Foundational Civic Knowledge

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Foundational Civic Knowledge

Teachers engage students in learning about the following core concepts as they relate to various disciplines:

The major themes and significant events in the history of the United States as well as the tensions in our democracy and systemic issues related to race, class, gender, socio-economic status and sexual orientation
The Constitution and founding principles as applied to the past and present
The structure of government, at local, state, and federal levels
The powers, authority, legitimacy, and limitations of each level of government (federal, state, and local) as well as the civic power of individuals and groups
Various public policies (local, state, national, or international) and their impact on issues that matter to students
The relationship of the United States to other nations and to world affairs
The manner in which people, groups and communities create, interact with, and change structures of power, authority, and governance (including voting, lobbying, non-violent conflict, etc.) as well as attend to the root causes of problems in the past and present
The ways in which digital platforms and tools have created opportunities and challenges for civic and political engagement

Concept Map

Definition

Learning of core civic concepts across disciplines, exploring the role and responsibilities of citizens and government

Evidence

Curriculum maps for all courses
Constitution test
Student-generated PSA on social issues
Service-learning projects as a result of an environmental problem in the community
Student newspaper coverage of a current local public policy issue

Examples

Analyzing US founding documents in English class (Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, etc.)
Using data to understand social issues and their solutions in Computer Science
Researching current environmental policies in Science class
Discussing ongoing tensions in US (racial, gender, etc.) as related to power of groups and individuals
Considering the role of change in history and the contemporary world

Connections to Principles of “Lived Civics”

Texts that connect to students’ lives, current events
Curriculum maps that demonstrate a movement towards being more inclusive of diverse perspectives in regards to topics covered and materials used
Assessments that encourage students to connect their lived experiences to the content

Case Study

O’Fallon Township High School provides high-quality civic learning experiences through a multitude of courses offered to the student body and extracurricular activities. Course offerings include Civics, Social Issues, International Relations, The American Legal System, and United States History. The curriculum of Civics focuses on students developing an understanding about the function and operation of state and federal government and the rights and responsibilities afforded with citizenship by exploring the language and principles embedded in the founding documents of American democracy.

The Social Issues curriculum is designed to expose students to a variety of current social, political, and cultural problems. Students participate in an approach that allows them to learn about an issue from various perspectives, research differing points of view, and prepares them to take informed action on the topic. A component of International Relations is to encourage students to participate and attend area Model United Nations Conferences. Students research, discuss and debate international issues, as they role play a citizen of another country. The American Legal System is a semester long course where students study constitutional law and concepts related to criminal and civil law. Emphasis is placed on the role of the Supreme Court interpreting the Constitution and the major cases it has decided. The curriculum of the United States History course emphasizes the major themes and significant events in the history of the United States as well as the historic and perpetual tensions of our democracy. Additionally, teachers across disciplines at O’Fallon include direct instruction, simulations, discussions and other student led activities to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to develop a strong foundation in civic knowledge.