Overview
Essential Purpose
Among the fundamental ideals of American democracy are individual liberty, freedom of religion, representative democracy, equal opportunity, and equal protection under the law. Other principles and rights guaranteed to American citizens can be thought of as ways to achieve these fundamental ideals. For example, the principles of limited government and civil rights are means to achieve individual liberty.
Civic responsibilities refer to the things that a citizen is supposed to do, or not do, for the benefit of their community, state, and nation. A society based on the ideal of individual liberty aims to reduce the intrusiveness of government. Consequently, it relies on individuals to do certain things that advance the cause of liberty, promote the common good, and make government "by the people" possible.
National Standards for Civics and Government
Standard V
Students should be able to:
- Explain the important characteristics of citizenship in the United States.
- Explain that citizens owe allegiance or loyalty to the United States; in turn they receive protection and other services from the government.
- Identify personal and civic responsibilities and explain their importance.
- Explain the meaning of civic responsibilities as distinguished from personal responsibilities
- Evaluate the importance for the individual and society of fulfilling civic responsibilities
- Evaluate when their responsibilities as Americans require that their personal rights and interests be subordinated to the public good.
State/Local Standards
States should align these units to their own state/local standards as appropriate.
Essential Questions
- Why is liberty important to citizens?
- What makes a responsible citizen?
- How does volunteering demonstrate civic responsibility?
21st Century Skills
- Exercise personal responsibility in personal, workplace and community contexts
- Act responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind
- Demonstrate ethical behavior in personal, workplace and community contexts
Summative Assessment
This summative assessment is a transfer task that requires students to use knowledge and understandings to perform a task in a new setting or context.
The assessment and scoring guide should be reviewed with students prior to using the lessons in the module. Students should do the assessment after the lessons have been completed.
Essential Question Measured by the Summative Assessment
- What makes a responsible citizen?
Prior
Knowledge |
Now that you have learned what makes a good citizen and how volunteering is a civic responsibility, you are ready to think about how people show good citizenship everyday. |
Problem |
To celebrate Constitution Day, your school’s principal has asked each class in your grade to create and exhibit a citizenship collection for display in the school building. The display might be in a showcase near the main entrance or a large bulletin board.
Each item chosen for the collection should help you to demonstrate what makes a good citizen. |
Role/Perspective |
You will need to decide what documents or artifacts would go into your collection. You will then need to work with other students to develop the class exhibit. |
Product/ Performance |
You are responsible for collecting 5 documents or artifacts on your own. You will need to write a plan for the principal that will list each of the documents or artifacts and write an explanation of how each item you have chosen helps to demonstrate what makes a good citizen. This plan explanation will be included in the exhibit.
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Criteria
for an Exemplary Response |
Be sure to include in the plan:
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Scoring Guide