Civics I- Grade 7

Duration

10 Months

Prerequisites

Student Must Have Completed Grade 6

Requirements

None

Course Summary

Learning about civics gives students the skills and knowledge necessary to be active citizens who have a positive impact on their communities. In this course, students discover the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States. They learn about the structure of the government and how it works at the local, state, and federal levels. This course examines elections, the lawmaking process, and how citizens can impact public policy. Students also discover ways the United States interacts with countries around the world. Geography and economics support the learning of civics in this course. Engaging in this study prepares students to be informed citizens who are ready to participate in the American democracy!

Semester 1:

Using Maps
Geography of the United States
American Culture
Effective Citizenship
Naturalization
Enlightenment
Principles of American Democracy
Declaration of Independence
The U.S. Constitution
Analyzing Historical Documents
Structure and Functions of the Federal Government
Checks and Balances
The Bill of Rights
The Amendment Process
Federalism
State and Local Governments
Rule of Law
The Lawmaking Process
The U.S. Court System
Jury Trials
Local Government and Activism

Semester 2

Influencing Government
The Media
Interest Groups
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Political Parties
Elections
Analyzing Data
Comparing the United States and the World
Cultural Diffusion
Domestic and Foreign Policy
Trade and Currency
International Organizations
Basic Economic Concepts
Competition and Entrepreneurship
Banking in the United States
Taxes
Making a Budget
Service Learning
Service Learning Part A
Service Learning Part B