Foundational Ideas and Values of American Democracy

Overview

In this lesson students will examine founding-era documents and consider why it is important for diverse individuals, groups, and communities to make a common commitment to foundational ideas and values of American democracy. Students will then reflect on why all citizens should participate in civic activities and examine ways they can become civically engaged.

Grade Levels

9 – 12

Objectives

Students will:

• examine founding-era documents and find examples of the core values that allow for diverse opinions in our country and protect the minority;
• describe responsibilities that accompany the rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution;
• explain why it is important for all citizens to participate in civic activities; and
• identify ways they can become civically involved.

Estimated Time

2 days

Materials Needed

• E-Learning Module: Minority Civic Participation
• Internet connection with Macromedia FLASH ® enabled
• Projection device
• Copies of the U.S. Constitution
• Copies of founding-era documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, Virginia Declaration of Rights, Federalist Papers, or the Massachusetts Constitution

Procedure

Day 1

1. Collaborate with students and brainstorm different groups that exist within the United States. For example, students may think of different ethnic groups or political groups.
• Facilitate a discussion using the following questions:
• What differences exist among these groups?
• Do these groups ever have conflicts with each other? What problems do these conflicts cause?
• What do all of these groups have in common in the United States?
2. Make sure students understand that all Americans share the rights and freedoms listed in the U.S. Constitution.
3. Divide the class into small groups of three or four. Have each group examine the U.S. Constitution and other founding-era documents to find examples of the core values that allow for diverse opinions in our country and protect the minority. Allow each group to share their examples.
4. Discuss the concept of civic identity with students. Students should know that equal protection under the Constitution is a key part of Americans' shared civic identity.
5. Instruct students to examine the founding-era documents and find textual evidence of provisions made for a shared civic identity. Then lead a discussion about why it is important for all Americans to make a common commitment to these values and what might happen if such a commitment were not made.

Day 2

1. Review with students some of the rights guaranteed to Americans in the U.S. Constitution.
2. Lead students in a discussion about the responsibilities that accompany these rights.
3. One of the most important responsibilities that citizens have is to become civically involved.
4. Invite students to share what they think it means to be civically involved and describe ways they can become involved.
5. Use a projection device to show students the "Sources of Information" video from the Minority Civic Participation e-learning module. Summarize the various ways youth can get involved.
6. Mark Lopez encouraged students to visit the Circle Web site at http://www.civicyouth.org/. Encourage students to visit the Web site. Have them first examine Trends by Race, Ethnicity, and Gender and see how diverse populations participate in government. Guide students in considering why minority populations are not as likely to participate in civic activities.
7. Remind students why it is important for everyone to participate in civic activities. As a class think of ways that more people could be encouraged to participate in civic activities. Then have students visit other areas of the Circle Web site and find ways that they can become civically engaged.

Extension Activities

The Minority Civic Participation E-Learning module had representatives from La Raza and the Congressional Black Caucus. Encourage students to conduct a search on the Internet and learn more about these organizations.

Assessment

Basic Concepts and Processes

Ask your students to respond to the following requests for information and assess their knowledge of key concepts taught in this lesson.

1. Why is it important for all Americans to make a common commitment to the core values identified in founding-era documents? What might happen if such a commitment were not made?
2. Why is it important for all citizens to become civically involved? What would happen if citizens stopped participating in civic activities?
3. Describe ways you can become civically involved.

Lesson Plan Feedback

If you have suggestions for improving this lesson plan, or if you have ideas for others using the module, please let us know. We value your input. Thank you!

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