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Any Questions?

Any further questions can be directed to me, Samantha Stringfellow or can be looked up in the textbook, Elementary Social Studies: A Practical Guide by June R. Chapin

Good luck in your first year teaching Social Studies!

GOAL!

It is clear to see that Civic Education is a vital part of Elementary Social Studies Curriculum!

Textbooks and Technology

Classroom jobs and rules are just two examples of ways to teach Civic Education and there are many more!

Textbooks can be a utilized in the explicit teaching of civic values to students but Chapin warns that just memorization of facts and no active participation can have the opposite of the desired effect and actually deter students from wanting to participate in politics in their community.

Technology is a great resource for teaching Civic Values in the classroom. In addition to watching videos about community roles and doing electronic research about laws and local politics, students can play interactive computer games that outline good citizenship on iCivics. One example of a Civic Education game is called Executive Council, where students play being a president for four years. Students may also learn about Digital Citizenship, which teaches students about the importance of conducting themselves with honesty, integrity and respect online.

Classroom Jobs

Another way to show students how to be good citizens is through classroom jobs. In my classroom each child has a job such as pencil sharpener, messenger, materials person, etc. This allows them to practice completing a task for the good of the whole classroom community. They take more ownership and responsibility for their classroom and materials because they are the ones taking care of them. Students are able to see how the whole system is disrupted if one student does not complete their job, similarly to the way a community is disrupted without contributing and actively participating members.

Students should also be taught the importance of participating in community events and exercising their right to vote. Another characteristic of a good citizen is an active participant who is involved in community organizations. Students can start to learn these ideals young by being active members in their classroom community.

Classroom Rules

One way to teach Civic Values is to have students collaborate to create a list of the rules they believe are essential in a functioning classroom. When students have a hand in creating the rules they take ownership of them and find them important, thus making them more likely to follow them.

Having an explicit list of rules that everyone agrees to follow helps students learn about laws in the community, which are also rules that citizens agree to follow.

Students should also be taught how to settle a disagreement in a respectful, productive way without fighting. Teaching students how to interact with a variety of other people will prepare them for living an adult life in our diverse nation.

How do I Teach Civic Values?

Teaching Civic Values

Some Civic Education involves explicit teaching through reading books or using technology, such as videos. Students need to be taught about their local community, government and laws and why they are necessary.

Many aspects of Civic Education can be taught through active participation of students as members of a classroom community. When a teacher creates a classroom community that is based on Civic Values, the students learn how to be a contributing and hardworking member of society.

Don't Children Learn Civic Values at Home?

After their parents, the teacher is the next person a child looks to, to learn how to act. Teachers are constantly modeling good civic values by:

-Taking care of the classroom and materials

-Following the class rules

-Participating in school and community events

-Showing respect for others

-Dressing professionally

-Using appropriate language

-Modeling proper etiquette

Moore, J. (2012). A Challenge for Social Studies Educators: Increasing Civility in Schools and Society by Modeling Civic Virtues. The Social Studies, 103(4), 140-148.

Why is Civic Education Important?

Chapin writes, "Civic engagement is good for individual students’ development, good for communities and institutions, helps to assimilate new immigrants, and is necessary for sustaining a democracy,"(Elementary Social Studies: A Practical Guide, Chapter 1)

Our society depends on contributing citizens with good morals and values. Civic Education teaches students their role in the community at a young age.

The Three Types of Citizenship

By Samantha Stringfellow

1. Personally Responsible Citizen: Encompasses personal qualities such as honesty and compassion. Volunteers their time for the good of the community by giving blood, picking up trash, etc. Is hardworking and contributes to society by paying taxes, following the law, voting and more.

2. Participatory Citizen: Has the knowledge of how community organizations and local government work and the skill needed to participate in meetings and other important community events.

3. Justice-Oriented Citizen: Looks at a problem and searches for the root cause to see what social or political action should be taken. This type of citizen takes action to address injustice in the community.

Teaching Civic Values

The main goal of any Social Studies program is Civic Education, in which students are taught what their role is as an active member of society.

"...all students need the knowledge, skills, and democratic dispositions to be active and to participate in public life. Civic education means that all students must be prepared to interact with the increasing diversity of their communities and the nation, as well as understand the complexity of local, national, and global issues that are shaping the world," (Elementary Social Studies: A Practical Guide, Chapter 1).

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