MS World Studies A: Geo, Civics & Econ

From the earliest human societies, principles of civics have influenced the way people live together and interact. Decisions about citizenship, distribution of power, and access to rights helped shape the governments of historical and contemporary societies, including the United States. The middle school civics course recounts important concepts in civics and related events in world and U.S. history, including:
– Citizens have both rights and responsibilities.
– The roots of modern democracy can be traced to the direct democracy of ancient Athens and the republic, or representative democracy, of ancient Rome.
– Medieval European monarchs ruled with absolute authority until the Magna Carta placed the first limits on royal power in England.
– Enlightenment ideas such as natural rights, the social contract, and popular sovereignty influenced events in the centuries that followed and continue to influence events today.
– Governments come in many different forms, but they always serve the same purposes.
– The Articles of Confederation created an ineffective first government of the United States, so they were replaced by the U.S. Constitution.
– The U.S. Constitution built on ideas from American colonial history, British history, and the European Enlightenment.
– The Constitution separated powers among three branches of government and included a system of checks and balances.
– The amendment process has allowed the Constitution to change over time.
– The Bill of Rights explicitly protects individual rights.
– Other amendments expanded the definition of citizenship and the right to vote.
Students will engage in learning and applying skills connected to understanding government structures, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, the importance of civic participation, how laws are made and changed, and the role of media in shaping public opinion. These skills will help students become informed and active members of their community.
Projects are provided to allow for a deeper application of skills and to create a personal connection between students and content. The projects are designed to foster independent learning and promote students to take action, use their voices, and get involved as a citizen. As students navigate these decisions, they develop self- management skills that help them organize, plan, and complete their activities effectively.