Described is a social studies unit designed to help elementary school children understand the process of elections through participation in a mock election. Teaching preparation is discussed and activities for each day of the 18-day unit are presented. (Author/DB)

High school students learn about city, county, and state government through field trips. Included are forms for debriefing and student and community agency staff evaluations, follow-up exercises, and lists of do's and don'ts for teacher planning. (SR)

This guide is designed to promote and assist in the integration of the civics curriculum, required for immigrant legalization, into the English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) curriculum through both curriculum development and program planning. The guide has two major parts. The first part is a listing, in a suggested sequence, of civics/ESL…

Evaluates "Law in a Free Society," a curriculum project of the Center for Civic Education. Details the contents of 11 lessons from the upper elementary school (Level IV) units on justice and 10 lessons from the secondary school (Level VI) units concerning authority. Offers an example of the program's "Exercises in…

Presents a civic mathematics curriculum that encompasses issues of race and gender, poverty and wealth, the environment, and concerns of teenagers. Includes lists of mathematics skills and aspects of the issues and a sample lesson on water resources. Quarterly projects are suggested as an alternative to exams. (MKR)

An activity-based approach to learning the U.S. Constitution through a series of clues that describe the amendments and articles is presented in this lesson plan. The articles and amendments are placed in envelopes and put in different locations throughout the school. The clues given to the students partially describe the Constitution and…

Studying ideas from the Federalist papers provides high school students with an opportunity to examine the first principles of U.S. civic culture. By increasing their knowledge and appreciation of the basic ideas in the Federalist papers, students develop civic literacy that is likely to enhance their participation in a free society. This volume…

To focus classroom learning experiences on the freedoms and privileges enjoyed by consumers in the U.S. free market economy is the goal of these guidelines. Students learn how the U.S. Constitution relates to the free market system through a variety of teaching strategies. The guidelines can easily be adapted for use in a variety of classroom…

Presents a lesson plan that accentuates honesty as a central tenet of moral behavior. The first handout requires written answers to open-ended questions based on the students' personal convictions. Subsequent handouts contain quotes, arguments, and "Six Reasons for Being Honest." A class discussion follows. (MJP)

Describes a service learning project where students identify a real political problem, research related issues, and propose a solution. Members of the U.S. Congress and county offices of education have created corresponding awards programs. Includes procedures for creating a local project. (MJP)

Presents a lesson plan that teaches students to identify and examine the First Amendment as it applies to school-related issues. Procedures include researching a specific case and role playing its participants, followed by a discussion and written analysis. Includes three recent Supreme Court cases. (MJP)

Outlines instructions for conducting a student forum addressing the relevance and appropriateness of character education. Five students agree to portray fictional members of the panel (teacher, minister, single parent). The rest of the class researches the issue and asks questions. (MJP)

These materials were prepared by a project that developed and used a computer-assisted comprehensive life skills curriculum partly based on an existing life skills program, "Everyday Basic Skills," and added new modules in civics and legislative legal issues relevant to Pennsylvania. An 18-page final report is followed by a curriculum…

Presents a lesson plan that teaches students the links between industrialization and global warming, and analyzes the conflicting values and priorities involved in the debate between economic development and environmental concerns. Students role play delegates from countries attending an environmental conference. Handouts provide background…

This handbook contains teacher developed lessons to help Utah educators integrate legal education and values education into the overall secondary curriculum. The lessons can also be used by educators in other states. The handbook begins with a discussion of the various teaching methods utilized in the lessons: brainstorming, case studies,…