This student reader accompanies a teacher's guide of the same name. The essays in this book provide firsthand perspectives on how the federal government works. Essays by President Bill Clinton, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, justices of the Supreme Court, journalists, lobbyists, and others who take an active role in this nation's democracy…

This paper considers how well today's young adolescents are prepared for their future roles as citizens, noting that the public schools have a unique opportunity to positively affect their students' civic knowledge, values, and behaviors. The paper contends that recent research suggests that the next generation of citizens may lack the knowledge,…

Graphic organizers offer visual models that equip teachers and students with tools, concepts, and language to organize, understand, and apply information. Many teachers, concerned that social studies tends to overwhelm students, feel social studies is viewed as a complex and confusing subject unrelated to the contemporary world. Graphic organizers…

This teacher's manual is one volume of a six volume curriculum for the secondary level, designed to provide a systematic, group-oriented approach to decision-making in areas crucial to adolescent development: work, drug (substance) use and abuse, sexuality and social relationships, juvenile law, and people and government. The general goals of the…

This curriculum guide is intended to provide practical, easy-to-use applications for the widest range of faculty who would like to develop their students' citizenship skills by integrating civic responsibility concepts and practices into their college courses. The authors recognize that community college faculty teach courses that reflect varying…

This scope and sequence is intended to provide direction for Arizona's schools in developing citizenship education programs. The first part of the publication discusses the state's philosophy of citizenship education. Citizenship in its broadest definition is membership in a group; it is a condition of belonging. For citizenship to be observable…

This Program of Studies (POS) outlines the Fairfax County (Virginia) instructional program for the subject area of Virginia/United States government. Noting that it has long been recognized since the founding of the nation that the general education of society has, at its core, a "civic mission," the POS aims to educate students about…

These lesson plans on the First Amendment are designed to help elementary school students to understand the history and meaning of the First Amendment and its importance in today's society. Seven lessons for primary grades cover the following topics: (1) Forms of expression; (2) Rights in daily life; (3) The First Amendment; (4) The right to meet…

Lessons and learning activities to teach children in the primary grades about citizenship responsibility and social decision making are provided. Active learning is emphasized. Section I contains five lessons, for use in kindergarten and grade 1, that deal with the themes of freedom and responsibility. The activities focus on home life and the…

This packet provides primary source documents and lesson plans relating to the study of Jackie Robinson as a civil rights advocate. The legendary baseball player, Jack Roosevelt Robinson, was the first black man to "officially" play in the big leagues in the 20th century. Jackie Robinson was not only a stellar baseball player, but he…

Introduces a teaching technique,"You Be the Judge," in which three U.S. Supreme Court cases that focus on discrimination are used to explore the court rationale. Focuses on the criteria set out by the court as proof of discrimination, and allows the students to argue and discuss the issues in the classroom. (NL)

This document is one of a series of role plays that focus on science-related social issues of concern in contemporary public policy formation. The role plays are designed to help students develop information-processing and decision making skills needed to deal effectively with such issues. The role plays guide students in analyzing science related…

This curriculum guide describes an introduction to law-related education for fourth graders in the Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Florida. Primary goals are described as stimulating competent thinking in children, and developing skills and attitudes that will help children function effectively in decision-making situations. The…

Children's literature is a rich source of information for teachers to use in helping elementary school students learn to become knowledgeable and active citizens. Seventy-four children's books are described in terms of their citizenship or law-related content. Lesson ideas and, in some cases, complete lesson plans are offered that creatively focus…

A series of elementary and secondary school learning activities which correlate to citizenship education goals of the Maryland State Board of Education are presented. The five goals are to understand individual and group responsibilities in a democracy, know the functions of law and support a system of justice, value individual, societal, and…