Ready to Get StartedPlease preview September's project below. After you have an idea of what activities take place each week, come back here and get "connected" by visiting our "Connect Now" form to let us know which activities you plan to participate in with your class. Theme: CitizenshipOur world is full of different types of communities (school, sports, government). When you actively participate within a community, you are acting as a member or citizen. As a citizen, you have rights, privileges and responsibilities to your organization.Weekly Snapshot
Week 1: |
| What | Description |
| Digital Dive | Students’ Digital Dive on Citizenship *This digital dive is the same each week. Students need only complete once. |
Mini-Lesson
 | Background: Pledging Allegiance On September 8, 1892 the Pledge of Allegiance was first published. Although the pledge has been altered, the underlying theme of patriotic citizenship remains over 100 years later. Lesson >Display the following words to your students
>Ask students to listen carefully to the words of the song you are about to play. When they hear any of the above words mentioned, they should clap once and pay attention to the provided definition. >Play song Teacher and the Rockbots: What Does the Pledge Mean? >Ask students to rate how well their definitions matched up with the real definition. >Explain that in 1892 the Pledge of Allegiance was first published and recited in the classroom. Pledges are important as they show loyalty to a common goal. Discuss the elements of a pledge. >Have students read the Pledge of Allegiance they recite every morning. Now that they are able to define much of its key vocabulary, have them rewrite each line in their own words.
Assignment/Activity >As a class, create a pledge to do your best for the coming school year. Common Core Connection CCSD: RIT.2- Determine the main idea; summarize the text |
Class-to-Class
 | During your Class-to-Class Connection discuss the following: Why is a pledge important to creating strong citizenship? Read your pledge to your connecting class. |
Web 2.0
 | Publish your class pledge to the DEN Connects Pledge VoiceThread. Bonus: Take a moment to listen and comment on other pledges that have been posted. Need support?!? Visit our DEN Connects tutorial of VoiceThread |
| Want More?!? | Here are additional supporting resources to this week’s lesson:
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Weekly Activity Log
To receive your certificate, help us track your activity and provide feedback, please complete our quick "Weekly Activity Log" each week you complete any number of activities by clicking here.
Week 2: September 10th-14th
| What | Description |
| Digital Dive | Students’ Digital Dive on Citizenship *This digital dive is the same each week. Students need only complete once. |
| Mini-Lesson
| Building Background Knowledge: Constitution
A constitution is a document that outlines fundamental principles on which a group is governed. In September 1787, fifty-five delegates of the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia's Independence Hall and signed the United States Constitution. The principles of the Constitution help shape what is required of a productive citizenship.
Lesson
>Ask students what they know and wonder about the Constitution. >Ask students to think of why the Constitution became an important turning point in our history. >Display the following statements to your class and explain that one statement is a lie. As students watch the following video segment, they must determine which phrase is inaccurate.
>Have students share which statement is the lie. >Have students watch the video segment again, but this time they should explain why each of the remaining statements are true. Students must cite specific examples from the video segment to support their explanations. >Discuss the importance of government, rules, and regulations. >Have students work in small groups to determine a list of three to five rules for your class this year. >Allow students to share out their rules, eliminating duplicates. Assignment/Activity >As a class, determine five rules that your group will adhere to as a foundation for the school year. Common Core Connection CCSS: RIT.3--Explain events, procedures, ideas or concepts, including what happened and why based on specific information in the text. |
| Class-to-Class
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During your Class-to-Class Connection discuss the following:
How do rules and principles help create stronger citizenship?
Share your class constitution.
If you could amend the Constitution by creating new rules/laws for the country, what would you do?
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| Web 2.0
| Publish your class constitution on your DEN Connects Constitution VoiceThread. Bonus: Take time to look at other class’s constitutions and comment. What is similar? What is different? Need support?!? Visit our DEN Connects tutorial of VoiceThread |
| Want More?!? | Here are additional supporting resources to this week’s lesson: |
Weekly Activity Log
To receive your certificate, help us track your activity and provide feedback, please complete our quick "Weekly Activity Log" each week you complete any number of activities by clicking here.
Week 3: September 17th-21st
| What | Description |
| Digital Dive | Students’ Digital Dive on Citizenship *This digital dive is the same each week. Students need only complete once. |
| Mini-Lesson
| Building Background Knowledge: Citizenship Day
In 1952, President Harry Truman declared September 17th a national holiday called Citizenship Day to recognize and honor American citizens and to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The president was inspired by William Randolph Hearst, who had previously created I Am an American Day.
Lesson
>In small groups or pairs ask students to define what qualities a good citizen may have. >Ask student groups to share out their qualities and explain what they mean. >Explain to students that they will now watch a short video segment on qualities of a good citizen. As they watch, they should think carefully of a person in their community who exemplifies that trait. >Show “Qualities of Good Citizenship”
>In small groups or pairs have students determine, for each listed trait, one citizen of their community (any community member including but not limited to: student, teacher, PTA member, postal worker, business leader, police officer, etc.) who exemplifies that trait. >Have students share their nominees with the class and explain why they made that particular selection. >From the nominees, have students select one citizen to be named “Citizen of the Month.” Write a letter to that person explaining which traits he or she has that led to your selection. Common Core Connection CCSS: SL.2--Paraphrase portions of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media formats. CCSS: RIT.2--Determine the main idea; summarize the text. |
| Class-to-Class
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During your Class-to-Class Connection discuss the following:
What are the most important traits of good citizenship?
Read your letter about your citizen and invite them to join the conversation.
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| Web 2.0
| Share your nominee with the world by posting a picture or video of your nominee and reading your letter. Bonus: Take time to look and listen to other “Citizen” posts and comment. Need support?!? Visit our DEN Connects tutorial of VoiceThread. |
| Want More?!? | Here are additional supporting resources to this week’s lesson:
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Weekly Activity Log
To receive your certificate, help us track your activity and provide feedback, please complete our quick "Weekly Activity Log" each week you complete any number of activities by clicking here.
Week 4: September 24th-28th
| What | Description |
| Digital Dive | Students’ Digital Dive on Citizenship *This digital dive is the same each week. Students need only complete once. |
| Mini-Lesson
| Building Background Knowledge: Culminating Activty
A very happy birthday to the famous American citizen Shel Silverstein! He was born in Chicago, IL on September 25th 1932. Best known for his silly poem collections and books such as The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends, his publications have sold more than 18 million copies and have been translated into 20 languages. Lesson >Ask students to respond to this prompt: What does it mean to be a good citizen? Cite at least two examples from what we've read, viewed, and heard about government and citizenship to support your answer. >Review concepts taught in week one, two, and three’s mini-lessons and their connection to being a citizen. >Explain to students they will be writing a poem about what it means to be a citizen. >Ask students to give examples of their favorite poems and then share what they know and want to know about poetry. >Explain to students they are going to watch a video segment that talks about 3 different types of poetry. As they watch they should think of where they have seen examples of each. >Show video segment Imagery, Alliteration, and Assonance. >Pause video after “Imagery” and before “Alliteration” and have students give examples of “Imagery” then continue video. Repeat for “Alliteration” and “Assonance”. Assignment/Activity >Have students go back to their responses to the writing prompt. Next, they must think of a person (political figure, celebrity, or family member) who possesses the qualities of a good citizen as identified and discussed in their responses. >Students then write a narrative poem about this person using imagery, alliteration, or assonance. >Teacher should provide and discuss a model narrative poem that students can use as a guide. >Students' facts must be accurate, so some research may be necessary. Common Core Connection CCSS: W.3--Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events. |
| Class-to-Class
| During your Class-to-Class Connection discuss the following: What does citizenship mean to you? Share your poem about citizenship. Perform a dramatic reading of a Shel Silverstein poem. |
| Web 2.0
| Select one citizenship poem from your class to share with our DE Connects team and post to the DE Connects Citizenship Poem VoiceThread. Bonus: Take time to look and listen to other citizenship poems and post comments. Need support?!? Visit our DEN Connects tutorial on VoiceThread. |
| Want More?!? | Here are additional supporting resources to this week’s lesson: |
Weekly Activity Log
To receive your certificate, help us track your activity and provide feedback, please complete our quick "Weekly Activity Log" each week you complete any number of activities by clicking here.