Participation in Government Grade 12 Curriculum Map

Month

UNITS

standards

Text Chapters

skills

 

Sept./Feb

- Philosophical foundation and comparative perspectives

- NYS Standard 5.1

N/A

 

 

 

 

- Applying concepts to current political/government situations

- Generalize from data by applying previously concepts

- Scrutinizing possible consequences of alternative course of action

- revise generalizations in light of new data

Concepts

key questions

assessments

RESOURCES

- Politics and government

- Law and politics

- Authoritarian vs. Democratic governments

- Different democratic societies

- Major purposes of government

- Major principles of political systems

- Constitutions and other laws

 

- What are the purposes and principles of government, politics and the law?

- Current case study analysis

- Debates

- Class presentations

- Journal Entry responses

 

- Internet

- Guest Speakers

- Library Resources

- Daily and Monthly periodicals

- “We the People” activity book

 

 

 

 

Month

UNITS

standards

Text Chapters

skills

 

October/March

- Citizenship, Participation and the Electoral Process

- NYS Standards 5.2 & 5.3

- N/A

 

- Speak in an effective way

- Use media and other visuals for communicating ideas

- Write in an expository way

- Participate in group planning and discussion

- Assume responsibility for carrying out tasks

- Be alert to incongruities and recognize problems

Concepts

key questions

assessments

RESOURCES

- Voting is the pivotal form of political participation

- The significance of joining political organizations, contributions, and doing volunteer work in political campaigns

- Not voting as a form of political protest

- Pros/Cons of different forms of participation and non-participation

- Mechanisms of electoral process

- Does you vote count?

- How does the political party system enable change and opportunity for participation

- How do you prepare to vote?

- Why would someone seek public office?

- How do campaigns & elections enable choice and opportunities for participation?

- How do you become a more effective media consumer?

 

- Current case study analysis

- Debates

- Class presentations

- Journal Entry responses

- Simulated Campaigns

- Political Party platform analysis

 

- Internet

- Guest Speakers

- Library Resources

- Daily and Monthly periodicals

 

 

 

 

 

Month

UNITS

standards

Text Chapters

skills

 

Nov & Dec/April & May

- Public Policy and Political Participation

- NYS Standards 5.2, 5.3, 5.4

- N/A

 

- Identify a variety of information

- ID types and kinds of information needed

- Organize collected info

- Evaluate Data

- Generalize from Data

- Challenge data and question hypotheses based on sufficient evidence

- Define basic issues

 

Concepts

key questions

assessments

RESOURCES

- Public Policy

- Government Roles in Public Policy

- Public Policy Process

- Relationship between Public Policy and American Democracy

- Citizen Involvement in Public Policy and Political Organizations

- How do you find and evaluate on public policy issues and interests?

- Which government should respond to a particular public policy issue?

- How does the public policy work?

- How does the public policy process reflect the purposes, values and principles pf American Democracy?

- How do citizens become more involved in working on a public issue or for a political organization?

- Current Case study analysis

- Research Papers

- Portfolio

- Debates

- Class presentations

 

 

- Internet

- Guest Speakers

- Library Resources

- Daily and Monthly periodicals

- Field Trips

- Videos

 

 

 

 

 

         

Month

UNITS

standards

Text Chapters

skills

 

January/June

- Legal Rights and Responsibilities

- NYS Standards 5.2, 5.3

- N/A

 

- Use Higher Level Thinking skills of comprehension, analysis, synthesis and evaluation

- Raise questions related to a problem

- Redefine original problem or define new problems

- Speak in an effective way

- Evaluate and draw inferences  from data

- recognize problems with data

Concepts

key questions

assessments

RESOURCES

- Freedom of expression outside of school

- Rights of the accused outside of school

- Rights and responsibilities of students in school

- Rights and responsibilities of minors in the workplace

- Rights and responsibilities of minors in the family

- Rights and responsibilities related to medical treatment or public assistance for minorities

- What are the legal rights and responsibilities of the individual in civic life, the workplace and school?

- How do your legal rights and responsibilities change as you move about in different arenas of citizenship

- Current case study analysis

- Debates

- Class presentations

- Journal Entry responses

 

- Internet

- Guest Speakers

- Library Resources

- Daily and Monthly periodicals

- “We the People” activity book

 

 

Clarifying/qualifying notes regarding Participation in Government Curriculum Map:

Participation in Government is a half-year course, which is intended and designed to be a fluid integration of student learning activities that address local and State requirements and meet the needs and interests of our students. Individual unit inclusion, emphasis, class time allocation, sequence and detailed lesson plan content should reflect and integrate current government issues and priorities. For example, Fall 2001 required instruction focused on public policy as it relates to terrorism, Fall 2000, the presidential election, Fall 2002, the gubernatorial race in NY, etc. It is essential that this course be tuned to the issues of the time in order to connect the content to current realities. There will be semesters where NYSED suggested units not specified in the Curriculum Map might, at the teacher’s discretion, be included in the curriculum.

As stated in the curriculum the major aim is “…to prepare students for a productive and meaningful life as citizens in local, state, national and international settings.”  There is no one right way to do that.

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by Luke Rakoczy, K-12 Social Studies Administrator, Mohonasen Central School District, 2072 Curry Road, Schenectady NY 12303 (518)-356-8253 lrakoczy@mohonasen.org
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Last modified on Tuesday, February 06, 2007