STANDARD GOVT.1a The student will demonstrate skills for historical thinking, geographical analysis, economic decision making, and responsible citizenship by a) planning inquiries by synthesizing information from diverse primary and secondary sources; Essential Understandings Experiences may include but are not limited to the following: Inquiries result in the development of questions in response to identified issues. Synthesis involves combining processed information with other knowledge to logically reach a new interpretation and understanding of content. Evidence is evaluated, analyzed, and organized to support the development of a response to an identified issue. Proposed responses to identified issues and problems are developed based upon evidence found in a variety of sources. Historical information may be acquired from a variety of sources: Diaries Interviews Letters Raw data Court records and transcripts Photographs Journal articles that report the findings of original research Newspaper articles reporting on current events Autobiographies Speeches Creative works (novels, plays, poems, music, art) Use a variety of information sources to do the following: Collect and analyze data to explain major influences on voter turnout in three different localities in the Commonwealth. Investigate and find examples in the United States Constitution to answer the question, “How does the Constitution guard against tyranny? Choose three pieces of voter legislation passed in the past 150 years. Examine contemporary sources to explain how each impacted citizen participation in elections. Examine and analyze the geography of a location. Gather information about a specific geographic feature (e.g., the ocean, lakes, mountains, rivers) that may impact several countries, states, localities, or communities. Investigate and examine an issue or concern with the geographic feature, the types of legislation passed, and how bordering communities cooperated or had conflicts. Review the United States Naturalization Test for citizenship to determine how the questions reflect the political philosophies outlined in the following: Athenian democracy and the Roman republic Declaration of Independence, Virginia Declaration of Rights, Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, and the Bill of Rights Constitution of the United States Prepare a collection of primary and secondary sources that best relate to a unit of study. Examine the sources to do the following: Make and record observations about the sources and generate questions about each item. Determine commonalities and patterns in the themes of the sources, as well as how the sources connect to the overarching topic of the lesson. Determine the local implications, impacts, and costs and benefits of the sources. Develop a position.
STANDARD GOVT.1c The student will demonstrate skills for historical thinking, geographical analysis, economic decision making, and responsible citizenship by c) comparing and contrasting historical, cultural, economic, and political perspectives; Essential Understandings Experiences may include but are not limited to the following: Close examination and interpretation of various data and images are essential to making informed decisions. The context of the time period influences a person’s perspective about an event or issue. Public perspectives on an issue evolve over time. Analyze an issue from a variety of perspectives (historical, cultural, economic, and political) to determine how the issue has evolved over time. Topics might include the following: Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Civil Rights Act
STANDARD GOVT.1j The student will demonstrate skills for historical thinking, geographical analysis, economic decision making, and responsible citizenship by j) communicating conclusions orally and in writing to a wide range of audiences, using evidence from multiple sources and citing specific sources. Essential Understandings Experiences may include but are not limited to the following: Effective argumentation includes the establishment of a claim, supporting evidence from a variety of credible sources, and conclusions drawn by the author. Effective communication of ideas, opinions, and knowledge requires a variety of approaches and techniques. The skill of researching works in tandem with investigating in that students need to uncover material in order to adequately answer questions formulated when investigating. Students take more ownership over investigating and researching when they are able to choose the type of product to produce while asking the question: How can a person mirror the work of historians, geographers, political scientists, and economists? Select a political principle, ideal, or concept. Provide examples of how that principle, ideal, or concept is reflected in legislation, execution of laws, or interpretation by the courts. Create a blog that explores the following impacts. Use evidence and data to support the argument. Most valuable liberty: Freedom of speech or freedom of religion? Greatest impact on democracy: Rule of law or limited government? Most transformative legislation: Fair Labor Standards Act or Americans with Disabilities Act? Most influential role of a chief executive: Chief executive or commander in chief? Select a local community concern. Determine the sources needed for the investigation. Develop a position about the concern. Gather and analyze the data. Prepare a presentation for the student government association to gain support for the chosen position. Investigate transportation routes of the locality. Research the history of transportation in the local community. Determine the sources to gather information and data. Determine issues or concerns related to transportation. Prepare a three-minute speech to deliver to the local governing body about the concerns, and offer possible solutions. Survey campaign ads, both in print and on television or the Internet, for candidates running for a local, state, or national office. Create a guide for first-time voters to use when making decisions on Election Day. Investigate a local issue that has a global impact. Prepare a three-minute speech to deliver to the civic league about your concerns, and offer possible solutions.