Sixth Grade Civics
INTRODUCTION
The Indiana Bar Foundation (Foundation) is excited to be a support and resource for educators who are or preparing to teach the new sixth grade civics class, now required for Indiana middle schools starting in the 2023-2024 school year with the passage of House Bill 1384 during the 2021 Indiana General Assembly session.
The Foundation uses the We the People curriculum to be the base of helping teachers. We the People assists with teaching content to students and applying an inquiry-based approach to your teaching methodology. It also adds an authentic assessment to allow you to easily check the depth of understanding of your students’ knowledge in an authentic manner.
USING WE THE PEOPLE
At the heart of the We the People program is studying academically rigorous inquiry questions and the authentic assessment: simulated legislative hearings. Students learn and study the content of the class. They are given topic-related questions to study and research, typically in small groups, and demonstrate their learning. Students showcase the depth and breadth of their understanding through the authentic assessment.
- Students study content and are given inquiry questions as assessment.
- Students will work through the questions in small groups (typically 3-5 students) to fully answer the question.
- The student panel then verbally presents their answer to the teacher (or another evaluating person or panel). Often, there is a time limit to do this, typically four minutes.
- Once the student panel finishes, the teacher or evaluating person/panel will ask follow-up questions to further probe the students’ knowledge and understanding. The follow up question period can last either a set amount of time (often six minutes) or a set number of questions (typically 3 or 4 follow up questions).
See this one-page flyer to better understand the process of the We the People hearing
STANDARDS & STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
Indiana Academic Standards for Sixth Grade Civics
Alignment of the We the People program to the Sixth Grade Civics Standards
SIXTH GRADE CIVICS CURRICULUM RESOURCES
We the People lessons are taken from the We the People: The Citizen & The Constitution Level 1 (4th Edition), published by the Center for Civic Education.
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Standard 1
Explain how the elements and foundations of Greek direct democracy can be found in modern systems of government.
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 3: What is a republican government
Inquiry-Based Assessment Question
Our Founders were inspired by the governments of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Were the early governments of Greece and Rome successful?
Video Resource
How did the Greek and Roman thought influence at least some of the Founders?
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Standard 2
Explain how the elements and foundations of Roman representative democracy are present in modern systems of government.
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 3: What is a republican government
Inquiry-Based Assessment Question
Our Founders were inspired by the governments of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Were the early governments of Greece and Rome successful?
Video Resource
How did the Greek and Roman thought influence at least some of the Founders?
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Standard 3
Examine key ideas of the Magna Carta (1215), the Petition of Right (1628), and the English Bill of Rights (1689) as documents to place limits on the English monarchy and how they have affected the shaping of other governments.
Inquiry-Based Assessment Question
Many English government philosophies were carried over to the newly formed American government. How did limits on the English monarch affect the shaping of the American government?
Video Resources
Did American colonists enjoy more political rights and freedoms than the average English subject?
How did the rights of Englishmen develop?
What were the British origins of American constitutionalism?
How did British constitutionalism contribute to American constitutionalism?
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Standard 4
Summarize the principles and purposes of government as stated in the Preamble to the United States Constitution.
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 11: What basic ideas about government are included in the Preamble to the Constitution?
Inquiry-Based Assessment Question
The U.S. Constitution begins with a preamble explaining the purpose of the Constitution and government. What is the purpose of government?
Video Resource
The Constitution Explained: We the People (Constitution Preamble)
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Standard 5
Identify and explain essential ideas of constitutional government, which include limited government; rule of law; due process of law; separated and shared powers; checks and balances; federalism; popular sovereignty; republicanism; representative government; and individual rights to life, liberty and property; and freedom of conscience and religion.
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 3: What is a republican government?
Video Resources
How well does the American system of separated and shared powers work?
When did the United States become a democracy or democratic republic?
What has been the importance of freedom of religion in the United States?
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Standard 6
Explain the concept of a separation of powers and how and why these powers are distributed, shared, and limited in the constitutional government of the United States.
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 6: What were the first state governments like?
WTP Lesson 12: How does the Constitution limit the powers of government?
WTP Lesson 13: What is the legislative branch?
WTP Lesson 14: What is the executive branch?
WTP Lesson 15: What is the judicial branch?Inquiry-Based Assessment Question
American government has power split among three branches of government. Why was it important to have the powers distributed in this fashion?
Video Resource
How well does the American system of separated and shared powers work?
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Standard 7
Describe and give examples of individual rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 17: How does the Constitution protect your right to freedom of expression?
WTP Lesson 18: How does the Constitution protect your right to freedom of religion?
WTP Lesson 19: How does the Constitution protect your right to equal protection of the laws?WTP Lesson 20: How does the Constitution protect your right to due process of law?
WTP Lesson 21: How does the Constitution protect your right to vote?Inquiry-Based Assessment Question
The First Amendment states that laws shall not be passed that abridge the freedom of speech. Is freedom of speech the most important right protected in the first amendment? Why or why not?
Video Resources
What kind of rights are protected by the Bill of Rights?
What is the importance of the rights to assemble, petition, and associate?
What limitations can government put on the right to assembly?
How is the right to associate protected?
What is the importance of the right to a speedy and public trial?
What is included in the right to a trial by jury?
What are the meaning and importance of the Nineth and Tenth Amendments?
What is the extent of the rights protected by the free exercise clause?
How is the right of free exercise balanced against other interests of society?
What has been the importance of freedom of religion in the United States?
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Standard 8
Explain the major purposes of the Indiana Constitution, as stated in the Preamble.
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Standard 9
Describe individual rights held under Article I of the Indiana Constitution, such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 7: What was the first national government like?
Inquiry-Based Assessment Question
In Article 8 of the Indiana Constitution guarantees the right to education for Hoosiers by saying “schools… shall be without charge, and equally open to all.” However, the U.S. Constitution does not offer the same guarantee. Should education be a fundamental right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution?
Video Resources
What basic ideas about rights were included in state constitutions?
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Standard 10
Examine ways that state and national government affects the everyday lives of people in the United States.
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Standard 11
Describe the primary and general election process for local, state, and national offices, including those used to select congressional and presidential office holders.
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Standard 12
Identify and explain the duties of and selection process for local and state government officials who make, implement, and enforce laws.
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Standard 13
Explain that the United States has three levels of government (local, state, and national), and that each level has special duties and responsibilities.
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 16: How did the Constitution create a federal system of government?
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Standard 14
Identify the three branches of the United States government and explain the functions of each
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 12: How does the Constitution limit the powers of our government?
WTP Lesson 13: What is the legislative branch?
WTP Lesson 14: What is the executive branch?
WTP Lesson 15: What is the judicial branch?Video Resource
How has the role of the president changed since the founding of the nation
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Standard 15
Identify and explain the major responsibilities of the legislative (Article 4), executive (Article 5), and judicial branches (Article 7) of state government as written in the Indiana Constitution.
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Standard 16
Explain the role citizens have in making decisions and rules within the community, state, and nation.
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 17: How does the Constitution protect your right to freedom of expression?
WTP Lesson 21: How does the Constitution protect your right to vote?Inquiry-Based Assessment Question
American government has power split among three branches of government. Why was it important to have the powers distributed in this fashion?
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Standard 17
Use information from a variety of resources to demonstrate an understanding of local, state, regional leaders, as well as civic issues.
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Standard 18
Define and provide examples of civic virtues in a democracy.
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 3: What is a republican government?
WTP Lesson 22: What is the role of the United States in the world today?
WTP Lesson 24: How can citizens promote the common good?
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Standard 19
Examine ways by which citizens may effectively voice opinions, monitor government, and bring about change in government including voting and participation in the election process.
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Standard 20
Use a variety of informational resources to identify and evaluate contemporary issues that involve civic responsibility, individual rights, and the common good.
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 3: What is a republican government?
WTP Lesson 17: How does the Constitution protect your right to freedom of expression?
WTP Lesson 18: How does the Constitution protect your right to freedom of religion?
WTP Lesson 19: How does the Constitution protect your right to equal protection of the laws?
WTP Lesson 20: How does the Constitution protect your right to due process of law?
WTP Lesson 21: How does the Constitution protect your right to vote?
WTP Lesson 22: What is the role of the United States in the world today?
WTP Lesson 24: How can citizens promote the common good? -
Standard 21
Recognize and explain the relationship between the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States.
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 23: What are some important responsibilities of citizens?
WTP Lesson 24: How can citizens promote the common good?Inquiry-Based Assessment Question
Being a citizen gives people rights and responsibilities. What are the differences between rights and responsibilities?
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Standard 22
Explain the importance of responsible participation by citizens in voluntary civil organizations to bring about social reform
WTP Lesson
WTP Lesson 23: What are some important responsibilities of citizens?
WTP Lesson 24: How can citizens promote the common good? -
Standard 23
Explain ways that citizens can participate in the election process (political parties, campaigns, and elections) at the national, state, and local levels.