SUMMATIVE PERFORMANCE TASK

How do average citizens solve civic problems?

OUTLINE

*For more detailed instructions, see the full lesson plan. 

  1. Decide how many civic action case files you want your students to create. Consider taking this opportunity to differentiate based on each student’s unique needs and abilities. In other words, you may want to refrain from assigning a specific number of case files for this activity, and instead allow your students to work at their own pace and turn in as many case files as they have time to complete. 
  2. Have your students choose civic actions from this list to make case files for. 
  1. Give the students access to this case file template and walk them through each component of it.
  2. Give the students time to fill out their case files.
  3. When all of the students have finished their case files, compile them; they will need to reference them in a future lesson. 

While your students are filling out their case files, encourage them to reference resources provided by BeACitizen, especially the action guides that correspond to the civic actions they chose.

BeACitizen – Home Page

BeACitizen – Civic Action Guides

They will also likely need to do some internet research.

ASSESSMENT

Grade the students’ case files based on the following criteria:

  • Can the student correctly categorize a civic action by general  “type”? 
  • Can the student break down a civic action into steps?
  • Can the student identify the skills required for a civic action?
  • Can the student identify challenges associated with a specific civic action (both in general and in relation to their personal circumstances)?
  • Can the student identify personal interests that correspond to a specific action?
  • Can the student identify which target audiences are most appropriate for a specific civic action and explain why. 
  • Can the student explain how performing this civic action would represent a fulfillment of their responsibilities as a citizen? And do the student’s answers state (or imply) an adequate definition of what it means to be a good citizen? 
  • Did the student do adequate internet research to be able to fill out their case files?
  • Did the student correctly cite all sources used?