Why Do I Have to Learn Civics and Government?

Objectives

Students will:

• Define and understand the purpose of “public policy”;

• Explore how societal problems are addressed by government, public policy, and citizen action;

• Differentiate between local, state, and federal policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guest speaker: Angie Aramayo, Los Angeles Mayor's Office: What is Public Policy and Why Should I Care?

Homework

1. Complete chart tracking federal, state, and local policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. List three issues that you care about that are in the news.  

Session 1

Standing Up -- The Civil Rights Movement

Objectives

Students will:

• Review key events and people of the civil rights movement; Explain the main goals of the civil rights movement;

• Describe the necessity for citizen engagement to bring about political and social change;

• Identify key strategies used by civil rights leaders; Identify/discuss current-day issues of equity.

Guest speaker: Nolan Williams Jr., NEWorks Productions & Kennedy Center Let Freedom Ring Project: "I Have a Right to Vote" Video Screening & Behind the Scenes History

Homework

1. Voting rights primary source analysis activity

2. Reading to prepare for next session: The Montgomery Bus Boycott

Session 2

View "I HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE!" 

September 30: Strategies of the Civil Rights Movement and Lessons for Today

Objectives

Students will:

• Examine a first-hand account from a veteran of the civil rights movement;

• Describe how building constituencies is an important civic action, using the Montgomery Bus Boycott as a case study in strategy;

• Analyze a primary document to identify civic actions, including methods that boycott leaders either used or thought of to build support for the boycott.

Homework

1. Identify and be prepared to share two issues or problems that really matter to you.

2. Reading to prepare for next session: Environmental policy issue.

Session 3

October 7: How do We Keep Moving? Examining Public Policy

Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze a public policy in terms of its goal and who might support or oppose the policy;

• Recognize that there are multiple perspectives about problems and policies;

• State a reasoned opinion on whether they favor or oppose a particular public policy;

• Consider the experiences of young people who have taken action on issues that mattered to them;

• Explore and begin work on the CAP Project Planner.

Homework

Complete CAP Project Proposal Planner.

Session 4

October 14: Thinking it Through and Taking Civic Actions (led by CAP Youth Board)

Objectives

Students will:

• Share the issue/problem they’re planning to work on;\r

• Carry out a cause and effect analysis about their issue;

• Explain the different ways an issue can be connected to/analyzed in terms of public policy;

• Brainstorm and consider different types of civic actions they can take to address their issue/problem.

Homework

1. Complete the Thinking it Through Planner.

2. Once that has been approved by your teacher, start on Civic Action Planner(s).

Session 5

October 28: Focus on Civic Actions (led by the CAP Youth Board)

Objectives

Students will:

• Explore different approaches to communicating their message on the issue they care about, including using social media;

• Examine the goals, limits, and possibilities of a project focused on “awareness raising;”

• Continue brainstorming and planning civic actions they can take to address their issue/problem.

Guest speaker: Samer Badawi, freelance journalist and strategic communications consultant: Telling Your Story Homework Complete at least one more Civic Action Planner.

Session 6

November 4: Office Hours with the CAP Youth Board (Times TBA)

Objectives

Students will:

• Continue/deepen analysis of policy connections on their issue;

• Get feedback on their proposed/planned civic actions.

Homework

Complete at least one more Civic Action Planner.

Civic Action Planner

November 4: Office Hours with the CAP Youth Board (Times TBA)

Objectives

Students will:

• Continue/deepen analysis of policy connections on their issue;

• Get feedback on their proposed/planned civic actions.

Homework

Complete at least one more Civic Action Planner.

Civic Action Planner

November 18: Preparing for the CAP Expo (led by members of the CAP Youth Board)

Objectives

Students will:

• Review the CAP Report Planner in preparation for summarizing and presenting their CAP experience;

• Develop a plan for a CAP Expo presentation in which they will: explain the issue they worked on and describe how they connected it to public policy, what civic actions they took, and what impact they had.

Homework

1. Complete Report Planner.
2. Prepare CAP Expo presentation using the chart

December 2: CAP Expo

Objectives

Students will:

• Share the work they did over the course of their Civic Action Project;Explore and ask questions about the issues and policies that other students worked on.