famous but unverified story about the U.S. Senate involves a conversation between Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. Jefferson was in France during the Constitutional Convention. When he returned, he visited Washington and asked him why the Framers had created the Senate. “Why did you pour that tea into your saucer?” asked Washington. “To cool it,” answered Jefferson. Washington replied, “We pour legislation into the senatorial saucer to cool it.” (Source: https://www.senate.gov/legislative/common/briefing/Senate_legislative_pro cess.htm )

Ask students to read carefully, then reflect on the following questions:

o In what ways are the House of Representatives and the Senate similar? How are they different?

o What did Washington mean when he said the Senate “cools” legislation? Why might this be necessary?

 Discovery Communications, LLC o How does the Framers’ design of the Senate promote the “cooling” of legislation passed by the House?

Students can work in small teams to create posters or digital presentations that might be used to educate younger students on the organization, roles, and importance of Congress and the U.S. Senate.

IV – Discovery Education Extension Resources

Discovery Education Streaming and Streaming Plus users can use the resources below to extend the learning in their classrooms.

DE Resource Instructional Practice(s) Joining a Committee Divide class into three (or six) groups to view videos. Students should discuss and Interest Groups present: - Why are congressional committees so important?

- In what ways does “democracy stop” at the door of Congress?

- How do interest groups help Senators and other members of Congress? What dangers do they present?

 Discovery Communications, LLC Discovery Education Social Studies Techbook users can use the resources from Techbooks to extend the learning in their classrooms.

DE Resource Instructional Practice(s) Source Analysis: Constitution Students can use this interactive From: United States History investigation to analyze an image of the (Prehistory – Reconstruction) Constitution and explore the text of the document.

Citizen Engagement Activity: A Sovereign People? Students analyze excerpts from the Constitution to take a position on the question “Does the Constitution support the principle of popular sovereignty?” They then propose changes to the Constitution to either restrict or increase citizen involvement in the political process. Government in Daily Life What is the proper role of a government Principles of the Constitution in your life? View the video, then engage From: Civics and Government in the interactive debate.

 Discovery Communications, LLC Student Worksheet

Students should complete this worksheet as they watch the Discovery Education Virtual Field Trip to the United States Senate.

Part One : A Visit with the Senate Historian How does the Capitol Hill complex reflect the Framers’ design of Congress? What does it reveal about the work of the legislative branch?

Describe an interesting tradition of the U.S. Senate.

Part Two: Interviews with Senators Cruz and Blumenthal Describe the work of the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution.

How does the Constitution encourage compromise and cooperation among people who disagree?

Why does the Constitution include a process for amending the Constitution?

What is the difference between a committee’s chair and its ranking member?

 Discovery Communications, LLC Reflection What steps can citizens who do not hold office take to influence the work of the United States Senate? What can you do to get involved?

 Discovery Communications, LLC