Civics Syllabus
Unit 1: Foundations of American Government
Time Frame: Approximately three weeks
Unit Description:
This unit focuses on investigating the principles that influenced and motivated the Founding Fathers of the United States to create a constitutional, federal republic.
Student Understandings:
Students understand the principles that influenced the Founding Fathers and the creation of our federal republic. Students explain what makes our government different from other governments. Students demonstrate an understanding of the ideas that shaped the formation of the American republic and identify their source.
Grade–Level Expectations:
Foundations of American Government: C.1.1, C.1.2, C.1.3, C.1.4, C.1.5 & C.1.6
ELA CCSS for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
RH.9-10.2, RH.9-10.4, & RH.9-10.8
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
WHST.9-10.4, WHST.9-10.6, WHST.9-10.7, WHST.9-10.9, & WHST.9-10.10
Unit 2: Structure and Purposes of Government
Time Frame: Approximately five weeks
Unit Description:
This unit focuses on the structure, roles, and responsibilities of the United States government.
Student Understandings:
Students understand how the United States Constitution is structured and how the government it created functions. Students distinguish between the roles and responsibilities of the different branches of government. Students describe the qualifications for office of various elected officials. Students explain the electoral, law making, and amendment processes.
Grade–Level Expectations:
Foundations of American Government: C.1.1, C.1.2, & C.1.6
Structures and Purpose of the Government: C.2.1, C.2.2, C.2.3, C.2.4, C.2.5, C.2.6, C.2.7, & C.2.8
ELA CCSS for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
RH.9-10.1, RH.9-10.2, RH.9-10.4, RH.9-10.7
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
WHST.9-10.1, WHST.9-10.4, WHST.9-10.6, WHST.9-10.9, & WHST.9-10.10
Unit 3: Roles of United States Foreign Policy
Time Frame: Approximately four weeks
Unit Description:
Students analyze the relationships between the United States and other nations and evaluate the role of the United States in foreign diplomacy and international trade.
Student Understandings:
Students understand the basic goals of the United States foreign policy and how these goals affect the relationship between the United States and other nations. Students explain the impact of the United States foreign policy in historical and current events. Students analyze international incidents using primary and secondary sources to understand the role of the United States in the international community.
Grade–Level Expectations:
Structure and Purpose of Government: C.2.1 & C.2.3
Roles of United States Foreign Policy: C.3.1, C.3.2, C.3.3, & C.3.4
ELA CCSS for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
RH.9-10.2, RH.9-10.4, RH.9-10.10
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
WHST.9-10.1, WHST.9-10.4, WHST.9-10.7, WHST.9-10.9, & WHST.9-10.10
Unit 4: Functions of Government
Time Frame: approximately five weeks
Unit Description:
This unit will focus on analyzing and critiquing how the levels of government generate and allocate revenues to carry out the functions of government.
Student Understandings:
Students understand the ways in which the American government generates domestic policies, collects revenues, and allocates resources among the various expenditure categories in the United States budget. Students differentiate between fiscal and monetary policy, explain the functions and role of the Federal Reserve System, and understand the differing views on the implementation of domestic policy. Students explain the costs and benefits of government policies, programs, and expenditures in relation to their impact on the federal budget.
Grade–Level Expectations:
Structure and Purpose of the Government: C.2.1 & C.2.3
Functions of Government: C.4.1, C.4.2, C.4.3, C.4.5, C.4.6, C.4.7, C.4.8
ELA CCSS for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
RH.9-10.2, RH.9-10.4, RH.9-10.7
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
WHST.9-10.4, WHST.9-10.7, WHST.9-10.10
Unit 5: Role of the Citizen in American Democracy
Time Frame: Approximately five weeks
Unit Description:
This unit will focuses on examining how citizens can participate responsible and effectively in American civic and political life.
Student Understandings:
Students understand the various rights and responsibilities of a citizen of the United States. Students explore the development and the extension of basic rights of citizenship to various groups in the United States (e.g., African Americans, women). Students distinguish between different types of propaganda and the role propaganda plays in political election campaigns. Students explain the difference between major political parties and special interest groups.
Grade–Level Expectations:
Foundations of American Government: C.1.1
Role of the Citizens in American Democracy: C.5.1, C.5.2, C.5.3, C.5.4, C.5.5, C.5.6, C.5.7
ELA CCSS for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
RH.9-10.2 & RH.9-10.4
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
WHST.9-10.7, WHST.9-10.9, & WHST.9-10.10
Unit 6: Fundamentals of Economics
Time Frame: Approximately three weeks
Unit Description:
This unit focuses on explaining how citizens can become effective decision-makers by applying fundamental economic concepts to real world situations.
Student Understandings:
Students understand various ways different economic systems answer the three basic economic questions: What should be produced? How should it be produced? And For whom should it be produced? Students explain the problems caused by scarcity and the effects on economic decision-making. Students describe the connection between productivity and standard of living. Students demonstrate the effects of supply and demand on economic activity in a market economy.
Grade–Level Expectations:
Fundamentals of Economics: C.6.1, C.6.2, C.6.3, C.6.4, & C.6.5
ELA CCSS for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
RH.9-10.2, RH.9-10.4, RH.9-10.7
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
WHST.9-10.4, WHST.9-10.7, WHST.9-10-9, & WHST.9-10.10
Unit 7: Economic Systems and Structures
Time Frame: Approximately three weeks
Unit Description:
This unit focuses on demonstrating an understanding of the elements of the United States market economy within a global setting.
Student Understandings:
Students understand the types of market structures found in the United States economy and can describe their characteristics. Students explain the effects of innovation and technology on competition and interdependence in the United States economy. Students understand the difference between types of unemployment and their effects on the economy.
Grade–Level Expectations:
Fundamentals of Economics: C.6.2, C.6.3, & C.6.5,
Economic Systems and Structures: C.7.1, C.7.2, C.7.3, C.7.4, & C.7.5
ELA CCSS for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
RH.9-10.2, RH.9-10.4, RH.9-10.10
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
WHST.9-10.4, WHST.9-10.7, WHST.9-10.9, & WHST.9-10.10
Unit 8: Financial Literacy
Time Frame: Approximately three weeks
Unit Description:
This unit focuses on applying economics principles in making sound, personal financial decisions.
Student Understandings:
Students understand the relationship between high levels on skills and education with higher wages and benefits. Students demonstrate how to manage household finances by developing personal financial goals, creating a family budget to achieve those goals, and managing a checking and savings account. Students differentiate between the various financial institutions and services while determining which will best help them achieve their financial goals. Students understand the benefits and risks associated with credit including the role credit scores play in the lending process.
Grade–Level Expectations:
Fundamentals of Economics: C.6.1 & C.6.4,
Financial Literacy: C.8.1, C.8.2, C.8.3, C.8.4, & C.8.5
ELA CCSS for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
RH.9-10.1, RH.9-10.2, RH.9-10.4, & RH.9-10.7
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
WHST.9-10.7, WHST.9-10.9, & WHST.9-10.10