M-DCPS Civics
Toolbox
Item
Specifications
M-DCPS Civics Toolbox
THINKGATE
AT A GLANCE
Textbook:
M-DCPS Portal
Pacing Guides


Item Analysis and
Data- Based
Instruction:
Primary source
documents,
DOK, Task Cards
NBC Learn
Access through
Employee Portal
Lesson Plans for each
tested Benchmark
Civics EOC Pacing Guide
Timeline
Curriculum Wheel
www.FLREA.org



Civics EOC Fact Sheet
Civics EOC Sample Questions
Test Taking Strategies for the EOC
Did you know?
A survey of more than
1,000 voting-age naturalborn U.S. citizens asked
respondents 10 random
questions from the
United States Citizenship
and Immigration Services
Civics Exam, which is
administered as part of
the naturalization
process, finding that 35
percent answered five or
less questions correctly.
Oppositely, more than 97
percent of immigrants
applying for citizenship
pass the test.
Here are some of the questions
that gave respondents the most
difficulty:
• 85% could not define "the rule of
law."
• 75% did not know basic functions
of the judicial branch.
• 71%were unable to identify the
Constitution as the "supreme law
of the land."
Washington Whispers. Study: One in Three Americans Fails Naturalization
Civics Test, By BRIAN GREENE.
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2012/04/30/studyone-in-three-americans-fails-naturalization-civics-test
Did you know?
• 63% could not name one of their state's
Senators.
• 62% did not know the name the Speaker of
the U.S. House of Representatives.
• 62% could not identify the governor of their
state.
• 57% could not define an "amendment."
Washington Whispers. Study: One in Three Americans Fails Naturalization Civics Test, By BRIAN GREENE.
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2012/04/30/study-one-in-three-americans-fails-naturalization-civics-test
CS/HB 105: The Justice Sandra Day
O’Connor Civics Education Act
Civics EOC Assessment:
–
–
–
–
2012-2013—Field Test
2013-2014—30% of the student's final course grade
[Fall 2014—Standard Setting]
2014-2015—student must earn a passing score on the
EOC in order to pass the course and receive course
credit
Florida, Civics, Test Blueprint
Reporting Category
Benchmarks
Percent of Items
Number of Items
25
10
25
10
25
10
25
10
100
54-60
1. Origins and Purposes of Law and Government
SS.7.C.1.1
SS.7.C.1.2
SS.7.C.1.3
SS.7.C.1.4
SS.7.C.1.5
SS.7.C.1.6
SS.7.C.1.7
SS.7.C.1.8
SS.7.C.1.9
SS.7.C.3.10
2. Roles, Rights, and Responsibilities of Citizens
SS.7.C.2.1
SS.7.C.2.2
SS.7.C.2.4
SS.7.C.2.5
SS.7.C.3.6
SS.7.C.3.7
SS.7.C.3.12
3. Government Policies and Political Processes
SS.7.C.2.8
SS.7.C.2.9
SS.7.C.2.10
SS.7.C.2.11
SS.7.C.2.12
SS.7.C.2.13
SS.7.C.4.1
SS.7.C.4.2
SS.7.C.4.3
4. Organization and Function of Government
SS.7.C.3.1
SS.7.C.3.2
SS.7.C.3.3
SS.7.C.3.4
SS.7.C.3.5
SS.7.C.3.8
SS.7.C.3.11
SS.7.C.3.13
SS.7.C.3.14
Totals
Benchmarks also assessed are in blue
SS.7.C.2.3 Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels (SS.7.C.2.2).
SS.7.C.2.6 Simulate the trial process and the role of juries in the administration of justice (SS.7.C.3.11).
SS.7.C.2.7 Conduct a mock election to demonstrate the voting process and its impact on a school, community, or local
level (SS.7.C.2.9).
SS.7.C.2.14 Conduct a service project to further the public good (SS.7.C.2.2).
SS.7.C.3.9 Illustrate the law making process at the local, state, and federal levels (SS.7.C.2.8).
Useful Tools
• Item Specifications:
http://fcat.fldoe.org/eoc/pdf/FL12SpISCivicsWTr
2g.pdf
Should be used as your guiding document to
shape instruction as well as to create lesson
plans, word walls, primary sources documents,
clarify tested benchmarks, and check for
mastery of tested benchmarks.
Useful Tools
• Edusoft pre-post tests and District Assessments.
www.Edusoft.com and
http://socialsciences.dadeschools.net/files/edusoft/
MIDDLE%20SCHOOL%20RESOURCES%20ON%20EDU
SOFT.docx
• Assessments for each tested Benchmarks: Under
Social Studies District assessment folder.
• Pre/Post test for each nine weeks
• District assessments: Baseline and Post-Test in March
2013.
• Coming 2013-14 and thereafter: Civics baseline,
winter, and spring interim assessments.
Useful Tools
• 7th Grade Pacing Guides:
http://socialsciences.dadeschools.net/( Primary source
documents, DOK ,Task Cards and ….)
• Lesson Plans for each tested Benchmark:
http://socialsciences.dadeschools.net/pacingguides.as
p
• Textbook:
http://connected.mcgraw-hill.com/connected/login.do
Useful Tools
:
• Item Analysis and Data-Based instruction
http://socialsciences.dadeschools.net/documen
ts.asp
Testing is not enough, data should be analyzed
and used to modify instruction in order to
master tested benchmarks. This is done by
differentiating instruction and re-teaching
concepts with which students are having
difficulty.
Useful Tools
• Professional Development: Civics Leaders’
Institute, conferences, and other District
trainings (using resources from the Florida
Law Related Education Association).
• Other Resources: iCivics, RDA, Center on
Congress, Center on Civic Education programs,
Library of Congress.
Use Resources from:
www.flrea.org
Non Profit
Non Partisan
Grassroots
Law-Focused
FLREA Programs
Florida High
School Mock
Trial
Competition
Florida High School
Moot Court
Competition
What are we
doing now?
Each section comes with a PDF lesson packet
and an interactive digital flipbook.
Each PowerPoint can be downloaded and
modified based on the needs of your students.
Another Example:
From Section 9: Political Participation and Media Influence
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
The Electoral College is a system where
538 electors cast votes to decide who will
be the President and Vice President.
Why
538?
This is the total of the members of
the U.S. House of Representatives,
the U.S. Senate,
and three votes for the District of
Columbia.
In Florida, electors are nominated by their
political party and approved by the Governor.
Because Florida has 29 electoral votes, each
party (Democrat and Republican) is allowed
to appoint 29 electors.
Why 29?
Florida has 27 Congressional
Districts (FL gained two districts due
to a population increase) and 2
Senators….for a total of 29.
435* + 100 + 3 = 538
Public Law 62-5 says that 435 will be the number in the House of Representatives. This number
does not change, rather other states lose seats as states gain seats in the House.
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Whichever candidate receives the popular (majority) vote in a
state (>50%), wins the electoral votes.
For example, in Florida:
Candidate A
Candidate B
29 Electors
29 Electors
If candidate B wins more than 50% of the
popular vote, their 29 electors get to cast
their votes for that Candidate.
Candidate A loses the race for that state.
Each elector casts one vote following the
general election, and the candidate who gets
more than half (270 of 538) wins.
Electoral College
STEP 5
HOW TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Florida has
29
electoral
votes.
In addition to the original lessons, FLREA
also integrates outstanding external
resources from:
We the People… the
Citizen and the
Constitution
We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution is a 6
Unit text focusing on the meaning and value of the
United States Constitution. Students using in the We the
People curriculum participate in the culminating
activity, a simulated congressional hearing in which they
present information on a given unit from the text,
establish viewpoints, and formulate supported opinions,
and defend their positions to a panel of judges.
Project Citizen seeks to promote competent
and responsible participation in local and
state government at all grade levels.
Students research a community problem,
propose alternate solutions, select a class
public policy to serve as a solution, and
establish a plan of action .
The Center on Congress at Indiana University offers
wonderful resources for teaching about Congress.
www.centeroncongress.org. Site provides teachers with:
• Interactive learning modules
• Short videos featuring “Facts on Congress”
• A Virtual Congress
• Database of Primary Resources
• A “Citizen’s Guide to Congress”
• Time! For Kids Mini Magazine
iCivics (formerly Our Courts) is a webbased education project designed to
teach students civics and inspire them
to be active participants in our
democracy.
iCivics is the vision of Justice Sandra
Day O'Connor, who is concerned that
students are not getting the
information and tools they need for
civic participation, and that civics
teachers need better materials and
support.
FLREA is the State Coordinator for
the iCivics program for the State of
Florida.
CNN Student News
Provides daily current events, archived news
stories, transcripts, discussion boards, and news
quizzes!
Using the entire toolbox,
your students will be equipped
to pass the Civics EOC and be
successful.
Jviana@dadeschools.net
Some slides are from FLREA’s website.