Core Curriculum Civics & Citizenship
The full module of 6 units (12 lessons) of Core Curriculum Civics & Citizenship covering language and skills for success in the classroom environment.
The features mentioned in this article are available to all Teachers on paid and free subscriptions. However, only a limited number of lessons are available on free subscriptions.
Table of contents
Target students
These lessons are for students who have already developed basic English proficiency and need support acquiring the subject-specific language and skills necessary to engage fully in the civics & citizenship classroom, especially LTELs. Lessons in this module target pre-intermediate levels (WIDA Developing/CEFR B1).
Key features
All lessons in this series are based around the following elements:
- Relevant topics for US secondary students: Topics for the lessons in this module all feature prominently in the civics & citizenship (or equivalent) curricula and frameworks used in three influential US states: California, Florida and New York.
- Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): The lessons in this module use a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach by introducing relevant content through the medium of English. Language learning in meaningful contexts is most effective and so promotes quicker acquisition.
- Full WIDA mapping: Each lesson in the module is fully mapped to specific WIDA language expectations making it easy for teachers to use the lessons within a wider curriculum map.
- Versatile lesson content: While the Core Curriculum Civics & Citizenship lessons can be taught from start to finish in a sequence, they can also function as standalone lessons. This means that core subject teachers can jump into a given lesson when necessary to support specific students needs’ at that particular moment.
Lesson Details & Links
The unit, lesson name (with link), and objectives are listed below for a quick overview of each lesson. Click a lesson name to launch it directly from this article. To see a spreadsheet of all Off2Class lessons, click here.
| Unit | Lesson & Link | Objectives |
| 1 - Introduction to civics & citizenship | 1-1 What is citizenship? | ELD-SS.9-12.Explain.Interpretive: Determining multiple types of sources, points of view in sources, and potential uses of sources for answering compelling and supporting questions about phenomena or events Analyzing sources for logical relationships among contributing factors, causes, or related concepts At the end of the lesson, students can explain what it means to be a citizen. |
| 1 - Introduction to civics & citizenship | 1-2 Civics | ELD-SS.9-12.Explain.Expressive: Introduce and contextualize multiple phenomena or events Establish perspective for communicating intended and unintended outcomes, consequences, or documentation Develop sound reasoning, sequences with linear and nonlinear relationships, evidence, and details with significant and pertinent information, acknowledging strengths and weaknesses At the end of the lesson, students can ask and answer basic questions about the American system of government. |
| 2 - US citizenship | 2-1 The rights of a citizen | ELD-SS.9-12.Explain.Interpretive: Determining multiple types of sources, points of view in sources, and potential uses of sources for answering compelling and supporting questions about phenomena or events Analyzing sources for logical relationships among contributing factors, causes, or related concepts At the end of the lesson, students can discuss the rights of a citizen using modal verbs. |
| 2 - US citizenship | 2-2 The social contract | ELD-SS.9-12.Argue.Expressive: Introduce and contextualize topic Select relevant information to support precise and knowledgeable claims with evidence from multiple sources At the end of the lesson, students can discuss and describe a social contract using conditionals. |
| 3 - Principles of American democracy | 3-1 The rule of law | ELD-SS.9-12.Explain.Interpretive: Determining multiple types of sources, points of view in sources, and potential uses of sources for answering compelling and supporting questions about phenomena or events Analyzing sources for logical relationships among contributing factors, causes, or related concepts At the end of the lesson, students can understand basic legal vocabulary and use the passive voice to describe how a bill becomes a law. |
| 3 - Principles of American democracy | 3-2 Elections | ELD-SS.9-12.Explain.Expressive: Introduce and contextualize multiple phenomena or events Establish perspective for communicating intended and unintended outcomes, consequences, or documentation Develop sound reasoning, sequences with linear and nonlinear relationships, evidence, and details with significant and pertinent information, acknowledging strengths and weaknesses At the end of the lesson, students can describe the election process using sequencing language. |
| 4 - The US Constitution | 4-1 History of the US Constitution | ELD-SS.9-12.Explain.Interpretive: Determining multiple types of sources, points of view in sources, and potential uses of sources for answering compelling and supporting questions about phenomena or events Analyzing sources for logical relationships among contributing factors, causes, or related concepts At the end of the lesson, students can outline with example the articles of the US constitution and their implications. |
| 4 - The US Constitution | 4-2 Amendments | ELD-SS.9-12.Explain.Interpretive: Determining multiple types of sources, points of view in sources, and potential uses of sources for answering compelling and supporting questions about phenomena or events Analyzing sources for logical relationships among contributing factors, causes, or related concepts At the end of the lesson, students can discuss amendments to the US Constitution using the past tense. |
| 5 - Form and organization of government | 5-1 Republicanism | ELD-SS.9-12.Explain.Interpretive: Determining multiple types of sources, points of view in sources, and potential uses of sources for answering compelling and supporting questions about phenomena or events Analyzing sources for logical relationships among contributing factors, causes, or related concepts At the end of the lesson, students can compare and contrast the differences between a republic and a direct democracy. |
| 5 - Form and organization of government | 5-2 Separation of powers | ELD-SS.9-12.Explain.Expressive: Introduce and contextualize multiple phenomena or events Establish perspective for communicating intended and unintended outcomes, consequences, or documentation Develop sound reasoning, sequences with linear and nonlinear relationships, evidence, and details with significant and pertinent information, acknowledging strengths and weaknesses At the end of the lesson, students can discuss the three branches of government and describe their roles. |
| 6 - Civic responsibility | 6-1 Mandatory duties | ELD-SS.9-12.Explain.Interpretive: Determining multiple types of sources, points of view in sources, and potential uses of sources for answering compelling and supporting questions about phenomena or events Analyzing sources for logical relationships among contributing factors, causes, or related concepts At the end of the lesson, students can talk about the responsibilities that citizens must fulfill. |
| 6 - Civic responsibility | 6-2 Voluntary responsibilities | ELD-SS.9-12.Explain.Interpretive: Determining multiple types of sources, points of view in sources, and potential uses of sources for answering compelling and supporting questions about phenomena or events Analyzing sources for logical relationships among contributing factors, causes, or related concepts At the end of the lesson, students can suggest ways to help in the community. |