Resonance and Formal Charge
Students will learn to draw resonance structures for molecules and ions, using formal charge to determine the most stable Lewis structure.
Key Questions
- Explain the concept of resonance and its implications for molecular stability.
- Construct resonance structures for molecules with delocalized electrons.
- Evaluate the most plausible Lewis structure using formal charge calculations.
Common Core State Standards
About This Topic
Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century belief that the United States was divinely ordained to expand across the North American continent. This topic explores the ideological drivers of westward expansion, the experience of pioneers on the trails, and the resulting conflicts, most notably the Mexican-American War. Students analyze how this expansion intensified the national debate over the spread of slavery into new territories.
For 11th graders, this topic is essential for understanding the roots of American imperialism and the direct path to the Civil War. It also requires a careful examination of the impact on Mexican citizens and Native American tribes who were displaced. Students grasp these complex geopolitical shifts faster through collaborative mapping and role-playing the perspectives of those living in the 'contested' borderlands.
Active Learning Ideas
Inquiry Circle: Mapping the Expansion
Small groups are assigned a specific acquisition (e.g., Oregon Territory, Texas Annexation, Mexican Cession). They must map the territory and identify the primary motivations for the U.S. to acquire it, as well as the groups who were displaced.
Role Play: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Students represent U.S. diplomats, Mexican officials, and residents of the newly acquired territories. They debate the terms of the treaty and the future status of the people living in the Southwest.
Think-Pair-Share: The Wilmot Proviso
Students read about the failed proposal to ban slavery in land won from Mexico. They work in pairs to discuss why this single document caused such a firestorm in Congress, linking expansion to the sectional crisis.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionManifest Destiny was a universally accepted idea in the U.S.
What to Teach Instead
Many Americans, including prominent figures like Abraham Lincoln and Henry David Thoreau, opposed the Mexican-American War and the aggressive expansion it represented. Peer-led analysis of anti-war speeches helps students see the internal dissent.
Common MisconceptionThe West was an empty wilderness waiting to be settled.
What to Teach Instead
The West was home to diverse indigenous nations and established Mexican communities. A station rotation featuring the history of the Comanche Empire or the Californios helps students recognize the West as a populated and contested space.
Suggested Methodologies
Ready to teach this topic?
Generate a complete, classroom-ready active learning mission in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the main causes of the Mexican-American War?
What was the significance of the Gadsden Purchase?
How did westward expansion lead to the Civil War?
How can active learning help students understand Manifest Destiny?
Planning templates for Chemistry
More in Chemical Bonding and Molecular Geometry
Introduction to Chemical Bonding
Students will explore the fundamental reasons why atoms form bonds, focusing on achieving stability and lower energy states.
2 methodologies
Ionic and Metallic Bonding
Investigating the electrostatic forces that create crystal lattices and the sea of electrons in metals.
2 methodologies
Covalent Bonding and Lewis Structures
Modeling how atoms share electrons to achieve stability and representing these connections through diagrams.
2 methodologies
VSEPR Theory and Molecular Polarity
Predicting the shapes of molecules based on electron repulsion and determining how symmetry affects polarity.
2 methodologies
Intermolecular Forces
Students will differentiate between various types of intermolecular forces (IMFs) and explain their influence on the physical properties of substances.
2 methodologies