Defining Ethics Unit Plan

Unit: Ethics and The Law

Unit Duration: 4 Days

Unit Description: Individually, we each display different characteristics that define us. The characteristics displayed are often formed as a result of ethics and morals. Think about different characteristics that describe you and how they are affected by your ethics and morals. In this unit, you are going to explore how ethical decisions are made and the ethical character traits that individuals display. If everyone always acted ethically, there would be no need for law. Unfortunately, some people engage in certain types of conduct that most people would agree are immoral or wrong. Because of this conduct, law is necessary to maintain stability in society. However, there are times when ethics and laws may conflict.

Big Ideas:

• Throughout your life, you will face many ethical problems. Adopting a consistent ethical standard can help you deal with big and small ethical situations.
• I everyone always acted ethically, there would be no need for law. In the real world, however, some people engage in certain types of conduct that are immoral or wrong. Therefore, law is necessary.

Essential Questions:

• How does your personal values relate to your ethical behavior?
• Why is law necessary?

Academic Vocabulary: Morality, ethics, honesty, justice, compassion, integrity, law

Formative:

• Ethical Character Traits
• How are ethics and the law related Venn Diagram
• Small group discussion
• Group Ethical Dilemmas

Summative:

• Explain how your values relate to ethical behavior
• Ethics in the Real World
• Analyzing Ethical Dilemmas

Standard: BIT.BLE6: Students will analyze the role of personal integrity and ethical behavior in the workplace.

Learning Priority: BLE6.a: Differentiate between ethical and legal issues in business relationships.

Learning Target:

• BLE6.a.5.m: Explain how a person’s values relate to ethical behavior.
• BLE6.a.6.m: Describe how ethics and law are related.
• BLE6.a.8.h: Analyze ethical dilemmas.

Defining Ethics Summative Cover Page

Sources of Law Unit Plan

Unit Duration: 6 Days

Unit Description: In general, law in the United States comes from five main sources: Federal and State Constitutions, English Common Law, Statutes, Court Decisions, and Administrative Law. Although these sources may seem different, they all pertain to the law in some way.

Big Ideas:

• Law in the United States today comes from five main sources: Federal and State Constitutions, English common law, statutes, court decisions, and administrative law.
• The Constitution contains the fundamental rights of citizens. It also defines the limits in which the federal and states governments pass may pass laws.
• Statutory law consists of rules of conduct established by the government to maintain stability.

Essential Questions:

• What are the sources of law today in the United States?
• Explain how the Constitution safeguards an individuals rights and limits the government.
• Identify the purposes of statutory law.

Academic Vocabulary: Constitution, Common law, Precedent, Statutes, Legislature, Unconstitutional, and Administrative Law

Formative: Sources of Law web site, Sources of Law exploration worksheet, Bill of Rights Debate, Constitutional Web Search

Summative: Compare and Contrast the Federal and US Constitution, Summarize the basic freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and Identify key amendments, Understanding statutory law

Standard: BIT:BLE1: Students will assess the legal system in which they live and work.

Learning Priority: BLE1.a: Analyze the sources of law

Performance Indicators:

• BLE1.a.11.h: Compare and contrast the United States Constitution with the Wisconsin Constitution.
• BLE1.a.13.h: Summarize the basic freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and describe key amendments of the United States Constitution.
• BLE1.a.14.h: Interpret statutory law and identify the purposes of statutory law

Sources of Law Summative Cover Page