STUDENT LEARNING MAP – 7th grade Civics
Unit 1: Foundations of Government
Days: 30
Unit Essential Question
How did different concepts and ideas influence the development of our
government?
Lesson Essential Question 1
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Lesson 1 Vocabulary
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Systems of Government- How do different systems of
government operate to maintain order?
Lesson Essential Question 2
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Foreign Influences- What foreign thinkers and documents
influenced our government?
Lesson 2 Vocabulary
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Enlightenment, John Locke,
natural rights/law, social
contract, Montesquieu,
separation of powers, Magna
Carta, English Bill of Rights
Lesson Essential Question 3
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The Colonial Period: How did problems with the British
move the colonies towards independence?
Lesson 3 Vocabulary
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Mayflower Compact, Common
Sense, Declaration of
Independence
Lesson Essential Question 4
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Lesson 4 Vocabulary
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Articles of Confederation- How did the failure of the
Articles of Confederation demonstrate the need for a
strong central government?
Lesson Essential Question 5
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Ratifying the Constitution- What were the opinions of the
opposing sides in the debate over the Constitution?
Major Unit Assignment
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parliamentary, unitary,
federal, confederal
Articles of Confederation
Lesson 5 Vocabulary
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Federalists, Anti-Federalists,
ratification, Bill of Rights
Unit 2: The Federal Government
Days: 45
Unit Essential Question How are the principles of the U.S. Constitution demonstrated in the federal
government?
Lesson Essential Question 1
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The Legislative Branch- What is the structure and function
of the legislative branch of the federal government?
Lesson Essential Question 3
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The Judicial Branch- What is the structure and function of
the judicial branch of the federal government?
Major Unit Assignment
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Preamble, U.S. Constitution,
checks and balances,
separation of powers, rule of
law, federalism, popular
sovereignty
Lesson 2 Vocabulary
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Legislative Branch, Congress,
Senate, House of Representatives
Lesson 3 Vocabulary
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The Executive Branch- What is the structure and function
of the executive branch of the federal government?
Lesson Essential Question 4
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The U.S. Constitution- How does the Constitution create a
government for our nation?
Lesson Essential Question 2
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Lesson 1 Vocabulary
Executive Branch, President,
Vice-President, Cabinet
Lesson 4 Vocabulary
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Judicial Branch, Supreme Court,
federal court system, Marbury v.
Madison, Bush v. Gore
Unit 3: Being an American
Days: 31
Unit Essential Question What is involved in being an active, informed citizen of the United
States?
Lesson Essential Question 1
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Citizenship- What is a citizen and how can someone
become one?
Lesson Essential Question 2
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Rights of Citizens- How does the U.S. Constitution protect
us as citizens?
Lesson Essential Question 3
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Responsibilities of Citizens- What responsibilities and
obligations do we have as U.S. citizens?
Lesson Essential Question 4
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Participating in Politics- What role do citizens play in
selecting officials for public office?
Major Unit Assignment
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Lesson 1 Vocabulary
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citizen, 14th Amendment
Lesson 2 Vocabulary
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Bill of Rights, Tinker v. Des
Moines, Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier,
13th Amendment, 14th
Amendment, Plessy v. Ferguson,
Brown v. Board of Education, 15th
Amendment, 19th Amendment,
24th Amendment, 26th Amendment
Lesson 3 Vocabulary
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taxes, jury, law, Selective Service,
draft
Lesson 4 Vocabulary
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political party, platform, media,
bias, symbolism, propaganda,
interest groups
Unit 4: State and Local Government
Days: 22
Unit Essential Question
How can citizens participate in government at a local level?
Lesson Essential Question 1
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Local Government- What are the levels of local
government?
Lesson Essential Question 3
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Government Services- What service does the government
provide for the people?
Lesson Essential Question 4
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State Government- What is the structure of our state’s
government?
Lesson Essential Question 2
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Lesson 1 Vocabulary
Policy Change- How can citizens initiate positive change at
a local level?
Major Unit Assignment
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Florida Constitution,
federalism, Florida legislature,
governor, Florida court system
Lesson 2 Vocabulary
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county commissioners, city
council, ordinance
Lesson 3 Vocabulary
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mail service, education, marriage
laws, garbage disposal, parks and
recreation, law enforcement
Lesson 4 Vocabulary
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policy
Unit 5: Citizens and the Law
Days: 18
Unit Essential Question How do the different types of law within the United States impact the lives of
citizens?
Lesson Essential Question 1
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Types of Laws- What types of laws do we have in the
American legal system?
Lesson Essential Question 2
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Civil Law- What does it actually mean to sue someone?
Lesson Essential Question 3
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Criminal Law- What makes something a crime?
Major Unit Assignment
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Lesson 1 Vocabulary
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Lesson 2 Vocabulary
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Lesson 3 Vocabulary
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Unit 6: The United States and the World
Days: 12
Unit Essential Question What role does the United States play in the world?
Lesson Essential Question 1
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Modern Forms of Government- What are the major types
of government today?
Lesson Essential Question 2
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International Organizations- What is the role of various
international organizations?
Lesson 1 Vocabulary
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direct democracy, representative
democracy, socialism,
communism, oligarchy, autocracy
Lesson 2 Vocabulary
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international organizations,
United Nations, NATO, Peace
Corps, World Health Organization,
World Trade Organization,
International Court of Justice
Lesson Essential Question 3
Lesson 3 Vocabulary
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International Conflicts and Foreign Policy- How have our
conflicts with other countries affected our foreign policy?
Major Unit Assignment
EOC Review
Days: 8
Unit Essential Question
Major Unit Assignment
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international conflict, foreign
policy, diplomacy, trade sanctions,
World War I, World War II, Korean
War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Bay of
Pigs invasion, Vietnam War, Iran
Hostage Crisis, Iraq War I, Iraq War
II
Unit 7: Our Country on a Map
Days: 6
Unit Essential Question
How can different types of maps be used to gather information about the United
States?
Lesson Essential Question 1
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Lesson 1 Vocabulary
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Map Skills
Lesson Essential Question 2
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Lesson 2 Vocabulary
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Using a Map
Major Unit Assignment
Unit 8: The American Economy
Days: 8
Unit Essential Question
How does the flow of money affect the decisions countries and individuals make?
Lesson Essential Question #1
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Principle of Economics
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Lesson Essential Question #2
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Federal Budget and Taxes
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Lesson Essential Question #3
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U.S. Banking System
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Lesson Essential Question #4
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International Economics
Major Unit Assignment
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