The Law, Politics, and Government; Civics for Grades 6-8 FLEX

This class will include instruction through teacher-created videos, games, and guided student research. Each session will take about three hours to complete. 

LESSON OUTLINE
Session 1
Weeks 1-2
---Complete an interactive notebook on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and the documents that influenced the founding fathers who wrote them.
---Compete against classmates on a Constitution Vs. Articles of Confederation Kahoot
---Play a simulation game to try and ratify the constitution (or not!)

Session 2
Weeks 3-4
---Break down the preamble to the U.S. Constitution by creating a Preamble Picture Book on a shared Google Slide with fellow FLEX students
---Complete an interactive notebook on the Branches of Our Government
---Play a simulation game to try and create a bill and pass it into legislation

Session 3
Weeks 5-6
---Complete an interactive notebook on Rights and Amendments in the Constitution
---Play a simulation game where you become a lawyer who informs clients of their rights
---Learn the electoral process and how to run for president
---Play a simulation game to try and win the white house
---Create Flipgrid to share your campaign strategy with fellow FLEX classmates

Session 4
Weeks 7-8
---Complete an interactive notebook on public policy and its effects on our citizens
---Learn about interest groups, their powers and their limits
---Research a change agent in our country's history and share their story on Fligrid
---Play a simulation game and try and make a big change in your community



LEARNING OUTCOMES
Session 1: The History of Our Government
**Examine the origins, purposes, and impact of constitutions, laws, treaties, and international agreements.
**Explain the origins, functions, and structure of government with reference to the U.S. Constitution, state constitutions, and selected other systems of government.
**Analyze ideas and principles contained in the founding documents of the United States, and explain how they influence the social and political system.

Session 2: Dissecting Our Democracy
**Explain the powers and limits of the three branches of government, public officials, and bureaucracies at different levels in the United States and in other countries.
**Distinguish the powers and responsibilities of citizens, political parties, interest groups, and the media in a variety of governmental and nongovernmental contexts.
**Explain specific roles played by citizens (such as voters, jurors, taxpayers, members of the armed forces, petitioners, protesters, and office-holders).

Session 3: Beyond the Presidency 
***Describe the roles of political, civil, and economic organizations in shaping people’s lives.
***Differentiate among procedures for making decisions in the classroom, school, civil society, and local, state, and national government in terms of how civic purposes are intended.

Session 4: The Flip Side of the Law
***Assess specific rules and laws (both actual and proposed) as means of addressing public problems.
***Analyze the purposes, implementation, and consequences of public policies in multiple settings.
***Compare historical and contemporary means of changing societies, and promoting the common good.