Foldenauer 1

Citizenship Lesson
Eight Grade Social Studies: U.S History Beginning to 1877
Michigan Curriculum Framework Content Standards and Benchmarks:
U3 USHG ERA 3- Revolution and the New Nation
Public Discourse, Decision Making, and Citizen Involvement (P3, P4)
Unit Outcome:
U3.3 Creating New Government(s) and a New Constitution
P4.2 Citizen Involvement: Act constructively to further the public good.
Lesson Outcome:
8 U3.3.3 Describe the major issues debated at the Constitutional Convention
including the distribution of political power, conduct of foreign affairs, rights of
individuals, rights of states, election of the executive, and slavery as a regional and
federal issue.
The Learner Will

Learn key definition terms to help gain an understanding of citizenship

Understand the basic requirements for the people to become U.S citizens

Develop a logical understanding of the mandatory and optional duties of an

U.S citizen.

Purpose for Lesson:

It is important for students at this age to begin to understand what it truly means to be
an U.S citizen. Many people on this earth have the dream of becoming an American
citizen and it is important for many of these students to learn how lucky they were to
be born in the U.S. Also this lesson is important because it will teach the students
how they can become an active citizen which is essential to a representative
democracy like the U.S
At the beginning of the lesson, the students will be asked what they think the
duties/responsibilities of a U.S citizen are. They will form a list of these individually
and then come together as a class to share a few thoughts they have on them

Some students may know that Men at the age of eighteen have to enlist in the
selective service, the teacher may at this time ask the students if they think

Foldenauer 2
this is right or if they think that all citizens should be required to serve, like
other countries do
Following the procedure, students will be given a list of what the duties of a U.S
citizen are and they will need to go over these duties and determine if they agree or
disagree with them and why in 1-2 sentences. If they do not finish it before class ends
they can take it home and complete it as homework.
Materials needed:
Students will need to have a writing utensil and notebook to record their ideas on
what duties U.S citizens have and the outline of the PowerPoint they will have for the
lesson
Citizenship statistic sheet
PowerPoint titled: Chapter 6.3 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
U.S Citizen Duties sheet
Introduction:
The students know that they need to be in their seats before the final bell rings for
class to begin.

Following this, attendance will be taken on the computer

After settling the students down and the students will be told that they will be
learning about the basics of citizenship and will be read a list of statistics on
citizenship and illegal immigration
Next the students will be asked to make come up with a few ideas on what they think
the duties of an U.S citizen are individually. After three minutes students who are
called on can present their ideas and it will be recorded on the board
Procedure:
Following this the PowerPoint presentation titled Chapter 6.3 Rights and
Responsibilities of Citizenship will be presented

During this lecture, students will called on to read each bullet

This will give the students the responsibility to teach the class, while I
facilitate it for learning

Once the PowerPoint is complete the students will be given the U.S Citizen Duties
sheet

Foldenauer 3

This sheet further tells the students what the duties of a U.S citizen are and
with this, the students will provide a short and logical explanation on if they
agree or disagree with each of these duties.

Homework:
If the students do not complete the U.S Citizen Duties assignment then they will be
able to take it home for homework.
Closure:
Students will be given to the end of the class period to finish their work, but if they it
appears that everyone is done with their work and nobody has it for homework, then I
will have a final question for the students to write about. The question is, Is citizen
participation important and why? This would serve as a good exit slip question if
necessary.

Foldenauer 4
Citizenship Statistics
Each year, USCIS welcomes approximately 680,000 citizens during naturalization
ceremonies across the United States and around the world.
In Fiscal Year of 2013, 75 percent of all persons naturalizing resided in 10 states (in
descending order): California, New York, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Virginia,
Massachusetts, Georgia and Pennsylvania. [1]
In FY 2013, 75 percent of all persons naturalizing resided in 10 states (in descending order):
California, New York, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Virginia, Massachusetts, Georgia
and Pennsylvania. [1]
Since Oct. 1, 2002, USCIS has naturalized 102,266 members of the military, with 11,548 of
those service members becoming citizens during USCIS naturalization ceremonies in 34
foreign countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Bahrain, China (Hong Kong), Cuba
(Guantanamo), Djibouti, El Salvador, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland,
Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya,
Mexico, the Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
and the United Kingdom.
Since the beginning of fiscal year 2008, USCIS has naturalized 2,318 military spouses during
ceremonies in the following 30 countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Chile,
Cuba, China (Hong Kong), El Salvador, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Norway, Oman, Panama, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South
Korea, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
Since Oct. 1, 2002, USCIS has naturalized 102,266 members of the military, with 11,548 of
those service members becoming citizens during USCIS naturalization ceremonies in 34
foreign countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Bahrain, China (Hong Kong), Cuba
(Guantanamo), Djibouti, El Salvador, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland,
Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya,
Mexico, the Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
and the United Kingdom.
Since the beginning of fiscal year 2008, USCIS has naturalized 2,318 military spouses
during ceremonies in the following 30 countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Bulgaria,
Chile, Cuba, China (Hong Kong), El Salvador, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Norway, Oman, Panama, the Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United
Arab Emirates.
There was 11.3 Million Illegal immigrants in the U.S in 2014
o That makes up 3.5% of the population
o Mexicans make up almost half of this population (49%)
Six states make up at least 60% of the total population
o California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois

Foldenauer 5
Name: _______________________________
Hour: _____________
U.S Citizens Duties Activity
Directions: You will now determine what you think of the mandatory and optional duties
of an U.S citizen. In 2-3 sentences for each duty, explain why you logically either disagree
or agree with them. So of them may be obvious like obeying laws and paying taxes, but in
those regards do you agree with all the laws and if you dont what could you do (Legally) if
you did not support them
Mandatory- Obeying Laws:

Mandatory-Paying Taxes:

Mandatory-(Males Only) Registering for Selective Service:

Mandatory-Jury Duty:

Foldenauer 6

Optional: Voting: