TPACK Template
Subject Civics and Economics
Grade Level 7
Learning Objective CE.4- The student will demonstrate knowledge of personal
The objective of the lesson is what
students will be able to do as they
character traits that facilitate thoughtful and effective
finish the activity. For this objective, participation in civic life by
use the Standards of Learning (SOL)
to say what you want to focus on.
f) practicing decision making;
You can find the SOLs at
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/
look on the right of the screen for the CE.6- The student will demonstrate knowledge of the American
subjects and go from there. constitutional government at the national level by
Content
c) explaining and/or simulating the lawmaking process
Online Activity Describe
what the learning activity will be as
the students meet with the teacher
This particular course is asynchronous, and the materials will
online. What will the students and be provided ahead of time. The teacher will present discuss
the teacher be doing? (This includes
what they are doing with the
with the class what the job of a president entails. The teacher
technology). will then show a short video lecture going over the
political/national process of lawmaking and decision making.
At the end of the video the teacher will discuss how important
it is when making decisions and choosing laws that a president
must always be in the best interest of the people. The teacher
will then ask the class to participate in a simulation of the
decision/law making process that a president must go through.
Students will be directed to iCivics.com where each student
can participate with or without an account. Each game will
save for students who arent able to finish the simulation.
Students will begin the game by choosing the difficulty level.
Once that is chosen a set of instructions will come forth to
direct the student to the next step. After choosing their virtual
person as president the game will begin. The first simulation is
the debate which allows the student to choose the best
answer for their argument, whether it be climate, education,
or taxes. This process allows students to understand the
mindset of a president and what needs to be done to please
the people of the US. Students are ultimately learning primary
issues as well as how to go about choosing what is best for the
needs of others. Throughout the simulation students are
Pedagogy
handling multiple demands from citizens and congress. After
one task is completed another one is at way. Each task allows
the student to think critically and ultimately make the tough
decision on whether to pass or veto a bill. With each bill
presented there is one law that may not benefit or could
possibly harm the people. This in turn makes the decision-
making process more challenging. Ultimately, although there
may be one great law on a bill, just one bad law equals a bad
bill an thus and cannot be passed. Students learn the difficult
lawmaking process that presidents are faced with on a daily
basis. Students also learn how bills are passed as well and how
presidents decide whether a bill is to be vetoed. Once the
president signs off on a bill it must go through congress for a
vote. Students are able to learn how bills are successfully
passed when signed off and the system in which they are put.
When students have completed the simulation, they should be
more aware and knowledgeable of how difficult and strenuous
decision making can be. Students should have learned what
one law entails and the process in which one law goes through
to be passed. At the end of the simulation each student will
receive a certificate that they will save and upload to their
teacher for completion. At the end each student will type a
one-page summary, through a discussion post, of their
thoughts and experience in a working with the simulation.
They should be able to explain what they learned as well as
what they liked and disliked. After they complete their
assignment they are to comment on one other persons
discussion post and share their experiences with the
simulation.
Technology Executive Command Simulation on the iCivics website.
Technology
https://www.icivics.org/games/executive-command
Computer, laptop, PC,
Speaker or headphones
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