The Role of Citizens in a
Democracy
Ada Chai & Edmund Gyasi
ED 200 Analyzing Schools
Curriculum Project Proposal
May 6th, 2013
Introduction
 Role of Citizens in a Democracy:
 Educated citizenry who can effectively participate in a democracy
 Skills, knowledge, and attitude to work collaboratively with different people
 Context:
 Target Grade Level : 6th Grade, Social Studies class
 Schedule: 5 Super blocks (1 hr 15 mins) over 2 weeks
 References:
 Robert Slavin : Cooperative Learning (1995)
 Cooperative learning groups and methods
 Project based learning
 James A. Bank : Approaches to Multicultural Curriculum Reform (2004)
 Social Action Approach
Standards and Guidelines
 Standards set by CT State Department of Education Guidelines
for the 6th grade
 Standard 1- Content focuses on knowledge that promotes understanding of
“our nation and our world”
 Standard 2- Focuses on competency in literacy, inquiry and research skills
necessary to analyze, evaluate and present information
 Standard 3- Focuses on Civic Engagement
(http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/curriculum/socialstudies/CT_Social_Studies_Curriculum_Framework_2011.pdf)
Objectives
Students will …
 Learn about the structure of a democratic government and the rights
and duties of citizens of a democratic nation.
 Be able to compare and contrast the democratic governments in the
Americas to gain a global perspective and analyze the functions of
citizens within a given democratic system.
 Understand the social responsibilities of citizens of a democratic nation
and how they can impact their immediate community.
 Be able engage in their community and act to fulfill their civic
responsibility.
Week 1: Monday
 Discussion about government and citizenship in a democracy( 15 mins)
 KWL chart (Know, Want to Know, Learned)
 Overview of democracy in the US and in Brazil (10 mins)
 Class Activities: (15 mins)
 Video and Role Play : Resource 1 & 2
 Group Assignment: Resource 3
 Library Time : (35 mins)
 basic methods of research?
 resources available?
Week 1: Wednesday
 Group Work: Bill of Rights – Resource 4 (30 mins)
 Continued work on poster boards (35 mins)
 Preparation for guest speaker from the Hartford Mayor’s office
(10 mins)
 Background information
 Two questions for speaker
 Homework: Students must write a one page reflection on the rights that are
provided for citizens by the constitution and what this means to them.
Week 1: Friday
 Guest speaker from the Hartford Mayor’s office will be brought in
to speak about government and citizenship. (20 mins)
 Importance of local government in Hartford
 How Connecticut residents can participate in the process
 Questions and discussion
 Students presentations (10 mins each)
 Graded collectively based on their presentation
 Graded individually based on peer and self-evaluations (Resource 5)
 Comparison and Discussion (15 mins)
Week 2: Monday
 Focus will shift to social awareness and community action.
 Students will be regrouped into teams that have at least one member from each
group to discuss how the knowledge they have can be applied to real life
situations that people encounter. (30 mins)
 Resource 5 (attached)
 Articles on social justice issues (20 mins each):
 Immigration Rights: “Let Immigrants Get Driver’s Licenses” (Resource 6)
 Educational Policy: “ Hartford Schools, CROs Agree on Services for ELLs”
(Resource 7)
 Group Assignment: Resource 8
 Apply your knowledge: Propose an action plan! (due Friday)
Week 2: Friday
 Students will present their topics and plan of action ( 5 mins each)
 Reflective free-writing time (10 mins)
 In-class letter writing to Mayor Segarra (30 mins) - Resource 9
 Share their findings
 Proposed action plan
 Returning to the KWL Chart: What have we learned? (10 mins)
Overview
WEEK 1:
MONDAY
Lesson: Discussion about
government and citizenship
Activity:
KWL Chart.
Role play
Lesson:
Overview of Democracies in the U.S.
and Brazil
Activity:
Group work on Bill of Rights.
Library Time.
Objective:
Learn about the structure of a
democratic government, the rights
and duties of citizens, and how
citizenship is obtained.
Week 1:
WEDNESDAY
Activity:
Make poster boards in
groups.
Prep for Speaker.
Week 1:
FRIDAY
Lesson:
Guest Speaker Presents
Week 2:
MONDAY
Lesson:
Social Awareness and
Community Action:
Week 2:
FRIDAY
Activity:
Read and discuss articles.
Understand what their social
responsibilities are as citizens
of a democratic nation.
Demonstrate their ability to
engage in their community and
act to fulfill their civic
responsibility.
Objective:
Understand what their social
responsibilities are as citizens
of a democratic nation and
how they can impact their
immediate community
Objective:
Demonstrate their ability to
engage in their community and
act to fulfill their civic
responsibility.
Activity:
Students present their
presentation.
Comparison and Discussion of
different democracies
Objective:
Be able to compare and
contrast the democratic
governments in the Americas
to gain a global perspective
and analyze the functions of
citizens within a given
democratic system.
Activity:
Presentation of action plans.
Letter to the Mayor.
Evaluation
 Their project will allow groups to creatively express their understanding of the
curriculum in a variety of ways and encourages them to work collaboratively, think
critically about key points, and draw on available resources
 Group-based evaluations:
 How well did they display their knowledge in their creative projects?
 How well did they work with group members and contribute to the
project?
 Individual evaluations:
 How were they evaluated by their peers? How did they evaluate themselves?
 Persuasiveness, reflectiveness, and clarity of the letter to the Mayor