SS.7.CG.1.9

This Grade 7 Civics Family Guide provides some ideas and activities to support civics education when at home, out and about, and in the community. The activities provided align to the civics learning benchmarks within Standard 1 at this grade level.

In this lesson plan, students will learn about the governing principles that can be traced through America’s founding documents. Students will work independently or with a shoulder partner to demonstrate an understanding of the founding principles by completing a vocabulary Card Sort activity and a Primary Source Matching activity. There are six multiple choice questions on the Primary Source Matching activity to assess student understanding.

In this lesson plan, students will learn about separation of powers and checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution while completing guided notes that accompany a teacher-presented slideshow. Students will then show what they know by engaging in a simulation activity and completing an exit ticket.

In this lesson plan, students will read and analyze documents relating to the systems of government created by the ancient Greek city-state of Athens, the Roman Republic, and the United States. They will evaluate and compare the systems to determine how they influenced the American constitutional republican form of government.

In this lesson plan, students will read excerpts from President Lyndon Johnson’s “Let Us Continue” speech. Johnson delivered this speech to a joint session of Congress on November 27, 1963, just days after being sworn into office due to the death of President John F. Kennedy. Students will study excerpts from the speech, analyzing and comparing two central ideas and their supporting evidence. During the lesson, students will collaborate on their analysis, write observations based on their evidence, and answer text-dependent and standards-based questions.

In this lesson plan, students will describe the limits on federal power provided in the U.S. Constitution through separation of powers, checks and balances, individual rights, rule of law and due process of law.

Students will be engaged in a review game as they take notes about how the U.S. Constitution limits the powers of government through separation of powers, checks and balances, individual rights, rule of law and due process of law. Students will fill in a graphic organizer to assist them in keeping their notetaking organized.