Unit 1: “Connecting Themes in Civics and Government”

Elaborated Unit Focus

This unit is designed to introduce students to the 9 themes that will feature prominently in the Government course. Activities will focus on relating human environment interaction, movement, power and governance, economics, science and technology, individuals, groups and institutions, individual development and identity, time, continuity and change, and civic ideals and principles to knowledge and experiences that are familiar to students. By the end of the unit students should demonstrate that they are comfortable with the enduring understandings and can apply them to practical, everyday situations.

Standards/Elements

This unit is designed to teach the themes used in this course. There are no standards and elements for this introductory unit.

Enduring Understandings/Essential Questions

1.  Human Environment Interaction

The student will understand that environment influences cultural development.

How does environment influence cultural development?

2.  Movement

Movement of ideas, people, and culture has both positive and negative impacts

on the development of societies.

To what extent have the positive impacts of cultural interactions out weighed the negative impacts to the cultures involved?

3.  Power and governance

The student will understand that political power has both positive and negative influences on society.

To what extent does political power have both positive and negative influences on society?

4.  Economics

The student will understand that limited resources and unlimited wants and needs affect decision-making.

How does scarcity influence the choices people make?

5.  Science and Technology

The student will understand that the desire for a better life leads to advances in science and technology.

To what extent do advances in science and technology change peoples’ lives?

6.  Individuals, Groups and Institutions

The student will understand that the actions of people and organizations influence society.

How do the actions of people and organizations change society?

7.  Individual Development and Identity

The student will be able to understand that development through common ideals

creates a new identity.

How does the development of government demonstrate a compromise of ideas

and create a new identity?

8.  Time Continuity and Change

The student will be able to understand that time continuity and change are

important for the survival and decline of cultures

To what extent do time, change and continuity affect different cultures?

9.  Civic Ideals and Practices

The student will understand that civic ideals and practices affect their future

through their choices and actions in society.

How does decision making and being an active citizen affect government?

Balanced Assessment Plan

Description of Assessment / Standard/
Element / Type of Assessment
graphic organizer / n/a / informal formative
Themes Collage / n/a / informal summative

Sample Performance Task (attach rubric)

No culminating performance task for this unit.
Map and Globe Skills:
Information Processing Skills:

Resources for Unit