LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Economics and Civics

Goal 10: The learner will develop, defend, and evaluate positions on issues regarding the personal responsibilities of citizens in the American constitutional democracy.

Objective 10.01. Explain the distinction between personal and civic responsibilities and the tensions that may arise between them.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Goodbye, Bill Of Rights!
Students will enact a scene demonstrating life without one of the first ten amendments. Students will be put into groups of three or four and assigned a specific amendment to research.
Format: lesson plan (grade 10 Social Studies)
By Greg Simmons.
Civil rights protests and dilemmas
In this lesson students explore well-known civil rights protests then listen to two oral histories of individuals who protested in their own way to promote equality for African Americans. Students specifically will consider personal risks involved in protest.
Format: lesson plan (multiple pages)
1869: A report on schools in North Carolina
In this lesson, students use a guided reading to look at a report on the status of education in North Carolina in 1869, and discuss the reasons given then for why the Governor and Legislature should support educating North Carolina's children. They are provided an opportunity to compare and contrast the 1869 document against their own ideas about the civic duty to attend school through age sixteen, and its relative value to the state and the country.
Format: lesson plan (grade 10 Social Studies)
By Victoria Schaefer.

Resources on the web

Creating character: Justice and fairness
In this lesson, students examine the differences between justice and fairness and are encouraged to confront discrimination in the classroom and reflect upon their own prejudices. Students contrast the accounts of Alex Stern, a witness in a war crimes trial;... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)
Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute
Creating character: Courage
In this lesson, students examine how people develop and define “courage”. Students watch visual history testimony clips given by three people involved in the Holocaust in different roles. The activities in this lesson include small-group work,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)
Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute
Creating character: Responsibility
In this lesson, students identify people, organizations, and ideals for which they feel responsible. By viewing visual history testimonies from Bent Lerno, Marianne Cooper, and Hedy Epstein, who are Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, they explore examples... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)
Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute
Creating character: Respect
In this lesson, students work in pairs to examine the ways that they demonstrate respect – and disrespect – to the people and institutions around them. During this activity, students watch testimonies from Felix Sparks, a liberator who believes in racial... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)
Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute
Creating character: Perseverance
In this lesson, students explore the concept of perseverance and discuss their own personal experiences with hard work, inspiration, and accomplishment. Students view testimonies of people affected by discriminatory laws against Jews and Jehovah’s Witnesses.... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)
Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute
Creating character: Concluding lesson
In this final lesson, students synthesize the concepts they explored in previous lessons. Students assemble a “Treasure Box” of items such as collages, writings, and more, all organized around Courage, Responsibility, Respect, Citizenship, Justice... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)
Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute
Creating character: Citizenship
In this lesson, while participating in whole class discussion and collaborative group work, students explore the concept of citizenship. During the activities, students watch visual history testimonies of Dina Gottliebova-Babbit, Robert Mendler, and Henry... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)
Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute
The controversial school voucher issue
Students learn what school vouchers are and how they affect how education is provided. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 10 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Council on Economic Education