March 6, 2006

Teaching Civics & GovernmentTCH 347 Social Studies in the Elementary School

Department of Teacher EducationShippensburg University

Han Liu, Ph. D.

What is Civics?

• The study of civic affairs and the duties and rights of citizens

• A social science dealing with the rights and duties of citizens

• The branch of political science that deals with civic affairs and the rights and duties of citizens.

Why Do We Need to Study Civics

• There is an old saying that the course of civilization is a race between catastrophe and education. In a democracy such as ours, we must make sure that education wins the race. John F. Kennedy (1958)

Core Contents/Themes

• Democratic Heritage and Principles• The Nature of Government• The U.S Government• Citizenship

• Rights and Responsibilities • Civic Virtues• Participatory Citizenship

Democratic heritage

• Contributions of the Greeks and the Romans

• The Magna Carta• U.S. Historical Documents

• Thoughts of the Framers• Declaration of Independence• The Constitution• The Bill of Rights

Democratic Principles

• Right to life, liberty, and happiness• Constitutional Government• Rule of Law• Justice and Equality• Diversity and Minority Rights• Separation of Powers• Checks and Balances• Civilian Control of Military• Separation of Church and State• Due Process of Law• …

The Nature of Politics & Government

• Why is there a government• Political power & authority• Purpose of government• Government functions

• Make rules/laws• Interpret laws• Carry out rules and laws• Resolve conflicts• Provide public services

• Types of government• Democracy/Republic• Monarchy/Constitutional Monarchy• Dictatorship

Government

• Key Institutions• Legislature (rule/law making)• Executive (rule/law applying)• Judiciary (rule/law adjudicating)

• Government Officials• Elected• Appointed

• Government by different levels• Local• State• National

• Government functions at different levels• Relationship between government & other social

institutions

U.S. Legal System

• Federal Court System• U.S. Supreme Court• Federal Court of Appeals• Federal District Courts

• State Court System• State Supreme Court• Court of Appeals• Circuit Courts• District Courts

• U.S. Police System

The U.S. Court System

Citizenship

• Civic Dispositions• Honesty• Fairness• Self-discipline• Civic-mindedness

• Rights of Citizens• Right of life and liberty• Right to personal, political, and economic freedom• Right to pursuit happiness

• Responsibilities of Citizens• Obeying the law• Respecting for others• Voting• Paying taxes• Serving in the armed forces

Sample Concept Clusters-1

• Sources of law• The Constitution• Statutes• Common law• Decrees

Sample Concept Clusters-2

• Civic Virtues• Fairness• Honesty• Keeping promise• Speak the truth• Fairness-fair play• Sharing• Respect others• Care for others• Help the weak and the poor• Civic participation• Compromise

Sample Concept Clusters-3

• Government Functions• Internal order• External security• Public services

Sample Concept Clusters-4

• Public Services• Postal service• Education• Health• Conservation• Police• Fire• Labor• National defence

Samples Generalizations

• Every citizen needs to possess the civic dispositions of democracy.

• Public services are provided by the government at different levels in the United States.

• Peer mediation programs in middle schools demonstrate a good example for civic education.

Topical Approach

• Community service• Fairness• Classroom rules• Ways of showing respect for others• Mayor• Police• President of the United States• United Nations• U.S. foreign policy• …

Inquiry Approach

• How many traffic signs do you know?• Find three examples showing you treat

others fairly.• How is our community governed?• What is the role of the governor?• What powers does the President have?• What are the rules that must be followed at

school?• What rights are guaranteed by the Bill of

Rights?

Class Activities

• Develop rules at home• Develop rules at school• Role playing to solve conflicts• Voting simulation • Brainstorming solutions for public

concerns• Peer Mediation in middle school• Writing persuasive articles to public

media

Social Activities

• Serve in elder homes• Serve in the community• Conduct environment protection projects,

such as Recycling• Attend rituals & ceremonies• Attend meetings of public affairs with adult

guidance • Visit museums• Travel abroad• Make friends from other nations

Debating Issues

• Violence• Gun control• Alaska Petroleum Exploitation• U.S. attitude towards Kyoto Treaty• Prayer in schools• Minimum wage

Venn Diagram Exercise

• How are the following concepts related to each other?

• Social science• Political science

• Civics• Government• Citizenship

Sorting/Summarizing Skills

• Sort Presidents • by political parties • by birth place• by education

• Sort government functions by different levels

• Summarize civic virtues • Summarize democratic principles• Summarize citizen rights

Writing Skills—Inter Disciplinary

• Write a letter to the mayor, the city council member, or the Congressmen in Washington D.C. to voice your public concerns

• Write a poster persuading environment protection

• …

Reference : Standards

• The Center for Civics Education— http://www.civiced.org/

• National Standards for Civics & Government — http://www.civiced.org/stds.html

• Content Standards by Grade Levels— http://www.educationworld.com/standards/national/soc_sci/index.shtml

• PA standards for Civics & Government— http://www.pde.state.pa.us/stateboard_ed/lib/stateboard_ed/pdfeconomics.pdf

Links• Center for Civics Education• http://www.civiced.org/• Ben’s Guide for US government for Kids• http://bensguide.gpo.gov/• Helping Your Child Become a Responsible Citizen (PDF)• http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/citizen/citizen.pdf• Character Education• http://www.wcpss.net/Instructional/chared.html• U.S. Presidents• http://www.presidentsusa.net/index.html• http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/• http://www.presidentsusa.net/bio.html• U.S. Legal System• http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/legalotln/federal.htm• Law for Kids• http://ogc.navy.mil/ogcwww/LAW-4-KIDS.asp• Rubric• http://www.accessexcellence.org/LC/TL/liu/citizenrub.html