Lesson Plan: Common Knowledge

Rationale: To encourage students to think creatively about the process of immigration in very concrete terms by exploring questions asked to prospective citizens; to challenge students to develop their own questions which reflect their interests and values.

Materials: Pencil, paper, questions listed below.

Timeframe: three hours for research, group discussion, and individual students writing new questions.

Methods: This exercise is in two parts.

A) What do we all know? Begin by discussing the kinds of information that new immigrants are expected to know about this country, based on questions asked during the immigration process. How many of these questions can your students answer without help? How many can YOU answer immediately? Groups of students can take an informal survey among other classes or staff at the school or even their parents to find out how much of this information is common knowledge among American citizens. Encourage students to identify where they can find answers to these questions at the local library or online.

B) What should we all know? Challenge your class to come up with their own questions. What do they think new citizens - or all citizens - should know about their own country? Encourage students to share their ideas with each other.

SO WHAT DO YOU KNOW:

1. Can you name 4 of the original colonies?
2. What is the Declaration of Independence?
3. Name one idea in the Declaration of Independence.
4. Who was the first President of the United States?
5. Who was the President of the United States during the US Civil War?
6. What was the Emancipation Proclamation?
7. What were two (2) important differences between the North and the South before the United States Civil War?
8. What group of people was helped by the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution?
9. Name one of the main principles of the Constitution.
10. How can we change the Constitution?
11. What are the three (3) branches of the government?
12. Name one qualification to be President.
13. What is the Cabinet?
14. What does the Cabinet do?
15. Where does the Congress meet?
16. How many Senators are in Congress?
17. Who is your Representative to Congress?
18. How many branches are in the state governments?
19. Who is the head of your local government?
20. Why did people originally come to the New World?

SO WHAT NOW??
Where would you find answers to these questions online? Give two suggestions:

 

 

BUT WHAT ABOUT…??
These are just a sample of questions that people applying for citizenship must be able to answer. What questions would YOU ask?