Freedom to Choose
What is a world citizen's responsibility to promote freedom, equality, and personal choice for all?
Photo Credit: American Revolution by Don Gunn is licensed under CC by 2.0
The students examine life for the pilgrims and come to understand the importance of freedom in the foundation of the democratic government. They find examples of current loss of freedom at school, in the community, or in the country and choose a way to make a contribution through volunteering or communicating. They discover that freedom to choose is important to them.
Students discuss what it feels like to not have a choice. They relate this experience to how the Pilgrims and other immigrants feel when they chose to come to the United States for democratic freedom.
Students look at The Mayflower Compact and recognize that freedom to assemble and worship was the “Pilgrim's” main goal—worth all the opportunity costs. Students analyze the first amendment of the Constitution to recognize that freedom is a fundamental right in the United States.
In the early political history of this country, the goal of its leaders was to give people freedom to choose many things—where to worship, with whom to assemble, privacy, opinions, etc. It is still the goal today, but the world is not perfect. The students will find examples of loss of freedom at school, in the community or in the country and choose a way to make a contribution through volunteering or communicating.