Colorado Civics

Grade Level: 4th Grade

Subject: Social Studies

Time Frame: 4 weeks (November/December)

Big Understandings

- identify, investigate, and analyze multiple perspectives on civic issues
- the origins, structures, and functions of the Colorado government

Essential Questions

- how can government answer questions about issues in a state in various ways?
- how do diverse opinions enrich a community?
- how does an individual's experience and background influence perception of an issue?
- why is it important to research issues and engage in civil debates?
- what would state government look like if one of the branches had more power than the others?
- what would Colorado be like without a state government?

By the end of the unit, students will be able to:

- give examples of issues faced by the state of Colorado and develop possible solutions
- provide supportive arguments for both sides of a current public policy debate
- discuss how various individuals and groups influence the way an issue affecting the state is viewed and resolved
- identify and use appropriate sources to investigate and analyze multiple perspectives of issues
- identify and explain a variety of roles leaders, citizens, and others play in state government
- identify and explain the services state government provides and how those services are funded
- describe how the decisions of the state government affect local government and interact with federal law
- describe how a citizen might engage in state government to demonstrate their rights or initiate change

Topics:

- current issues faced by state of Colorado
- examine multiple perspectives of the same issue
- general structure of Colorado state government
- a citizen's role in the state government- rights and how to initiate change

Standards

SS.4.4.1
SS.4.4.2