Civics

Civic learning provides students with the knowledge, skills and values they need to be informed and engaged participants in our democracy. This includes classroom instruction in government, history, law, democracy, and economics. Students in Civics classrooms should learn through inquiry and the application of historical and political science thinking skills. There should be ample time set aside for thoughtful, organized discussion of current events and controversial issues so that students can connect their learning to their own lives. When possible, teachers should consider service learning opportunities that are tied to instruction outside of the classroom as this is civics in action. The fourth quarter is critically important in this curriculum, as students are given the time to apply their learning and take civic action on an issue that is important to them. This is not a hands-off time for the teacher, but a time to mentor and coach the students as they take early steps in becoming an active, informed citizen.