Planned Course for Social Studies
Course: Grade 12 Civic Responsibility & Citizenship 

National Standards:

NCSS 1: Culture

NCSS 2: Time, Continuity, and Change          

NCSS 3: People, Places and Environment

NCSS 4: Individual Development and Identity

NCSS 5:  Individual Groups and Institutions

NCSS 6: Power, Authority and Governance

NCSS 7: Production, Distribution, and Consumption

NCSS 8: Science, Technology, and Society

NCSS 9: Global Connections

NCSS 10: Civic Ideals and Practices

PA Academic Standards:
History:

8.1 Historical Analysis and Skills Development           

8.2 Pennsylvania History

8.3 United States History

8.4 World History

Geography:

7.1. Basic Geographic Literacy

7.2. Physical Characteristics of Places and  Regions

7.3. Human Characteristics of Places and Regions

7.4. Interactions Between People and the Environment

Economics:

6.1. Scarcity and Choice

6.2. Markets and Economic Systems

6.3. Functions of Government

6.4. Economic Interdependence

6.5. Income, Profit, and Wealth

Civics and Government

5.1. Principles and Documents of Government

5.2. Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship           

5.3. How Government Works

5.4. How International Relationships Function

PA Core - Reading and Writing for History and Social Studies:

8.5 Reading Informational Text

8.6 Writing

Course Description:

The goal of the middle and high school social studies program is to develop citizens who will be able to thoughtfully  participate in a culturally diverse, democratic global society. The social studies  program provides an integrated study of history, civics, economics, geography, and related social science disciplines.  The program emphasizes active learning strategies, research and inquiry skills, as well as critical thinking, reading, and writing that will transfer beyond the classroom. The development of skills and content knowledge from sixth to twelfth grade will allow students to apply what they have learned in a more practical and meaningful way.

The goal of this course is to develop thoughtful, responsible citizens through the study of civic responsibility, political institutions and economics in the United States.  Topics covered in this course include; foundations of government, political beliefs and participation, branches of government, and civil rights and liberties.   The study of current events will provide opportunities for the application of concepts.   Students will be able to appreciate their role in the political process, identify their rights and responsibilities as citizens, and examine political arguments.  Students will be able to understand perspectives and attitudes toward current challenges facing the American people.

Specific and measurable objectives to be obtained by students:

The specific objectives for this course are delineated in the Upper Moreland Township School District Social Studies Scope and Sequence based on the standards set forth in the  National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies; A Framework for Teaching, Learning and Assessment 2010 published by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and Social Studies for the Next Generation; Purposes, Practices and Implications of the College, Career, and Civic Life (NCSS C3 Framework).  Specific objectives are also listed in the corresponding Pennsylvania State Standards for History, Geography, Economics, and Government and the Pennsylvania Core Reading & Writing Standards for History and Social Studies. 

Materials:

Text & Digital Resources:

Arbetman, M., Hanson, M., Remy, R., Ritchie, D. & Scott, L (2018). United States Government: Our Democracy. Columbus, OH: McGraw Hill Education.

Primary and Secondary source documents

Supplementary reading and media materials

Artifacts

Instructional Strategies:

In order to achieve the stated goals, the following best practice strategies will be utilized:

• Big6 research process

• effective questioning techniques that challenge students to expand their thinking

• appropriate and effective use of 21st century resources and technology

• resources that provide perspective on content-based learning

• opportunity to exercise choice and responsibility by choosing topics of inquiry

• constructing and interpreting claims and counterclaims using factual evidence and research

• cooperative and collaborative opportunities for learning

• thoughtful and respectful evaluation of cultural differentiation

• application of key concepts to analyze the greater impact of social issues

• opportunities to investigate topics in depth

• opportunities to exercise choice and responsibility by choosing topics of inquiry

• the exploration of open-ended questions that challenge thinking

• web 2.0 collaborative technology

• opportunities to develop reading and writing to learn skills

• effective use of technology

• Before, During, and After (BDA) activities 

Estimated instructional time to be devoted to achieving objectives:

• Approximately 86 minutes per day, on an alternating block schedule

Forms of assessments:  

• A variety of assessments will be used to measure student progress. These include:

• Classroom discussions/participation

• Debates with accompanying rubrics

• Entrance and Exit slips

• Homework

• Independent research

• Individual and group projects with performance based rubrics

• Journals

• Tests and quizzes

• Common Unit Based Assessments given by all teachers

• Oral presentations with accompanying rubrics

• Quick write activities

• Evidence based response to nonfiction text

An explanation of how student grades will be determined:

A student’s grade will be determined through a minimum of 7 assessments per marking period.  A minimum of 3 different types of assessments will be used to determine the student’s grade.