Florida Civics and Government Standards


Florida Standards

Lesson 1: A Different Kind of Government Course introduces students to CAP. First, students learn that one of the main purposes of public education is to prepare future citizens to participate in our democracy. Then they are given an overview of CAP. Finally, they brainstorm the attributes of an effective citizen.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.2: Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.

SS.912.C.2.8: Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.

Florida Standards
Lesson 2: Introduction to Public Policy introduces the link between policy and problems. First, students read and discuss a short article defining policy. Then they discuss policy and its connection to problems. Next, in small groups, they do a newspaper search to find examples of public policy.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.2: Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.

SS.912.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.

SS.912.C.2.4: Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues that cause the government to balance the interests of individuals with the public good.

SS.912.C.2.8: Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.

SS.912.C.2.10: Monitor current public issues in Florida.

Standard: Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and organization of government.

SS.912.C.3.13: Illustrate examples of how government affects the daily lives of citizens at the local, state, and national levels.

Florida Standards
Lesson 3: Problems, Policy, and Civic Actions gives students further background in problems, policy, and civic action to prepare them for CAP. First, students analyze problems in terms of causes and effects. Next, they explore how policy can be linked to problems. Finally, they list possible civic actions that can be taken to when working on a problem.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.2: Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.

SS.912.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.

SS.912.C.2.4: Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues that cause the government to balance the interests of individuals with the public good.

SS.912.C.2.5: Conduct a service project to further the public good.

SS.912.C.2.8: Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.

SS.912.C.2.10: Monitor current public issues in Florida.

Standard: Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and organization of government.

SS.912.C.3.13: Illustrate examples of how government affects the daily lives of citizens at the local, state, and national levels.

Florida Standards
Lesson 4: Introducing Policy Analysis helps students develop a deeper understanding of public policy and the interaction between government and citizens in making policy. They look at case studies and are introduced to policy analysis.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.2: Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.

SS.912.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.

SS.912.C.2.4: Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues that cause the government to balance the interests of individuals with the public good.

SS.912.C.2.5: Conduct a service project to further the public good.

SS.912.C.2.8: Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.

SS.912.C.2.11: Analyze public policy solutions or courses of action to resolve a local, state, or federal issue.

Standard: Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and organization of government.

SS.912.C.3.13: Illustrate examples of how government affects the daily lives of citizens at the local, state, and national levels.


Florida Standards
Lesson 5: Policymaking in the Three Branches of Government introduces students to executive, legislative, and judicial policymaking and to policy evaluation. First, students discuss how policy can be made by each of the branches. Then they read about and discuss how the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance to suppress gang activity and how each branch of government was involved in the policy. Finally, students are introduced to a policy-analysis rubric (GRADE) and apply it to the Chicago gang ordinance.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.2: Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.

SS.912.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.

SS.912.C.2.4: Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues that cause the government to balance the interests of individuals with the public good.

SS.912.C.2.5: Conduct a service project to further the public good.

SS.912.C.2.8: Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.

SS.912.C.2.11: Analyze public policy solutions or courses of action to resolve a local, state, or federal issue.

Standard: Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and organization of government.

SS.912.C.3.8: Compare the role of judges on the state and federal level with other elected officials.

SS.912.C.3.9: Analyze the various levels and responsibilities of courts in the federal and state judicial system and the relationships among them.

SS.912.C.3.13: Illustrate examples of how government affects the daily lives of citizens at the local, state, and national levels.

Florida Standards
Lesson 6: Analyzing Anti-Gang Policies provides students with practice in analyzing policy. First, as a whole group, they evaluate an anti-gang policy using GRADE. Then in small groups, they are given policies that address gang violence and they evaluate each.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.2: Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.

SS.912.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.

SS.912.C.2.4: Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues that cause the government to balance the interests of individuals with the public good.

SS.912.C.2.8: Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.

SS.912.C.2.11: Analyze public policy solutions or courses of action to resolve a local, state, or federal issue.

Standard: Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and organization of government.

SS.912.C.3.13: Illustrate examples of how government affects the daily lives of citizens at the local, state, and national levels.

Florida Standards
Lesson 7: Policymaking at the Local Level gets students to examine an instance of policymaking at a school board, one of the most common institutions at the local level. First, students read about and discuss a common local (and national) problem, the dropout rate. Then they role play subcommittees of a hypothetical school board, examine documents about the dropout problem, and craft a policy to address the dropout problem. Finally, they exchange policies with other groups and evaluate one another’s policies using the GRADE rubric.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.2: Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.

SS.912.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.

SS.912.C.2.4: Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues that cause the government to balance the interests of individuals with the public good.

SS.912.C.2.8: Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.

SS.912.C.2.11: Analyze public policy solutions or courses of action to resolve a local, state, or federal issue.

SS.912.C.2.14: Evaluate the processes and results of an election at the state or federal level.

Standard: Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and organization of government.

SS.912.C.3.13: Illustrate examples of how government affects the daily lives of citizens at the local…levels.

Florida Standards
Lesson 8: Law & Policy informs students about how existing law can influence public policy and policymaking. First, students read about and discuss how existing law can influence public policy. Then in small groups, they role play members of a public policy law firm and decide whether a policy of evicting renters violates existing law and whether a new law is needed to protect renters.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.2: Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.

SS.912.C.2.4: Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues that cause the government to balance the interests of individuals with the public good.

SS.912.C.2.8: Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.

SS.912.C.2.11: Analyze public policy solutions or courses of action to resolve a local, state, or federal issue.

Florida Standards
Lesson 9: Persuading introduces students to the art of persuasion. First, they read about and discuss the three types of persuasion: logos, ethos, and pathos. Then students prepare two-minute persuasive talks on why the issue that they have chosen to address in CAP is important. Finally, in pairs, students present and critique one another’s talks.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.4: Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues that cause the government to balance the interests of individuals with the public good.

SS.912.C.2.13: Analyze various forms of political communication and evaluate for bias, factual accuracy, omission, and emotional appeal.

Florida Standards
Lesson 10: Building Constituencies introduces students to the importance of building a constituency to support or oppose public policies. First, students read and discuss about how a historically significant movement gained support in the community. Then in small groups, students brainstorm how they can get support for their CAP issue.

Standard: Demonstrate an understanding of the origins and purposes of government, law, and the American political system.

SS.912.C.1.1: Evaluate, take, and defend positions on the founding ideals and principles in American Constitutional government.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.2: Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.

SS.912.C.2.4: Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues that cause the government to balance the interests of individuals with the public good.

SS.912.C.2.6: Evaluate, take, and defend positions about rights protected by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

SS.912.C.2.8: Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.

SS.912.C.2.9: Identify the expansion of civil rights and liberties by examining the principles contained in primary documents.

SS.912.C.2.14: Evaluate the processes and results of an election at the state or federal level.

Florida Standards
Lesson 11: Setting the Public Agenda introduces students to the public agenda and its importance to policy. First, students read about and discuss the public agenda and ways that citizens can influence it. Then in small groups, students are given different situations and they develop strategic plans for getting their issues or solutions to issues on the public agenda.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.

SS.912.C.2.12: Explain the changing roles of television, radio, press, and Internet in political communication.

SS.912.C.2.15: Evaluate the origins and roles of political parties, interest groups, media, and individuals in determining and shaping public policy.

Standard: Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and organization of government.

SS.912.C.3.13: Illustrate examples of how government affects the daily lives of citizens at the local, state, and national levels.

Florida Standards
Lesson 12: Using the Media helps students learn about the importance of the media in setting the public agenda. First, they read about and discuss how the media help set the public agenda and how citizens can influence the media and even create their own media to help change the public agenda. Then they develop a plan to do one action to use or affect the media. Finally, they begin to implement their plan. As homework, they complete their action.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.4: Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues that cause the government to balance the interests of individuals with the public good.

SS.912.C.2.12: Explain the changing roles of television, radio, press, and Internet in political communication.

SS.912.C.2.13: Analyze various forms of political communication and evaluate for bias, factual accuracy, omission, and emotional appeal.

Florida Standards
Lesson 13: Persuading Policymakers informs students that legislative and executive bodies often hold public hearing and how students can make effective presentations at these hearings. First, students read about public hearings and techniques for making presentations at these hearings. Then students role play a city council and people appearing before it attempting to persuade policymakers on hypothetical issues.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.2: Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.

SS.912.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.

SS.912.C.2.4: Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues that cause the government to balance the interests of individuals with the public good.

SS.912.C.2.8: Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.

SS.912.C.2.14: Evaluate the processes and results of an election at the state or federal level.

Standard: Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and organization of government.

SS.912.C.3.13: Illustrate examples of how government affects the daily lives of citizens at the local, state, and national levels.

Florida Standards
Lesson 14: Creating Change Through the Electoral Process focuses on electoral politics and how it deeply influences policymaking. First, students read about and discuss the role that electoral politics plays in policymaking. Then in small groups, students role play campaign workers and create strategies to attract young people to participate in an election campaign.

Standard: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens and determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.

SS.912.C.2.2: Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.

SS.912.C.2.8: Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.

SS.912.C.2.12: Explain the changing roles of television, radio, press, and Internet in political communication.

SS.912.C.2.14: Evaluate the processes and results of an election at the state or federal level.
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