Civics and Government:(focus on forms of government, especially those found in historical cultures and countries studied)
Again, I am always interested in creating the context that makes information mean something to students -- 6th graders are too young to connect the existence of democratic principles to their roots in The Enlightenment, and they will not comprehend that the political disorder that we so often see in Africa and South America is often rooted in the colonial histories of those places -- unless we really help them understand those ideas. I would hope that we would develop a social studies curriculum that moves students beyond an endless stream of facts and "objectives" and teaches them the skills of thinking about history, and government and citizenship and economics, etc.
- Students will describe and compare the defining characteristics of democracy, republic, and limited monarchy and show connections to American rights today:
- Democracy – voting rights, legislative bodies, written constitutions
- Republic – separation of powers, representative government, civic duty
- Monarchy – limited monarchy
- Explain how opportunities for citizens to participate in and influence the political processes differ under these various systems of government
- Compare the rights and responsibilities of citizens living under various systems of government
Sue,
ReplyDeleteI agree we should help students understand these heavy topics in their own world view. I will take out the focus on the past wording to help open the curriculum up to this.