ALEX Learning Activity

We the People: Introduction to Civics and Government: Part One

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Sophia Hedrington
System:Dothan City
School:Heard Magnet School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2959
Title:
We the People: Introduction to Civics and Government: Part One
Digital Tool/Resource:
We the People: Introduction to Civics and Government Slideshow
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

This learning activity is an introduction to civics and government. The students will learn how rules and laws protect citizens in the local and state communities. The students will learn the responsibilities of citizens. 

This resource was created in partnership with Dothan City Schools.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Social Studies
SS2010 (2010)
Grade: 1
Living and Working Together in Family and Community and State
2 ) Identify rights and responsibilities of citizens within the local community and state.

•  Describing how rules in the community and laws in the state protect citizens' rights and property
•  Describing ways, including paying taxes, responsible citizens contribute to the common good of the community and state
•  Demonstrating voting as a way of making choices and decisions
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
SS.AAS.1.2- Demonstrate an understanding of rules and why rules are important; identify an understanding of rules within the classroom; explain why voting is a way of making choices and decisions.
Social Studies
SS2010 (2010)
Grade: 1
Living and Working Together in Family and Community and State
3 ) Recognize leaders and their roles in the local community and state. (Alabama)

•  Describing roles of public officials, including mayor and governor (Alabama)
•  Identifying on a map Montgomery as the capital of the state of Alabama (Alabama)
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
SS.AAS.1.3- Identify leaders in the local community and state; identify Montgomery as the capital of the state of Alabama on a state map.
Learning Objectives:

The students will be able to identify leaders and their roles in the local community and state.

The students will be able to describe the roles of public officials (e.g. a mayor, a governor, and/or a president).

The students will be able to describe how rules in the community and laws in the state protect citizens' rights.

The students will be able to describe the responsibilities of a citizen.

The students will be able to describe voting as making a choice and decision. 
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
Before/Engage
Activity:

Attention Grabber: The teacher will say: Who is the Governor of (insert state)? Student responses should be the correct governor of the selected state.

The teacher will say: In this activity, we will be learning about how our communities and governments function.

The teacher will review the learning targets and objectives for the activity.

The teacher will show the “We the People” presentation to discuss community-related terms.

After each slide, the teacher and the students will discuss how each term relates to real-life situations.

The teacher will ask the students to give examples of each term that they see in their community.

The teacher and the students will engage in a class discussion about community.

The teacher says: In your family community, what are you responsible for? Examples: household chores and being respectful to parents. 

In your school community, what are you responsible for? Examples: following the classroom and school rules, being a good student, and helping others. 

In your local community, what are you responsible for? Examples: following the laws, keeping the neighborhood clean, and respecting people’s property. 

The teacher says: Rules and laws are important, but we make our own choices. We can choose to follow the rules, but if we do not follow the rules there are consequences.

In our school, what are some of the rules? Examples: No running in the hallways, no fighting, and no bullying,

In our classroom, what are some of the rules? Examples: Raise your hand to speak, be respectful, and stay on task.

In our community, what are some of the laws? Examples: Obey stop signs and no stealing from people.
Assessment Strategies:

The teacher will evaluate the student's understanding of the objectives during the class discussion.

The students will independently complete the My Responsibilities worksheet. The teacher will assess the accuracy of student responses. 
Advanced Preparation:

The teacher will need to display the learning targets.

The teacher will need to have the “We the People” presentation ready for viewing.

The teacher needs to have the Expansion question on flip chart paper. "Research the name of their town’s mayor, the name of their state’s governor, and the name of the president." 

The teacher needs to pre-print the My Responsibilities worksheet for each student.   
Variation Tips (optional):

Intervention (Small Group/Reteach)

For the students who need assistance, the teacher work with them in a small group to reteach and review.

Expansion

The students will research the name of their town’s mayor, the name of their state’s governor, and the name of the president. 
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

This learning activity would be most beneficial in a whole class, teacher-led instructional setting. 

The assessment can be used as an individual activity or a partner pair activity. 

Links to Related Activities:

We the People: Introduction to Civics and Government: Part Two

We the People: Introduction to Civics and Government: Part Three
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: Branches of Government, Citizen, Civics, community, Government, governor, Laws, mayor, president, Rules