Free Role Of Citizens In The U.S. Political System Lesson Plan for 12th Grade Students

Topic: Role of citizens in the U.S. political system

Objectives & Outcomes

• Understand the definition of who is a citizen and the historical expansion of that definition
• Observe changes in citizen participation over time and the factors that influence those changes

Materials

• Textbook or other reading material on the definition of citizen and citizen participation in the U.S. political system
• Copies of the Constitution for each student
• Handouts or worksheets for each student

Warm-up

• Ask students to name three things that citizens in the U.S. can do that non-citizens cannot.
• Lead a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of being a citizen in the U.S.
• Ask students if they know what "naturalization" is and how it comes about.

Direct Instruction

• Review the definitions of "citizenship" and "naturalization."
• Discuss the expansion of the definition of "citizenship" over time, from being limited to white male property owners to including non-white males and eventually non-white females and immigrants.
• Discuss changes in participation over time, including increases in voter turnout and the role of technology in political engagement.

Guided Practice

• Have students work in pairs to research the history of citizenship in the United States and one specific period or event.
• Have each pair share their findings with the class.
• Have the class discuss the implications of the history on the definition and role of citizenship in the United States.
• Ask the class to brainstorm ways in which citizenship can be improved in the United States.

Independent Practice

• Have students work in small groups to research the current state of citizenship in the United States, focusing on:
• How is citizenship defined and acquired?
• How are citizens participating in the political system?
• Have each group present their findings to the class.
• Have the class discuss the implications of the findings on the definition and role of citizenship in the United States.

Closure

• Review the main points of the lesson.
• Ask students to reflect on the importance of citizenship in the U.S. political system and their role as citizens.

Assessment: present a 30-45 minutes exit ticket for students to reflect on what they learned in the lesson. The assessment should be given at the end of the lesson and should measure the students' ability to analyze the role of citizens in the U.S. political system and their ability to define who is a citizen and explain the expansion of that definition over time and changes in participation over time.

• As a formative assessment, check students' participation during the whole lesson and their understanding of the topic through class discussions and their class presentations.