CIVICS Eighth Grade Social Studies

large view "Hail to the Chief"

due Monday 5/17

INTRODUCING JUSTICE ELENA KAGAN??

Visual should be no larger than 17x22.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/us/20100414_KAGAN_TIMELINE.html?nl=us&emc=politicsemailemb3     Here is a terrific link for an illustrated timeline of Ms. Kagan's life.

Create a VISUAL which introduces Elena Kagan, President Obama's nominee to replace Justice John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court.

Include on your visual the following information:

A) early life and education

B) legal and academic careers ( she was an atty and a professor)

C) government jobs (including the one she has now).

D) personality--- use adjectives or quotes from others.

E) is she qualified to be on the Court? (You can use comments from Senators, those     who know her etc. Put them in quotations and tell who made the quote).

F) Make sure you include photo (s) and a caption.

The eighth grade civics program at Miles River offers our next generation of citizens the basic content about government and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.  This course prepares students to be knowledgeable, rational and participating citizens committed to the values and principles of American constitutional democracy.  Students are expected to stay informed on current events and to evaluate, take and defend positions on timely issues practicing civility and manners in role playing, debates and discussions.

Civics teaches the skills students will need to make their ideas reasoned and their voices heard:

   •the basic skills of reading and writing, listening and public speaking;

      •the thinking skills of coming up with new ideas, decision making, problem solving

          and reasoning;

      •the personal qualities of responsibility, self esteem, group cooperation,

          self-management and integrity and honesty.                                      

  GENERAL CURRICULUM OUTLINE

Included in the outline are some of the essential questions of the course:

I.  Introduction - What is Civics?    

      A.  Why do we need government?

      B.  What are the basic purposes of government?

      C.  What is a republican form of government?

      D.  What is Civic Virtue? the Common Welfare?

      E.  How does our Constitution separate and balance power?

II.  Our state - Massachusetts - The goal of this unit is to acquaint students with  a geographic, cultural,      political and economic view of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

      A.  What are Massachusetts’ most important land and water forms?

      B.  What and where are Massachusetts’ counties, cities, regions, natural 

            features and cultural sites?

      C.  What makes our commonwealth unique?  What are “Massachusetts’ Firsts”?

III.   The Constitution of the United States    

       A.  How does the Preamble to the Constitution reflect many of our country’s      

              Founders fundamental values and beliefs about government?

       B.  What were the goals and issues at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention?

       C.  How did the Massachusetts structure of government serve as a model for the federal Constitution?

       D.  How is the Constitution organized?  How do Articles I, II and III set up our three

              branches of government?  What do Articles V through VII do?

IV.  The Bill of Rights and Constitutional Amendments  

       A.  How does the Bill of Rights (First Ten Amendments) protect our basic rights?

       B.  How has the Constitution changed over the years (Amendment XI-XXVII)

       C.  How did the 14th Amendment justify the Civil Rights Movement?

V.  The Legislative Branch - The United States Congress   

       A.  How is Congress organized into two houses - House of Representatives and Senate?

       B.  How does Congress work? Congressional leaders and committees

       C.  What powers does Congress have?  How is Congress’ power limited?

       D.  How does a bill become a law?

VI.  The Executive Branch - The Presidency     

       A.  Who should be President?

       B.  What are the roles and powers of the President and the Vice President?

       C.  What is the Cabinet?  What are the responsibilities of the Cabinet and other  executive agencies?

VII.  The Judicial Branch - The Supreme Court  

       A.  How is the federal court system organized?

       B.  What powers does the Supreme Court have?  Who are the members of the       

             Supreme Court?

       C.  How does the Supreme Court decide if laws or actions are “constitutional”?

       D.  What are the Landmark cases of the Supreme Court that changed history?

 VIII.  State and Local Government     

      A.  How does Massachusetts state government work today?

      B.  What are the powers that are reserved for the states?

      C.  How does local or town government work?

      D.  How can citizens become educated and involved in local issues?           

The President announces his selection on Monday, May 10th