S+Hodge,+Spencer

**Office:** RM 203 **Office Phone:** (xxx) xxx-xxxx **Office Hours:** Mon- Fri 3-5pm ** E-mail: ** Spencer.Hodge@maine.edu
 * Teacher:** Mr. Hodge

=Summary of Unit=

What is government and why do we need it? In this unit students will have the opportunity to explore the value, purpose and role of government not only at the state and federal levels, but on a global scale as well. As a class we will discuss the differences in all kinds of governments all over the world. We will apply current issues to democratic ideals and constitutional principles while also modeling how the state and federal governments work. Students will have the opportunity to compare and contrast the different governments all over the world and show their understanding of how those governments affect and influence the U.S. government as well. Together we will discover the roles that citizens have in their community, state, country and in the world. We will evaluate these roles and ultimately gain the knowledge necessary to create a just and efficient government from scratch.

=Establish Goals= // Maine Learning Results // // Content Area: Social Studies // // Standard Label: B. Civics and Government // // Standard: B1 Knowledge, Concepts, Themes, and Patterns of Civics/Government // // Grade Level Span: 9 - Diploma // // Students understand the ideals, purposes, principles, structures, and processes of constitutional government in the United States and in the American political system, as well as examples of other forms of government and political systems in the world. // // Performance Indicators: a,b,c,d,e //

=Students will understand that= // • there are different purposes of constitutional government at the state and federal level. // // • there are other forms of government in the world. // // • there are certain roles citizens have in their community, state, country, and world. //

=Essential Questions= // • How is lawmaking different at the state and federal levels? // // • Why and how are governments different in structure that the United States government? // // • How are the functions of the U.S. government and political campaigns reliant on the political and civil activity of citizens? //

=Students will know= // • Vocabulary - The Constitution, Republican, Democrat, Supreme Court, Legislature, Congress, Senate, House of Representatives, Bill of Rights, Anarchy, Democracy, etc. // // • Key Facts - Two major political parties are Republicans and Democrats, three branches of government, U.S. is a democracy, Congress is made up of the Senate and House of Representatives. // // • Sequences and Time lines - In 1788 the constitution was ratified, Amendments in order by sequence, important Supreme Court cases by sequence. //

=Students will be able to= // • model how the state and federal governments work. // // • evaluate the certain roles of citizens in government. // // • apply current issues to democratic ideals and constitutional principles. // // • compare and contrast the different governments in the world. // // • assume the role of citizens involved in government. // // • be aware of how governments in the world effect the U.S. government. //

**Performance Task Overview** // Knowing the earth is coming to an end, NASA has created a team to start a new civilization on the planet Mars. As part of the construction, NASA needs someone to develop a new structure of government for Mars. NASA is looking for the three following things in this government system: General structure, Laws and rules, and the citizens roles in the government. Students will take the role as a political scientist eager to develop this new government. Participants will be presenting in front of NASA's transition to Mars team to pitch their new creative government system through oral presentation and a persuasive promotional video. If chosen, they will be guaranteed a spot as leader of their newly designed government on Mars. //

=Expectations=
 * Absences- ** If you miss a class, come talk to me. Communication is absolutely key. If the you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. If you know you are going to miss a class in advance, communication is required to receive full credit. Test and quizzes may be made up with an excused absence. Students with unexcused absences can still make up tests and quizzes however 20% of the total test or quiz grade will be taken off.
 * Plagiarism- ** Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this classroom. In accordance with the school policy, if you are caught plagiarizing you will receive a zero for the assignment and will meet with the principle and the classroom teacher to discuss the act.
 * Assignments- **All assignments are expected to be completed and turned in on time. For everyday late, a letter grade will be taken off the assignment. If you have an excused absence the day an assignment is due, than it will be due the next time you have class with no penalty.
 * Classroom Expectations- ** In my classroom I expect all my students to be respectful towards not only to me when I am teaching but also to the rest of your classmates. I also expect all of you to behave and be civil in the classroom. I also do not tolerate any disruptive behavior that interferes with other student's learning. If we all work together, we will have a healthy and friendly class environment.

=Benchmarks - 200= // **(15)** __ Xtranormal __ - Students will work in groups of 3 to create an Xtranormal presentation with 2 characters, one representing state government, the other representing federal government. The purpose will to have these characters conversing or debating about why they (federal or state) is better. Creativity and humor is highly encouraged. // // **(20)**__Comic Life__ - Students will work in groups of 4 to create a comic with interacting characters. In a fun and creative way the comic characters will play out a scenario involving what the citizens roles are in government. Along with this they will have to pic a movie genre to relate it to! // // **(20)**__Glogster__- Each student will have the opportunity to choose a current political issue and express it in a glogster including videos and links. Students will work individually on their Glogster product, however there will be several peer review process as they go. Students will be required to go very in depth and be sure to include all sides and arguments of the issue. // // **(20)**__Inspiration__- Students will use Inspiration to compare and contrast different types of government around the world, past and present. //// Students will work in groups of 5 on the inspiration product, each student will get one type of government to deeply explore. When presenting their product they will be sure to display it in web and outline form to benefit different types of learners. // //** (25) **__ iMovie __ - Students will work in groups of 3 to create their own political party while using iMovie to present it. Each political party will be fictional. The presentation will include a history, motto, symbol, color, targeted demographic and platform of the party. As far as presentation, its up to you, as long as iMovie is involved. Meaning it could be presented as a documentary, a personal memoir of someone reflecting on their political party, a promotional video...etc. // //** (25) **__ Prezi __ - Students will work in pairs to create a prezi to show how the U.S. government interacts with the world. Focusing on foreign policy, students will choose a past or present foreign policy issue and go in depth with it. It is important that the prezi is engaging and includes videos and pictures. // //** (75) **__ Final Project (iMovie) __ - See above in P erformance Task Overview. //

=Grading Scale=
 * A ** (93 -100), ** A- ** (90 - 92), ** B+ ** (87 - 89), ** B ** (83 - 86), ** B- ** (80 - 82), ** C+ ** (77 - 79), ** C ** (73-76), ** C- ** (70 - 72), ** D+ ** (67 - 69), ** D ** (63 - 66), ** D- ** (60 - 62), ** F ** (0 - 59).