Beltane: Civics – Government, Rights & Responsibilities
5th Principle: Right of conscience and democratic process
🏛️ Unit Overview
As Beltane celebrates community, we explore American democracy and citizenship. Students study the Constitution, Bill of Rights, expanding suffrage, and the electoral process while completing Algebra II and Physics reviews.
🎯 Learning Goals
- • Understand federal, state, local government
- • Analyze Constitution and Bill of Rights
- • Explore citizenship rights and responsibilities
- • Examine electoral process
- • Complete polynomials and rational functions
Weekly Lessons
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Beltane; community and democracy
📖 Language Arts
Common Sense by Thomas Paine; persuasive writing
📐 Math
Polynomial functions; end behavior
⚡ Science
Physics: review of mechanics
🏛️ History
Enlightenment, Constitution, foundations of government
🎨 Art
Political art; propaganda analysis
🏃 Movement
Community building activities
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Balance of power; checks and balances
📖 Language Arts
Federalist Papers excerpts; argumentative writing
📐 Math
Factoring polynomials; GCF and grouping
⚡ Science
Physics: review of thermodynamics
🏛️ History
Three branches of government; federalism
🎨 Art
Constitutional calligraphy
🏃 Movement
Debate and discussion
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Rights vs. community responsibility
📖 Language Arts
Court opinions; legal writing analysis
📐 Math
Polynomial division; long and synthetic
⚡ Science
Physics: review of waves and optics
🏛️ History
First ten amendments; landmark court cases
🎨 Art
Rights-themed art
🏃 Movement
Mock trial activities
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Progress and justice; expanding the circle
📖 Language Arts
Sojourner Truth; civil rights speeches
📐 Math
Rational functions; domain and asymptotes
⚡ Science
Physics: review of electricity
🏛️ History
13th-26th Amendments; expanding suffrage
🎨 Art
Progress poster design
🏃 Movement
March simulation
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Voting power; democratic process
📖 Language Arts
Political speeches; rhetorical analysis
📐 Math
Rational equations; solving and checking
⚡ Science
Physics: comprehensive review
🏛️ History
Electoral College; political parties; campaigns
🎨 Art
Campaign poster design
🏃 Movement
Mock election
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Local impact; decisions close to home
📖 Language Arts
Local news analysis; op-eds on community issues
📐 Math
Review of rational expressions; complex fractions
⚡ Science
Physics: applications and connections
🏛️ History
State constitutions; governors; local government; Florida structure
🎨 Art
Community mapping
🏃 Movement
Attend or watch a local government meeting
🕯️ Hearth Circle
What kind of citizen will you be? Reflecting on the year
📖 Language Arts
Student choice: speech or essay on civic engagement
📐 Math
Algebra II comprehensive review; PERT/SAT practice
⚡ Science
Year-end physics synthesis
🏛️ History
Responsibilities of citizenship; jury duty; community service
🎨 Art
Portfolio review; year-end showcase
🏃 Movement
Celebration of learning