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Unit Lesson Plan: Civic Community Involvement

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Grade Level Grades 9-12
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Unit Lesson Plan: Civic Community Involvement

About This Lesson

Goal: Learners will understand importance of community involvement with voting and gain in-depth knowledge of the political processes within the local area.

WEEK ONE

Day 1: Civic Action

Definitions of what civic action is: powerpoint and YouTube video on different ways to get involved in local political communities

  • Discussion with class about why some people are not involved with civic actions such as political processes and voluntarism.
  • What is the reason some of their generation may or may not become involved?
  • Short writing prompt: “Why You Care?” or “What Would You Change and Why?”

Day 2: A speaker will come from the local political party to discuss ways to become involved i.e. Precinct Committeeman voluntarism, helping with campaigns, Get Out The Vote, etc.

  • Students will be given an opportunity to ask questions when the speaker is through or throughout the presentation
  • When the speaker has departed, a discussion as to how this kind of civic engagement and action contributes to the community and if students would do anything different than what the speaker was engaged in?

Day 3: Field Trip to the County Board of Supervisor’s meeting room for a tour,

  • Discussion prior to the trip as to the Board of Supervisor’s roles, election process, terms, who is who, etc.
  • Have learners get questions ready and written on note cards or in notes on electronic devices for tour guide or board member. Teacher to review questions prior to trip.

Day 4: Week de-briefing on what was learned:

  • Discussion with learners as to the many different type of elected political positions on both the city, state and federal level.
  • Discussion as to who typically runs for office and why; present article and other media re: younger population getting involved: https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2004-07-14-young-pols_x.htm
  • Discuss what political office would students think would make the most change (in what changes they identify needing to happen in the community where they live) and how people get elected into those positions.

WEEK TWO

Day 1: Re-cap of last weeks learning and activities

  • Assignment to begin: In class short essay or technology-based (story board, powerpoint, YouTube) activity to sum up this unit lesson: What Way Will You Participate?
  • Groups assigned for activity.
  • Groups will inform teacher what they have chosen to present on Day 4 to the class.

Day 2: a trip to the City Council Chambers for a tour.

Second half of class dedicated to group work on activity due on Day 4.

  • Discussion prior to the trip as to the City Council; roles, election process, terms, who is who, etc.
  • Have learners get questions ready and written on note cards or in notes on electronic devices for tour guide or Council member. Teacher to review questions prior to trip.

Day 3: Local school board member meeting in class.

Second half of class dedicated to group review of assigned activity due on Day 4.

  • Have learners get questions ready and written on note cards or in notes on electronic devices for speaker. Teacher to review questions prior to trip.

Day 4: In class short essay or technology-based (story board, powerpoint, youtube) activity presentations by groups to sum up this unit lesson: What Way Will You Participate?

Discussion after each presentation with question and answer sessions.

Source Cited

State of Idaho Department of Education. (2017). Social Studies. Available: https://www.sde.idaho.gov/academic/social-studies/

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Tonia Brooks
August 27, 2017
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