Bringing civics into other curricula
As a rule, children learn complex subject matter through repetition. Mastery of subject matter occurs through both repetition and concept development, with increased complexity coinciding with students’ growing cognitive capability. Thus, to gain mastery of civics concepts requires students be engaged in civics learning at every grade level with increasing complexity.
Because civics is no longer required curriculum in California until the senior year of high school, building in strategies for incorporating civics subject matter into other curricula was another important objective of the Courts in the Classroom Web project.
One strategy utilized incorporated storylines and landmark cases that correspond to historical events and periods taught in school. For example, Native American history and the Trail of Tears is taught in several grades and as an elective offered in high school. The Worcester v. State of Georgia case featured in the Checks and Balances module was one of many cases surrounding the removal of Native Americans from the east coast to west of the Mississippi, later know as the Trail of Tears. In the Worcester case, the Supreme Court said the removal of the Cherokee from their homeland would violate the Constitution, but President Jackson disregarded the Supreme Court. The use of the Checks and Balances module in a history lesson plan about the Trail of Tears enhances the lesson because it allows the teacher to make connections between our system of government and important historical events. And it teaches civics at the same time.
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