Today we reviewed what we've been focusing on this week and tackled three of our focus questions:
What is the American Dream?
What are the core principles of American government as embodied in the Declaration of Independence?
What is the role of the citizen and civic engagement inf the American political system today?

START UP - Page 34 (top half) - Type 1
In your opinion, what is the "American Dream" today? (5+ lines)

ACTIVITY - Page 35, 36, 37.
Page 35 - Top 1/2 - Gather notes from your classmates as we did a class brainstorm of what we think the American Dream is today.

Page 35 - Bottom 1/2 - Watch the two videos below, 1) Defining The American Dream and 2) Save the American Dream, and answer the question: Which video do you agree with or relate to the most? Why? (Pull three specific things said in the video to support your opinion.)

Click on Video 1:   Defining the American Dream

Watch Video 2 Below:       Save the American Dream

Page 36 - Top 1/2 - Dive back into your Declaration of Independence notes from yesterday (on page 33) and pull out at least three-five core principles of American government (as in, what does or should our government stand for that we can find in this document?) Focus on the preamble and conclusion.

Page 36 - Bottom 1/2 - Type 2 -Answer: What are the core principles of American government as embodied in the Declaration of Independence? (Need to site at least three and use one quote from the Declaration of Independence).


Page 37 - Top 1/2 - As a class brainstorm what "Civic Engagement" means.

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(We did not finish our work on 37 or our reflection and will wrap up tomorrow.)


Please make sure to get the following two terms in your glossary today:
American Dream:  n. The traditional social ideals of the U.S., such as equality, democracy,  
            and material prosperity.

Civic Engagement: Working to make a difference in our communities and developing the  combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political process.