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Ninth Grade Civics
TITLE:
Ninth Grade Civics
TEXTBOOK:
American Civics; William Hartley and William S. Vincent; Holt, Rinehart &
Winston; 1996
DESCRIPTION:
Civics will be a two-semester course, at grade 9 that will project the idea that
students need to become effective, contributing and responsible, participatory
citizens. Students will be given opportunities to develop and reinforce the
vocabulary necessary to be a functioning responsible citizen. Students will be
offered opportunities to develop the understanding and knowledge of the workings
and principles of the United State governmental and political system. Students
will have enhanced opportunities throughout the year to develop the individual
and cooperative skills and techniques for worthy participation in society.
Throughout the year, students will be exposed to opportunities to become aware
of various contemporary issues that face the American society and the necessity
to make wise decisions about the issues. The Civics course will present varied
opportunities to discuss the contributions and viewpoints of cultural and ethnic
groups.
According to Goal 3 of Goals 2000 (Education American Act of 1994), by the year
2000, all students will leave grades 4, 8 and 12 having demonstrated competency
over challenging subject matter including....civics and government...so that
they may be prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and
productive employment...All students will be involved in activities that promote
and demonstrate...good citizenship, community service, and personal
responsibility.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Students will examine the basic foundations of democracy in order to
understand the role citizens play in society. (12.4.1)
1. Students will identify and examine fundamental political principles, such as
limited government, consent of the governed, separation of powers, checks and
balances and federalism that are important to early American government.
(12.4.2, 12.4.3)
2. Students will analyze the importance of early American documents, such as the
Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederations and the United
States Constitution. (12.4.2)
3. Students will identify and examine fundamental rights and their origins, such
as the rights of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition, the right to
due process, the right to have equality under the law and majority vs. minority
rights. (12.4.2)
4. Students will identify the three branches of the federal government,
analyzing powers granted to each the branch by the United State Constitution and
custom.
5. Students will identify the amendments stated in the Bill of Rights to the
United States Constitution and explore the reasons for their adoption (as a
group and individually). (12.4.4)
6. Students will examine the process of how a bill becomes a law within the
federal legislative branch.
7. Students will analyze landmark Supreme Court decisions dealing with the
United States Constitution and its amendments, such as judicial review and due
process. (12.4.5)
8. Students will consider some of the future challenges (challenges might
include majority rule and minority rights, the levels of taxation and the
expectation of public services). (12.4.7)
9. Students will analyze and compare the federal system of government to the
state governments. (12.4.8)
10. Students will compare and contrast a unicameral with a bicameral form of
government. (12.4.11)
11. Students will identify important features of state governments, including
the structure and function, the law-making procedure and the procedure for
amending the constitution. (12.4.9)
12. Students will identify and distinguish among the units of local governments
in Nebraska, such as counties, cities, towns and villages. (12.4.10)
13. Students will describe the election process for national, state and local
campaigns, including the history of political parties and the right of suffrage,
the nominating process, and the Electoral College. (12.4.13)
14. Students will analyze elections in the United States, detailing the
influence of media, public opinion polls, and voter turnout. (12.4.13)
15. Students will examine the taxation system of the United States, including
facets of both raising revenues and expenditures. (12.4.9, 12.4.25)
16. Students will study the various duties and responsibilities that a citizen
should play in society in order to achieve a broader understanding of being a
worthy citizen. (12.4.15)
17. Students will examine the many facets of the organization and workings of
the American Economic System in order to focus a potential role within the
system. (12.4.16, 12.4.17, 12.4.18)
18. Students will take part in the Career Opportunities Service as coordinated
by the Counselor's office to enhance their understanding of the American
Economic System.
19. Students will examine an overview of the United States role in foreign
affairs in order to understand that world citizens are interdependent. (12.4.9)
20. Students will examine various case studies to enhance decision making of
productive citizens.
21. Students will examine various case studies to enhance decision making
without bias.
22. Students will examine and analyze political cartoons, editorials, news
happenings, charts, statistics, etc. in order to broaden their critical thinking
and decision making skills.
23. Students will investigate various political propaganda techniques in order
to use them in worthy and productive way and to develop safeguards against them.
(12.4.12)
24. Students will investigate various written and unwritten rules, laws,
policies, etc. of American society, in order to better understand the role of a
citizen within American society.
25. Students will prepare to be a candidate and/or support a candidate in a mock
town through role playing about issues of the town.
26. Students will demonstrate their ability to determine the difference in
factual and value statements.
WRITING ACTIVITIES
1. Students will be required at various times to write simulated editorials
about issues and/or events. They will need to develop a main theme, body of
information based on related facts and a value related conclusion.
2. Students will be required to research topics and to do various combination
analytical writing and illustration booklets and/or posters.
3. Tests will include analytical questions.
4. Oral presentations, both individual and group, will require research and
written overviews.
5. Notebooks will be expected to be kept up-to-date.
6. Students will prepare a campaign strategy for an election to a mock town
board.
MULTICULTURE ACTIVITIES
1. Civics will enable students to gain a world awareness of the contributions of
various cultures to the United States governmental and political systems.
2. Students will have the opportunity to analyze the various family lifestyles,
methods of earning a living, economic systems, education, religion, etc. during
the courses of study.
3. Students will examine the contributions of various cultures to the overall
society of the United States.
