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We The People: The Citizen and the
Constitution |
The primary goal of We the People... The Citizen and
the Constitution is to promote civic competence and responsibility
among the nation's elementary and secondary students. The design of the
instructional program, including its innovative culminating activity,
makes the program successful with both teachers and students.
The instructional program enhances students' understanding of the
institutions of American constitutional democracy. At the same time,
students discover the contemporary relevance of the Constitution and
Bill of Rights. |
The culminating activity is a simulated congressional
hearing in which students "testify" before a panel of judges. Students
demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional
principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take, and defend
positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues.
Since the inception of the We the People program in 1987, more than 24
million students and 75 thousand educators have participated in this
innovative course of study. The program enjoys the active participation
of members of Congress, as well as support from professional, business,
and community organizations across the nation. |
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Curriculum |
| The foundation of the We the People... program is the
classroom curriculum. It complements the regular school curriculum by
providing upper elementary, middle, and high school students with an
innovative course of instruction of the history and principles of
constitutional democracy in the United States. The We the People...
textbooks are designed for a wide range of students abilities and may be
used as a supplemental text of for a full semester of study. |
Critical thinking exercises, problem-solving activities,
and cooperative learning techniques help develop intellectual and
participatory skills while increasing students' understanding of the
institutions of American constitutional democracy. The We the People...
curriculum fosters attitudes that are necessary for students to
participate as effective, responsible citizens. After studying the
textbook, students take a multiple-choice test and prepare for the
simulated congressional hearing. Upon completion of the course, they
receive a certificate of achievement signed by their member of Congress
or other prominent official. |
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Textbooks |
| We the People... The Citizen and the Constitution is the
high school level textbook. We the People... is the title of the books
designed for the upper elementary and middle school levels. Teacher's
guides for each level contain lesson plans and suggested activities to
enrich classroom instruction. |
Classroom sets include 30 student books, a teacher's
guide, and an instructional packet containing the information and
supplies necessary to complete the program. Free classroom sets are
available on a limited basis in each congressional district in the
nation. Additional sets may be purchased from the Center at a nominal
cost. |
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Additional Resources |
For sample lessons and other resources for
students and teachers available on the national organization web
site,
Click Here.
For correlations of We the People programs to state standards,
Click Here.
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