| unit title* | Understanding
and Applying Core Democratic Values |
| subject area* | Social
Studies |
| secondary subject | Language Arts |
| grade* | 6th
& 7th Grade |
| duration/time* | Three weeks |
| overview* | When
studying geography, students often focus on environmental features and
neglect governmental systems. This unit will set the stage for helping
students understand similarities and differences between governmental
systems in major world regions, and their impact on daily lives.
This unit was designed to help students understand how our form of
government compares to that of other countries and how the U.S. Constitution
and Bill of Rights impact our lives.
It can be taught at three levels, as:
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1. an introductory mini-unit 2-3 days long; |
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2. a two week unit; |
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3. an extended unit involving student research and culminates in an original
play written and produced by students. |
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| technology overview* |
| Level 1: Students will access information |
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| Level 2: Students will collect data for research |
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| Level 3: Students will analyze information |
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| Level 4: Students will synthesize and communicate
information |
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| guiding questions* |
How does the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights impact our lives?
How does our form of government compare to that of other
countries?
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| content standards and benchmarks* |
SS.I.4.4.MS: Select historic decisions and evaluate them in light of
core democratic values.
SS.II.4.4.MS: Compare major world regions with respect to
governmental systems, cultures, economy, environment, and communication.
SS.III.2.1.MS: Identify the essential ideas expressed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights and the origins
of those ideas, and explain how they set the foundation for civic life, politics
and government.
SS.III.1.2.MS: Distinguish between representative democracy in the U.S. and
other forms.
SS.VI.3.1.MS: Compose essays expressing decisions in national and
international policy issues.
LA.VIII.3.MS: Describe and use characteristics of various informational
genre (e.g. persuasive arguments and essays) and elements of expository text
structure to convey ideas.
LA.IX.3.MS: Develop a thesis using key concepts, supporting evidence and
logical argument.
LA.X.1.MS: Analyze themes and central ideas in literature and other texts in
relation to issues in their own lives. Use laws and other ethical rules to
evaluate their own conduct and the conduct of others.
SS.I.2.1.MS: Use narratives and graphic data to describe significant events that shaped
the U.S. as a nation.
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|
technology standards and benchmarks* | |
| lessons/ resources* | Lesson
1 - Historical Timelines (5 Class Periods)
Lesson 2 - Review U.S. Constitution (3 Class
Periods)
Lesson 3 - Understanding Core Democratic Values (2 Class
Periods)
Lesson 4 - Applying Core
Democratic Values (2-5 Class
Periods)
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| example student materials | |
| assessment* |
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During the Lesson 1 discussion, the student is able to describe
two or more significant influencing factors from narratives and graphic
data. (see attached rubric)
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Students' written responses to the activity from
lesson one of You
Decide show an ability to assess historic cases according to the Bill of
Rights.
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Using a Venn diagram, students will complete it for the U.S. and one
other world region citing similarities and differences between
governmental systems. (see chart and
rubric)
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Students will compose a persuasive essay which clearly and with depth
expresses a well reasoned decision. (see writing rubrics)
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| reflection | |
| home activities | |
| credits | |