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More SocStud Commencement Standards Commencement S1 Commencement S2 Commencement S3 Commencement S4 Commencement S5
Social Studies: Commencement
Standard Five:  Civics, Citizenship, and Government
Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the necessity for establishing governments; the governmental system of the United States and other nations; the United States Constitution; the basic civic values of American constitutional democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation.
Key Idea The study of civics, citizenship, and government involves learning about political systems; the purposes of government and civic life; and the differing assumptions held by people across time and place regarding power, authority, governance, and law.
PI Students analyze how the values of a nation and international organization affect the guarantee of human rights and make provisions for human needs.
PI Students consider the nature and evolution of constitutional democracies throughout the world.
PI Students compare various political systems with that of the United States in terms of ideology, structure, function, institutions, decision-making processes, citizenship roles, and political culture.
PI Students identify and analyze advantages and disadvantages of various governmental systems.
Key Idea The state and federal governments established by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of New York embody basic civil values (such as justice, honesty, self-discipline, due process, equality, majority rule with respect for self, others, and property), principles, and practices and establish a system of shared and limited government.
PI Students trace the evolution of American values, beliefs and institutions.
PI Students analyze the disparities between civic values expressed in the United States Constitution and the United Nation Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the realities as evidenced in the political, social, and economic life in the United States and throughout the world.
PI Students identify, respect, and model those core civic values inherent in our founding documents that have been forces for unity in American society.
    PI Students compare and contrast the Constitutions of the United States and New York State.
      PI Students understand the dynamic relationship between federalism and state's rights.
        Key Idea Central to civics and citizenship is an understanding of the roles of the citizen within American constitutional democracy and the scope of a citizen’s rights and responsibilities.
        PI Students understand how citizenship includes the exercise of certain personal responsibilities, including voting, considering the rights and interests of others, behaving in a civil manner, and accepting responsibility for the consequences of one's actions.
        PI  Students analyze issues at the local, state, and national levels and prescribe responses that promote the public interest or general welfare, such as planning and carrying out a voter registration campaign.
          PI Students describe how citizenship is defined by the Constitution and important laws.
            PI Students explore how citizens influence public policy in a representative democracy.
            Key Idea The study of civics and citizenship requires the ability to probe ideas and assumptions, ask and answer analytical questions, take a skeptical attitude toward questionable arguments, evaluate evidence, formulate rational conclusions, and develop and refine participatory skills.
            PI Students participate as informed citizens in the political justice system and processes of the United States, including voting.
              PI Students evaluate, take, and defend positions on what the fundamental values and principles of American political life are and their importance to the maintenance of constitutional democracy.
              PI Students take, defend, and evaluate positions about attitudes that facilitate thoughtful and effective participation in public affairs.
                PI Students consider the need to respect the rights of others, to respect others' points of view.
                  PI Students participate in school/classroom/community activities that focus on an issue or problem.
                  PI Students prepare a plan of action that defines an issue or problem, suggest alternative solutions or course of action, evaluates the consequences for each alternative solution or course of action, prioritizes the solutions based on established criteria, and proposes an action plan to address the issue or to resolve the problem.
                  PI Students explain how democratic principles have been used in resolving an issue or problem.
                  Featured
                   

                  The Economics of Recycling

                  recycled cans graphic

                  In this EconEd lesson students will:

                  Explain recycling rates in Japan and the United States by reference to incentives, as exemplified in Japan's appliance recycling law.

                  Predict how consumers, repair services, and appliance makers will respond when the government changes incentives for recycling,

                  Predict the effect of incentives for recycling on the supply and demand for a good, and on equilibrium quantities.

                  Develop strategies for reducing the amount of waste disposal at landfills.

                  ~

                  Buying vs. Renting

                  townhome graphic

                  Personal decision making is highlighted in this lesson as students analyze:

                  Types of housing available today

                  Housing needs

                  Life-Style

                  Pros and Cons of Renting

                  Pros and Cons of Buying a Home

                  Renting vs. Buying: What is Right for You?

                  ~

                  Case Studies

                  EconEdLINKS Case Studies provide teachers and students:

                  access to easily understood, timely interpretations of monthly announcements of rate of change in real Gross Domestic Product, unemployment, The Federal Reserve System and monetary policy, inflation, productivity and International Trade and accompanying related data in the U.S. economy;

                  descriptions of major issues surrounding the data announcements;

                  brief analyses of historical perspectives;

                  provide interpretations of the significance of the changes in conditions;

                  include questions and activities to use to reinforce and develop understanding of relevant concepts; and

                  a list of publications and resources that may benefit classroom teachers and students interested in exploring these topics.

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                  		  
                   
                   
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