Participate Civics: Middle School

Participate is a curriculum developed by CPS in partnership with teachers, students and Chicago community partners to meet the required state Middle School civics graduation requirement.

Middle School Curriculum

Participate is a curriculum developed by CPS in partnership with teachers, students and Chicago community partners to meet the required state civics graduation requirement for Middle School signed into law in 2019. This curriculum is part of the effort to correct historical imbalances. The curriculum is designed to ensure every CPS student develops the critical knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need to be powerful civic actors in our democracy and their communities at any age.

Two Essential Questions provide the underpinnings of the course and curriculum:

• What knowledge, skills, and dispositions (intention to act) does a person need in order to be a powerful civic actor in our democracy and in our community?
• How will I use my rights and responsibilities to promote the common good in our democracy and community?

Unit 3-1: What Are Your Communities?

How Can You Identify the Common Good in Your Communities?

Essential Questions	Standards	Learning Outcomes
Who has power in your community? What are the sources of their power? How do they use their power?	SS.CV.1.6-8: Evaluate the powers and responsibilities of citizens, political parties, interest groups, and the media. SS.CV.3.6-8: Compare the means by which individuals and groups change societies, promote the common good, and protect rights.	Students will know: How identity and community are connected. Students will be able to: Make connections between their identity and the communities to which they belong.

Eighth-Graders and Their Communities: Meet Melat

I am an 8th grader at Disney Magnet School. Some groups that I belong to are the Disney community, Gen-Z, and my community in which I live in. Two current issues that are most important to me are climate change, and water accessibility around the world.

If I could accomplish something in eighth grade to help others, it would be making sure that other schools have better and more opportunities and chances for the students attending there. I would also want to accomplish having other students learn about more topics that include BLM, climate change, education around the world, and more.

I feel like I have leadership skills, communication skills, and I take responsibility. These traits and attitudes will help me become a powerful civic actor because having leadership will help me be confident when talking about issues, communication will help me by communicating with others and making sure that they are aware also, and responsibility will help me by taking charge of my actions.

Unit 3 Exploration: Planning a Meeting with a Representative

Members of community organizations need a variety of skills, from planning to collaborating to raising funds and more. This lesson focuses on planning a meeting. While this exploration is a simulation, students will be able to employ these skills in planning for an authentic action project.