87.+9.03..+Civic+participation-+What’s+in+it+for+me?

9.03: Civic participation: What’s in it for me?

While exploring the topic of civic participation, I want students to understand that a democracy functions because its citizens are active and engaged in society. Also, I want my students to understand that society will remain stagnant and still without their participation in leading development and change. By educating my students on the power of numbers and assembly in a democracy, I hope that they will be empowered to find a cause, a purpose, and rally behind that. In order to teach this idea to the class, I would want them to explore a social problem of interest, and find social movements surrounding this idea. Once the students research their own issue (ie, poverty, racism, cancer research, etc) the class can create a huge “social movement timeline” to display in the room and each student can present their particular area of interest. Then, I can have the class email or write letters to organizations that address their interests and ask how they can get involved. For extra credit, they could also write a letter to a congressman to advocate for their cause. I think this activity could be empowering; for the students are developing values of particular interest to themselves, and by exercising their first amendment right, they can realize that each person has a voice in a democracy, especially through organized interests. After both assignments, it would be necessary for the students to reflect on what they learned either through a letter or journal entry to me. I would assess student learning through the depth of their presentations, their pursuit of contacting organizations, and the reflection letter.