How Did We Help?
How does a community form to address issues for the common good?
Photo Credit: Blacksmith at Work - Colonial Williamsburg by Derek Key is licensed under CC by 2.0
The students learn about the civic contributions from four different groups in history. Literature and documents show the origins of the Core Democratic Values and the development of the United States of America.
Through the use of literature and discussion, this lesson will introduce the philanthropic behavior of the Native American in the United States. The speech of Chief Seattle will be explored by using the book Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: The Words of Chief Seattle.
This lesson introduces the Mayflower Compact. This brief agreement was the first document of its kind designed to bring a community together to focus on the common good. This may be a model for a classroom agreement written by the students.
Students will research the "Society of Friends"/ Quakers and describe how this group promoted the common good. The Quakers pushed for religious freedom and freedom of choice, which are Core Democratic Values. As a group, they formed organizations to promote social change in the areas of slavery, prison conditions, poverty, Native American affairs and other social causes.
This lesson will introduce the contributions made by Benjamin Franklin to the United States, both in the past and now. His book, Poor Richards Almanack, displays quotes that summarize his view on what he said and wrote. It will make connections to the common good through the ideas represented. The quotes will be used to create posters.