Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 1: A Different Kind of Government Course introduces students to CAP. First, students learn that one of the main purposes of public education is to prepare future citizens to participate in our democracy. Then they are given an overview of CAP. Finally, they brainstorm the attributes of an effective citizen.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 2: Introduction to Public Policy introduces Lesson 2: The Connection of Policy and ProblemsOverview the link between policy and problems. First, students read and discuss a short article defining policy. Then they discuss policy and its connection to problems. Next, in small groups, they do a newspaper search to find examples of public policy.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 3: Problems, Policy, and Civic Actions gives students further background in problems, policy, and civic action to prepare them for CAP. First, students analyze problems in terms of causes and effects. Next, they explore how policy can be linked to problems. Finally, they list possible civic actions that can be taken to when working on a problem.
5.2: Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
5.2.12 Pennsylvania’s public schools shall teach, challenge and support every student to realize his or her maximum potential and to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
C. Interpret the causes of conflict in society and analyze techniques to resolve those conflicts.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public agenda.
F. Evaluate how individual rights may conflict with or support the common good.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 4: Introducing Policy Analysis helps students develop a deeper understanding of public policy and the interaction between government and citizens in making policy. They look at case studies and are introduced to policy analysis.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
C. Interpret the causes of conflict in society and analyze techniques to resolve those conflicts.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
B. Analyze the responsibilities and powers of the national government.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 5: Policymaking in the Three Branches of Government introduces students to executive, legislative, and judicial policymaking and to policy evaluation. First, students discuss how policy can be made by each of the branches. Then they read about and discuss how the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance to suppress gang activity and how each branch of government was involved in the policy. Finally, students are introduced to a policy-analysis rubric (GRADE) and apply it to the Chicago gang ordinance.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
C. Interpret the causes of conflict in society and analyze techniques to resolve those conflicts.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
C. Evaluate the process of how a bill becomes the law at the federal, state, and local levels.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 6: Analyzing Anti-Gang Policies provides students with practice in analyzing policy. First, as a whole group, they evaluate an anti-gang policy using GRADE. Then in small groups, they are given policies that address gang violence and they evaluate each.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
C. Interpret the causes of conflict in society and analyze techniques to resolve those conflicts.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
H. Evaluate the process of how a bill becomes the law at the federal, state, and local levels.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 7: Policymaking at the Local Level gets students to examine an instance of policymaking at a school board, one of the most common institutions at the local level. First, students read about and discuss a common local (and national) problem, the dropout rate. Then they role play subcommittees of a hypothetical school board, examine documents about the dropout problem, and craft a policy to address the dropout problem. Finally, they exchange policies with other groups and evaluate one another’s policies using the GRADE rubric.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
D. Evaluate how independent government agencies create, amend, and enforce regulations.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 8: Law & Policy informs students about how existing law can influence public policy and policymaking. First, students read about and discuss how existing law can influence public policy. Then in small groups, they role play members of a public policy law firm and decide whether a policy of evicting renters violates existing law and whether a new law is needed to protect renters.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
B. Analyze the sources, purposes, and functions of law.
J. Analyze how the law promotes the common good and protects individual rights.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
C. Evaluate the process of how a bill becomes the law at the federal, state, and local levels.
D. Evaluate how independent government agencies create, amend, and enforce regulations.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 9: Persuading introduces students to the art of persuasion. First, they read about and discuss the three types of persuasion: logos, ethos, and pathos. Then students prepare two-minute persuasive talks on why the issue that they have chosen to address in CAP is important. Finally, in pairs, students present and critique one another’s talks.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
H. Evaluate the impact of interest groups on the political process.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 10: Building Constituencies introduces students to the importance of building a constituency to support or oppose public policies. First, students read and discuss about how a historically significant movement gained support in the community. Then in small groups, students brainstorm how they can get support for their CAP issue.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
M. Evaluate and analyze the importance of significant political speeches and writings in civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
H. Evaluate the impact of interest groups on the political process.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 11: Setting the Public Agenda introduces students to the public agenda and its importance to policy. First, students read about and discuss the public agenda and ways that citizens can influence it. Then in small groups, students are given different situations and they develop strategic plans for getting their issues or solutions to issues on the public agenda.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
H. Evaluate the impact of interest groups on the political process.
J. Evaluate the role of media in political life in the United States and explain the role of the media in setting the public agenda.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 12: Using the Media helps students learn about the importance of the media in setting the public agenda. First, they read about and discuss how the media help set the public agenda and how citizens can influence the media and even create their own media to help change the public agenda. Then they develop a plan do one action to use or affect the media. Finally, they will begin to implement their plan. As homework, they will complete their action.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
J. Evaluate the role of media in political life in the United States and explain the role of the media in setting the public agenda.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 13: Persuading Policy Makers informs students that legislative and executive bodies often hold public hearing and how students can make effective presentations at these hearings. First, students read about public hearings and techniques for making presentations at these hearings. Then students role play a city council and people appearing before it attempting to persuade policy makers on hypothetical issues.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
5.3 How Government Works
A. Analyze and evaluate the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national policy-making.
D. Evaluate how independent government agencies create, amend, and enforce regulations.
Pennsylvania Standards
Lesson 14: Creating Change Through the Electoral Process focuses on electoral politics and how it deeply influences policy making. First, students read about and discuss the role that electoral politics plays in policy making. Then in small groups, students role play campaign workers and create strategies to attract young people to participate in an election campaign.
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
C. Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
B. Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.
D. Evaluate political leadership and public service in a republican form of government.
E. Analyze how participation in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.
G. Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.
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