Intro Lesson

Intro Lesson - Setting Up and Setting Out

In our first meeting we need to do some organizing. As an integrated unit of study, this class will include elements of civics, design, language arts, and many other areas. We need to get our materials organized, get to know one another, and come up with some working definitions.

Task #1 - Organize Journals

Having a place to record our questions, thoughts, and conclusions is important in any kind of learning. You will need to have your journal, a pen, a pencil, and colored pencils at the ready for all our classes together. It works best if you can find a way to store them as a complete unit. 

Maker Challenge:

Using the materials in our CREATE space, design and build a method for storing all your class supplies as a single unit.

Task #2 - Government? What is that?

How well have you been paying attention in social studies? How is our system of government organized? What do you know about the 3 levels of government? How about the 3 branches of federal government? Using blocks, Legos, and/or papercraft supplies create a visual representation of your assigned level of government.

Here's some good resources if you find a little refresher is needed.

Task #3 - Citizenship

What is citizenship? Who is a citizen? What is involved in being a citizen?

1. In your journal, write your definition of what it means to be a citizen.

2. Find a partner. Share your definitions. Refine them to come up with one definition you both can agree on.

3. Join another partner pair. Share you pair definitions. Refine them to come up with a definition you all can agree on.

4. Join with another foursome. Share your groups definitions. Refine them to come up with a definition you all can agree on.

5. Join all together as a class. Share the two semi-final definitions. Refine them to come up with a class definition.