Welcome to American Government! Our first unit focuses on Civic Participation. Below is our syllabus for the unit.
American Government
CIVIC PARTICIPATION
The
purpose of this unit is to develop an understanding of both the rights afforded
to citizens in a democracy and the duties and responsibilities that accompany
these rights. Citizenship will be investigated as a legal status and a way of
life with special attention paid to the necessity of civic participation.
Enduring
Understandings:
American
citizenship is a legal status that includes duties such as obeying the law,
serving in the armed forces, and jury duty, as well as responsibilities such as
voting and public service. Democracy is
dependent upon the participation of its citizens in government and society.
1. Defining
citizenship: Activity: What
is good government?
Forms
of Citizenship
Civics in Action [pp6-20]
Special Focus: James Foley
2. Citizenship
as a legal status
History of immigration in US – Choices background brief
Travel documents in North America –
Webquest
Selected Readings: What Does
Immigration Actually Cost Us? The New
York Times
FILM:
Documented by Jose Antonio Vargas
Civics
in Practice [pp. 11-16]
Position paper: Ending
the DACA program and deporting undocumented students is a legal, moral and necessary step
towards securing our borders.
3.
Participatory
Democracy: “Cast your vote not with a mere strip of paper, but with your whole life.”
Henry David Thoreau
Demographics: Class Census Project
Participating in communities: family, school,
town, state, nation
Reading and Focus
Questions: Adolescent Lives in Transition by Donna San Antonio
Webquest: Get to know your community. Problems,
Solutions and Service
FILM:
Freedom Riders PBS
Civics in Practice [pp. 17-21]
4. Civic
Participation Project: Class will design, implement and reflect upon an
authentic service
project.
Hurricane
Harvey: How can we make a difference?
Adopt
a Classroom research, action plan and goals.
