Civic Ideals and Practices
Unit description: Students will learn about rights and responsibilities at home, at school, in the classroom, and in the community, both their own and those of their adult counterparts. Students will learn about the basic universal rights and protections they have. They will have the opportunity to learn about rules within these same environments, what would happen if rules were not followed, and how to ensure health and safety for all. Students will be given the opportunity to contribute to the development of rules or laws as needed for class activities.
Standards Addressed in this Unit
- Standard 5 – Civics, Citizenship and Gov’t
Essential Questions and Big Ideas
- BI: Governments create rules and laws in order to protect and respect citizens and communities
- What are basic universal rights?
- Universal rights are the things that all people in the world should have, like food, a home, being safe and having an education
- What responsibilities do we have at home, school, in the classroom and community?
- Children and adults both help to keep homes, classrooms, schools and community safe, clean and welcoming for all people.
- How can we be responsible members of the classroom?
- Students can help keep classrooms clean, safe and welcoming by following rules and routines.
- What classroom routines do we have to ensure health and safety for all?
- Routines for handwashing, keeping personal spaces clean and tidy and moving slowly in crowded spaces help to keep classrooms safe and healthy.
Prerequisite Skills
In kindergarten, students study “Self and Others.” The course is organized into five units of study — Individual Development and Cultural Identity; Civic Ideals and Practices; Geography, Humans, and the Environment; Time, Continuity, and Change; and Economic Systems. These units represent five of the unifying themes of social studies, and may be presented in any order.
Download the complete Kindergarten Social Studies – Civic Ideals and Practices framework to customize for your own planning.