CIVICS+ideas

=**NATIONAL STANDARDS**= =**CIVICS AND GOVERNMENT**=

=**A WE THE PEOPLE Textbook and Lesson (addressing Civics and Government)**=

=THE RETURN OF CIVIC EDUCATION= =An article 2007 - download PDF http://www.kappanmagazine.org/content/89/4/285.abstract= Has links to civic education sites

Pennsylvania Civic Education http://www.penncord.org/programs/

Center for Civic Engagement http://www.civicyouth.org/

CIVIC COMPETENCIES http://civicmissionofschools.org/site/resources/civiccompetencies.html

AN ONLINE VIDEO COMPETITION FOR ISSUE http://www.civiced.org/index.php?page=film_your_pc

MORE CIVIC EDUCATION SITES http://new.civiced.org/resources/civic-education-links

STUDENT AMBASSADORS PROGRAM - competition where students participate in a legislative summit http://new.civiced.org/programs/project-citizen/student-ambassadors-participate-in-legislative-summit

SENATE JUDICIARY HEARING!! http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/socialstudies/confirm2_7-20.html

How C-SPAN classroom can help teach civics
 * http://www.springvillegi.org/webpages/cspan/index.cfm**


 * THERE ARE SO MANY SIMULATIONS**


 * United States Senate Youth Program**
 * http://www.ussenateyouth.org/**


 * MOCK CONGRESS - Bill writing AND MOCK ELECTION**
 * http://www.youthleadership.net/**

= = =**Minnesota - one teacher's outline for CIVICS**=
 * __Content__**: In this class students will study government, political science, citizenship, and current events. Throughout the course students will work on writing, speaking, critical thinking skills, and the application of study skills. It is important to understand the philosophy of our county, how it operates, and to think critically about the government's role in protecting our rights in a post 9-11 world.

__Civics: Responsibilities and Citizenship. Glencoe/McGraw Hill.__ 1997. __We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution__. Published by The Center for Civic Education, 1995. This will serve as our secondary textbook.
 * __Textbooks__**:

This unit will examine the need for government, and the governing philosophy of John Locke and Social Contracts, and other philosophers from the Enlightenment Period. This unit will examine the short term events that led to the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
 * __Areas of Study__**:
 * __Unit 1 Why We Have a Government?__**
 * __Unit 2: The Founding of the American Political System.__**
 * Simulation #1: Constitutional Convention.**

Students will study Federalism, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, and the Rule of Law that is imbedded in the Constitution.
 * __Unit 3: The Constitution__**

Students will examine how the Bill of Rights was created and the role it has played in our nation's history. Moreover, we will examine how these rights affect out lives in post 9-11 world.
 * __Unit 4 Bill of Rights.__**

Students will learn about the law making power of the legislative branch.
 * __Unit 5 Legislative Branch:__**
 * Simulation #2: Student Bill Proposal - Legislative Simulation.**

Students will learn about the electoral process and the differences between political parties and ideologies. Students will also assess where they fall on the political spectrum. Students will examine the power of the presidency and the office's role in policy making.
 * __Unit 6 Political Parties and Elections__:**
 * Simulation #3: Election Simulation.**
 * __Unit 7 Executive Branch:__**

Students will learn about the structure of our independent judiciary, judicial review, and the Supreme Court.
 * __Unit 8 Judicial Branch:__**
 * Simulation #4: Mock Trial**


 * There is //NO// extra credit given in Civics.*

There are four major projects in Civics: **Constitutional Simulation, Legislative Simulation, Election Simulation, and the Mock Trial**. These projects are done and assessed on an **individual** basis. Identical projects will be given a zero and a letter will be placed in your student file.
 * __Projects__:**