PreK-2: Civics Content

Concepts
- Justice
- Nation-state
- Citizenship
- Political systems
- Power
- Government (structure and function; processes; elections)
- Decision making
- Civic values (e.g., honesty, self-discipline, due process, equality, majority rule with respect for minority rights, and respect for self, others, and property. Adapted from The National Standards for Civics and Government, 1994)
- Human rights
- Nationalism
- Rights and responsibilities
- Democracy
- Civic participation and engagement
- Diversity
- Rules and laws
- National symbols
- Truth
- Patriotism
- Common Good
Content Understandings
- Symbols of citizenship
  - Citizenship includes an awareness of the symbols of our nation.
  - Citizenship includes an understanding of the holidays and celebrations of our nation.
  - Citizenship includes knowledge about, respect for, and an understanding of the significance of the flag of the United States of America, including an understanding about its display and use.
  - Citizenship includes a pledge of allegiance or loyalty to the United States of America.
- Rights, responsibilities, and roles of citizenship
  - All children and adults have responsibilities at home, in school, in the classroom, and in the community.
  - People have responsibilities as members of different groups at different times in their lives.
  - People in families help one another.
  - Students, teachers, and staff are all citizens of the school community and have rights and responsibilities.
- People making and changing rules and laws
  - Rules affect children and adults.
  - People make and changes rules for many reasons
  - Families develop rules to govern and protect family members.
  - People in school groups develop rules to govern and protect themselves.
  - People form governments in order to develop rules and laws to govern and protect themselves.
  - Our local communities have elected and appointed leaders who make, enforce, and interpret rules and laws.
  - Key terms related to the study of government include: democracy, power, citizenship, nation-state, and justice.
  - People plan, organize, and make decisions for the common good.
  - Students can participate in problem solving, decision making, and conflict resolution.