Content Area: Social Studies

 

Index: 6.2A Grade 2 CPI 6

 

Standard: 6.2 - Civics

 

Strand: A - Civic Life, Politics, and Government

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 6 - The student will explore basic concepts of diversity, tolerance, fairness, and respect for others

 

Grade: 2

 

Sample Activities:

 

·        Students read selections from a book by Janice Cohn entitled The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate. (Read the book to the class if sufficient copies are not available.) This story is based on an incident that occurred in Billings, Montana, in 1993. An act of hate and discrimination targeting a Jewish family was soon followed by other acts of hate and bigotry that spread to include African Americans and Native Americans. In response, a few individuals roused their community to take a stand together against that bigotry and hatred. This story is a powerful example of the impact that an individual and a community can have upon others when they decide to protect the lives and rights of all-to take a stand against hate and for justice. During the reading, students identify the rights that are being violated, the choices for action and/or inaction that are possible, the potential consequences of each choice, and the choices that are made by various individuals. They also identify the motives and attitudes exhibited by the different characters.  After the selections are read, students make a chart, story map, or chain map identifying the various abuses, the individuals and groups noted, the actions taken, and the consequences of those actions. Identify the specific responses of groups such as the police, city officials, unions, churches, and newspapers as well as the actions of individuals young and old. Discuss possible consequences to the individuals and the town if the community had failed to come together. This lesson may be expanded over a number of days to include the development of an understanding of terms and concepts such as prejudice, discrimination, religious freedom, community action, individual responsibility, power of the press, hate crime, racism, and harassment.

 

·        Many incidents in our nation’s history address issues such as individual rights and responsibilities, the role of the government in protecting the rights of all, the role of the press, and community action. Examine these incidents as well as incidents of prejudice and discrimination and the consequences when communities and individuals fail to respond. Suggested research topics include the civil rights movement, the women’s movements, the policy of removal of Native Americans, the reservation policy, the Japanese-American relocation policy, the labor movement, and the actions of white supremacists.

 

·        Analyze with the students an event in the local community or school community for which there may have been media coverage (e.g., radio, television, newspapers). Select a specific occurrence in which equal rights for all may have been the issue. Students learn about the concept of rights and how this concept relates to their lives.

 

·        Draw upon stories, biographies, and other sources to analyze how people have continued to struggle to bring all groups in American society the liberties and equality promised in the basic documents from the founding of our country. Prepare a synopsis of the 1844 New Jersey Constitution, including a brief description with key quotations from each of the nine articles. Discuss these quotations with the class.

 

Kidspiration Activities:

 

·        Use symbols and links to create a story plan

·        Go to writing view to organize paragraphs and add details.

·        Use symbols and links to create concept maps that explore relationships between groups.