Citizenship-B Curriculum

Unit 1: Getting to know America

Lesson 1: The Flag

Lesson Objectives / Materials
Students will…
●  answer questions about the US Flag in small groups
●  discuss the meaning of the Star Spangled Banner and Pledge of Allegiance / ●  CN: 7, 30
●  Flag questions
●  CPtT: p. 176-177
●  The Star-Spangled Banner at http://americanhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/sing-the-national-anthem.aspx
“100 Civics Questions” covered in this lesson
52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?
98. What is the name of the national anthem?
Suggested Tasks & Activities
●  Introductions and go over the course syllabus
●  Discuss the importance and meaning of the Star Spangled Banner (CN: 30) and Pledge of Allegiance
(CN: 7). Play the video of the Star Spangled Banner and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
●  Put Students (Ss) in small groups and have them answer the Flag questions. (Ss will probably know the answers to most of the questions, so you could make the activity a race for an additional challenge.)
●  Have different students read the dictation questions and dictate the answer back to students using the sentences found in CPtT: p. 177, numbers 3, 4, 5

Citizenship-B Curriculum

Unit 1: Getting to know America

Lesson 2: State and Federal Leaders

Lesson Objectives: / Materials
Students will…
●  identify a capitalist economy as the economic system of the U.S.
●  name St. Paul as the capital of MN and Mark Dayton as the governor of Minnesota
●  name Barack Obama as the president of the United States / §  First questions worksheet (WS)
§  CPtT: p. 17
“100 Civics Questions” covered in this lesson
11. What is the economic system in the United States?
28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?
43. Who is the Governor of your state now?
44. What is the capital of your state?
Suggested Tasks & Activities
·  Review questions from yesterday
·  Read about the economic system in the United States in CPtT: p. 17
·  Talk about the difference between state and federal leaders. Ask students what they know about our current governor and president.
·  Complete the first questions WS together and then have students quiz each other on these questions
·  Practice dictation of your choice with students


Citizenship-B Curriculum

Unit 1: Getting to know America

Lesson 3: Rights and Responsibilities

Lesson Objectives: / Materials
Students will…
●  read about the rights and responsibilities for United States citizens / ●  Rights and Responsibilities Reading
●  Voter Registration card
●  Sample ballot
“100 Civics Questions” covered in this lesson
49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
50. Name one right only for United States citizens.
53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*
57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
Suggested Tasks & Activities
●  Review questions from previous lessons
●  Read Rights and Responsibilities and answer the citizenship questions. Reference the N400 Application questions that relate to taxes, voting, and the selective service as well.
●  Show a sample ballot and voter registration card and talk about the upcoming 2012 presidential election
●  Have students quiz each other on the citizenship questions
●  Practice dictation of your choice with students


Citizenship-B Curriculum

Unit 1: Getting to know America

Lesson 4: National Holidays and Unit Review

Lesson Objectives: / Materials
Students will…
●  discuss national holidays in the US and write about one holiday in their home country
●  dictate questions and answers pertaining to the citizenship test
●  read about Thanksgiving and answer questions / ●  CN: 135
●  Unit 1 Assessment (Cit-B)
●  Dictation PowerPoint
●  Thanksgiving Reading: http://resources.marshalladulteducation.org/rs/l65/thanks_pre-read.htm
“100 Civics Questions” covered in this lesson
100. Name two national U.S. holidays.
Suggested Tasks & Activities
●  Discuss national holidays in the US and explain that they will need to know at least two for their test, (CN: 135). After the discussion questions, have them write about a national holiday in their home country. Use WH question words as prompts (i.e., write What is the holiday? When do you celebrate it? etc.).
●  Dictation PowerPoint. Read each question for the students and have them dictate it; see if they know the answer. Then read the answer for them to dictate. NOTE: If you don’t have a computer/LCD projector, make copies of the slides for students to see after the activity.
●  Unit 1 Assessment (Cit-B): First, type up the reading questions for Unit 3 from the book Citizenship: Passing the Test. Then cut up the reading questions and give them to students to read aloud to the class. Dictate the answer to all students, and they write down their sentences on the quiz paper. Then, put students in pairs and give the first person the quiz for the unit. One student asks the questions and marks yes/no for his/her partner based on the answers in italics. Then the interviewer gives feedback to his/her partner on the questions they answered correctly and practices the questions they got wrong again. Then the partners switch and the other student asks the questions, marks the paper, and gives feedback.
Additional Activity
-  Read about Thanksgiving.

Minnesota Literacy Council

Citizenship-B Curriculum. CASAS 211 and above

March 2012