Small personal actions can be first steps in a life of service and civic engagement. Voting and civic action are small examples of responsible citizenship. Advocating for what we value is a demonstration of a citizen's rights.
Learners acknowledge that aligning with groups can promote belonging as well as conflict and power struggles. They discuss and write about ways to include and show respect for people with different identity traits.
Students brainstorm simple acts of kindness and design a bookmark as a reminder.
Learners reflect on issues that people tend to avoid facing because they are difficult situations. They write an honest reflection on issues they can take action to address.
The learners brainstorm the effects of taking responsibility and not taking responsibility around issues they care about.
In this lesson, we explore the value of reading and discuss why it is good for the community when everyone has access to books.
The learners investigate their perceptions about bullying and its relationship to respect. They brainstorm ways to promote respect of self and others as individuals and as a group.
The learners define and explain the importance of civic engagement and responsible citizenship. They explore the reasons why people may hesitate to become involved in solving problems and consider ways in which they can be "part of the solution" rather than a "part of the problem."
We define civic virtue and give examples of ways to exhibit civic virtue for the common good.
We're all the same in one basic way: We all want other people to understand us. In this lesson, youth learn about needs of differently abled children in their school or community and take a step toward removing barriers. They use the persuasive power of communication to raise awareness of ways to understand and show respect for people with disabilities through a service project.