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Spatial / Chronological Thinking
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Read a newspaper article and underline the sources of information.
See if these sources are attributable to an individual or if they
are vague (e.g. "a high government official").
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Examine statistics on voter registration.
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Examine political ads to find common components (e.g., short, dramatic,
etc.).
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Track five common economic indicators over month's period.
v Follow a stock over a month's period.
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Analyze ads to see what audiences are targeted by the producers
of the product.
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Collect newspaper articles on the disparity of income distribution
as it affects health and education.
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Read accounts of Pul]man Porters to see how unions organize.
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2.
Examining Evidence
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Debate any bill pending in Congress from different political perspectives.
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Investigate a variety of interest groups' opinions on welfare reform
and write a position paper stating your own view.
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Hold a Congressional hearing on NAFTA or most-favored-nation status
and represent different points of view at the hearing.
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Simulate a labor negotiation.
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Stage a debate between Karl Marx and Adam Smith on the topic, "Is
Profit a Good Idea?
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Read newspaper accounts and speeches of both sides of the bilingual
education debate.
• Study
pro/con ballot arguments on Indian casino gambling.
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Debate whether the Constitution should be changed to give the
President the power to declare war.
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3.
Diversity : Multiple Perspectives
• Read
a court opinion and decide if it is an example of judicial activism
or judicial restraint.
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Read a court case on the 14th Amendment and write your own interpretation
of the Constitution in regard to the case.
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Act out the role of a City Council member and make a decision on
requests for. permits in your city (for example, a request for a
Nazi demonstration or a request for a rock concert late at night).
Justify your decision on the basis of the 1st Amendment.
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Put former President Nixon or Johnson on trial for abuse of executive
power.
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Look at a series of graphs and charts of socioeconomic indicators
(health care, education, unemployment, cost of housing, per-capita
income) and write an interpretation of what these statistics mean
for a family of four.
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4.
Historical Interpretation
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Write an essay on the meaning and significance of "equal protection
under the law".
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Explain how Brown v.. Board of Education impacted American society.
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Write an essay stating which President between 1932 and today had
the greatest impact on the United States
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Have a roundtable discussion answering the. question, "How
significant are political parties today?"
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Read three accounts of an economic event (e.g., the Great Depression)
and compare similarities and differences.
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Research the ruling on Lau v. Nichols and write an essay
discussing its impact American education.
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Do research on the political and economic impact of the changing
population of California between 1975 and today.
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5
Determining Historical/ Geographical Significance
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Develop a plan to increase voter registration.
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Volunteer for a local candidate.
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Participate in a mock trial, a moot court or a "We the people"
competition.
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Learn how to fill out a voter registration form.
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Track an issue in the media and make a class presentation.
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Write a letter to your Congresswoman.
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Attend a school board meeting.
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Volunteer with a community agency to improve literacy in Oakland.
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Write a personal response to president Kennedy's statement,"
Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do
for your country."
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