Tag Archives: democracy

2022 Vol 7: Moving to Learn

Branches of Power: Using Drama to Communicate Understanding 

Wendy Tolbert, 2nd Grade, Starmount Academy of Excellence

Curriculum Unit (PDF)

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Synopsis: This unit was a struggle to teach second graders in the past. I found an innovative and exciting way to bring this unit to life. Drama allows students to move, retain details, and be engaged all at once. The unit introduces the students to how it feels to be under Great Britain’s rule. They are forced to give up their goods and pay taxes. Then they go to war with Great Britain. Students show this by posing in a still moment using a tableau to retell history. This leads us to the discussion of the Declaration of Independence, the document that allows the colonist to separate from the king’s rule. The United States Constitution is a document that is the foundation of our democracy that states “it’s for the people by the people.” The constitution consists of three branches of power, the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. In addition, students use a reader’s theatre to act out each branch. They will show their understanding by creating a triarama. The tableaux vivant demonstrates and interprets the three branches of government. 

2022 Vol 6: Carolina Cuisine: History and Science of Food

Influences On the Creation of American Government and Culture? – 1630-1789

Brad Baker, United States History, Hough High School

Curriculum Unit (PDF)

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Synopsis: Unit topic will cover the development of the United States government with the emphasis on the focus of democratic ideals of the citizens of the United States. We will focus on the development of the “United States” as a country, through the lives the colonists endured from the development of the British colonies through the American Revolution. My unit will trace the steps of what influenced the creation of American culture, government, and daily life. From the establishment of colonies to the failures of the Articles of Confederation to the writing of the Constitution and beyond.

A part of my unit will focus on what colonial life was like. We will look and investigate the impact of religion, trade, cultural influences, politics, and daily life of the colonists. More importantly, we will focus on the diet of the average American colonist. We tend to overlook some characteristics of Colonial America that led to their survival. Their inability to farm effectively, grow food, or manufacture a clean water supply led them to stealing and manipulating Native Americans for food and supplies and ultimately almost led to their downfall. The lack of food almost led to the United States not existing! That may be a bold statement, but it definitely had a big impact on the colony’s development. As Colonial America progressed via Native American teachings of farming, food development, and weather patterns, the Colonists were able to survive and maintain development of more successful colonies. We will look at specific food that was grown in the colonies, what influenced them to grow particular foods, and how that impacted the culture of becoming ‘America’. My goal is to make students realize how much of the ‘American’ culture and government are actually highly influenced by other countries, cultures, etc.

The unit will focus on the development and change over time of the influences of colonial life as well as the developments of political democracy in America. Another focus of this time period and my unit will be discussing if democracy of today is what the Founding Fathers had in mind for America when it was developed, and if not, what is it? The unit will also focus on how democracy was developed and what influenced the creation of democracy in the United States.

The unit will focus on the purpose of a democratic government: protecting rights, promoting rule of law, preparing for common defense, providing public services, and supporting the economic system. Students will be responsible for debating whether these four purposes of a democratic government are true, if changes need to be made, and what is working versus what is not working for our country.

2018 Curriculum Units Vol 5: Exploring American Sacred Values

English Language Learners: Acculturation through Language and Values

William L. Wade, ESL, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

Synopsis

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2018 Curriculum Units Vol 5: Exploring American Sacred Values

American Political Ideology and the Importance of Voting in the United States

Deanna Kurtz, American History, South Mecklenburg High School

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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2017 Curriculum Units Vol 7: The Rise (and Fall) of Democracies around the World

Is Democracy Still Alive in the United States?

Brad Baker , U.S. History, W.A. Hough HS

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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2017 Curriculum Units Vol 7: The Rise (and Fall) of Democracies around the World

The Deception of the American Democracy

Raymond Beamon, World History, West Mecklenburg HS

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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2017 Curriculum Units Vol 7: The Rise (and Fall) of Democracies around the World

Democratization in the Arab World

Michael Richards, World History, Bailey MS

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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2017 Curriculum Units Vol 7: The Rise (and Fall) of Democracies around the World

Comparing and Contrasting Democracies: The United States of America and the Hispanic Countries in Latin America

Mayra Garcia, Spanish, W.A. Hough HS

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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2017 Curriculum Units Vol 7: The Rise (and Fall) of Democracies around the World

Is Democracy Ready For The Next Wave of Change?

Lynn Roach, Economics, Harding University HS

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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2017 Curriculum Units Vol 7: The Rise (and Fall) of Democracies around the World

Injustice: Japanese Internment and Citizens’ Rights

Christa Rawald, Social Studies, Ranson MS

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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2017 Curriculum Units Vol 7: The Rise (and Fall) of Democracies around the World

Islam, Media, and the Arab Spring “and their affairs shall be discussed among them” (وَأمَْرُھُمْ شُورَىٰ بیَْنھَُم)

M. Bassam Halaweh, Arabic, Hawthorne Health Sciences

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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2017 Curriculum Units Vol 7: The Rise (and Fall) of Democracies around the World

Reconstructing a Failed Democracy

Arianna Bonner, Social Studies, Martin Luther King, Jr. MS

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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2017 Curriculum Units Vol 7: The Rise (and Fall) of Democracies around the World

South African Democracy: The Rise and Fall of Hope

Amy Strong Pasko, International Programs Coordinator, North Learning Community

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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2016 Curriculum Units Vol 1: Literacy and Literacies in the 21st Century

Cultural Views on Government Over Time

Michael Richards, Social Studies, Bailey Middle School

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

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