History · 4 weeks · Grades 5-12
Founding a Nation Unit Study
The starter unit. Four weeks from blank map to functioning country.
The on-ramp for every other track: choose a location, name and found a nation, pick a government, set a budget, and write a founding charter. Best done first.
Essential questions
- What does a country actually need to exist?
- What is the first tradeoff a new government faces?
- Who decides?
Lessons
1. Location
Pick a real coordinate and defend it with geography.
2. Government
Choose a system and predict its effects.
3. Budget
Set a tax rate and fund your first priorities.
4. Charter
Write the document your nation runs on.
Projects
- • Design a flag and explain each element
- • Write a founding charter
- • Present a first-100-days plan
Assessment
- • Charter rubric
- • First-100-days presentation
- • Flag design explanation
Vocabulary
sovereigntychartercapitalconstituencytreasury
Reading list
- • A short history of a newly independent country
- • One founding document of your choice