GVSD UBD Template Clarifications Documents
Course Title:
Unit 1: Political Science
Grade Level(s):
Time Frame: 5 weeks
Stage 1: IDENTIFY DESIRED RESULTS
Pennsylvania Content Standards
Standard Area - 5.1:
Principles and Documents of Government
Grade Level - 5.1.7:
5.1.7.B: Identify the different types of government and the processes they use in making laws.
Standard Area - 5.2:
Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
Grade Level - 5.2.7:
5.2.7.A: Compare and contrast rights and responsibilites of citizenship in the community, state, and
nation.
5.2.7.B: Compare the methods citizens use to resolve conflicts in society and government.
5.2.7.C: Describe the role of political leadership and public service.
5.2.7.D: Describe the citizen’s role in the political process.
Standard Area - 5.3:
How Government Works
Grade Level - 5.3.7:
5.3.7.A: Compare and contrast the responsibilities and powers of the three branches of government.
5.3.7.B: Define and compare the role and structure of local, state, and national governments.
5.3.7.C: Describe how local, state, and national governments provide services.
5.3.7.D: Identify leadership positions and the role of political party affiliation at the local, state, and
national levels.
5.3.7.E: Describe the closed primary voting process in Pennsylvania.
5.3.7.F: Identify the different levels of the court system.
5.3.7.G: Explain the role of interest groups in local and Pennsylvania governments.
5.3.7.H: Describe the influence of mass media on society.
5.3.7.I: Identify types of local, state, and national taxes.
5.3.7.J: Identify various types of governments.
CC.8.5: Reading Informational Text: Students read, understand, and respond to
informational text – with emphasis on comprehension, making connections among ideas and
between texts with focus on textual evidence.
CC.8.6: Writing: Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write
clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content.
(updated 2015)
Major Learnings
Basic Concepts: Political Science is the study of how the interaction between politics and government
influences society.
Governance: Forms of formal and informal leadership influence people on a personal, local, national, and
global level.
Citizenship: The rights and responsibilities of citizens in a society vary in response to the influence of political
systems and current events.
Essential Questions
Guiding Questions
GVSD UBD Template Clarifications Documents
1. How does the interaction between politics and government
influence society?
2. How do leaders influence people on a personal, local,
national, and global level.
3. How do political systems and current events influence the
rights and responsibilities of citizens.
1. Why is it important to understand the interaction of Power,
Politics and Government?
2. What are the defining characteristics of the different types of
governments?
3. What are the identifying features of the American Government?
4 How do different types of governments solve conflict?
5. How do the 3 leadership styles differ?
6. How does leadership affect government?
7. How much freedom do citizens have in the different forms of
government?
Knowledge/Skills
Students will know (knowledge):
Power is process of using politics in
government.
Politics is the process of using power in
government.
Government is a system of rule over territory
and people.
The defining characteristics of the 6 types of
governments (where does the power lie?).
America is a representative democracy.
3 types of leaders (authoritative, democratic,
laissez-faire)
Expectations of citizenship (rights and
responsibilities)
Students will be able to (skills):
Examine world governments and determine where
they are, who leads them, and how.
Identify effective leaders based on their
characteristics.
Contrast the rights and responsibilities of citizens
in systems of government.
Stage 2: DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE EVIDENCE
Summative Assessments:
Formative Assessments:
The 7th grade Social Studies teams are running a Political
Science cartoon contest for all 7th graders. All entries will
be submitted to their 7th grade Social Studies teacher for
evaluation.
Unit Test
Homework questions
Worksheets
Quiz(zes)
Learning Plan STAGE 3: DEVELOP LEARNING PLAN
Introduction to Political Science- (reading / possible activity)
6 Types of Government Worksheet
3 Types of Leaders- ( Worlds worst dictators discussion- optional)
Overview of US Government- Levels- (worksheets)
Notes on Political Science throughout- readings TBA
Summative Activity- Political Cartoon
Treaty Activity- optional
RESOURCES
Moodle Site for additional readings, activities, web sites and video clips.
Political Spectrum web sitehttp://www.blackgold.ab.ca/ict/Division4/Social/Political%20Spectrum/index.htm
GVSD UBD Template Clarifications Documents
Online encyclopediahttp://www.encyclopedia.com/
Government video- http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment/
Parade Magazine on the World’s Worst Dictators
Current Events / Journal Activity / Writing Activities throughout as recommended activities
(web blogging)
Unit Vocabulary
Power
Politics
Government
Democracy
Republic
Monarchy
Oligarchy
Dictatorship
Anarchy
Authoritarian leader
Laissez-faire leader
Democratic leader
GVSD UBD Template Clarifications Documents