8.04 United We Stand

8.04 and 8.05

United We Stand

Together We Are Stronger

What do you think people and the local government could do to deal with the problems

• Voting

• Recycling

• Conservation

• Petitioning

State the Problem

All states have problems that need to be solved. These vary depending on a state’s location, climate, population, and economy. Some of these problems can be dealt with or solved at the state level. Others need people from all levels of government to work together.

Do you think these problems are unique to each state?

Poll

Do you think these problems are unique to each state?

• Yes

• No

What people do to help solve problems:

• Public service

• Voting

• Volunteerism

Public Service

Public service includes elected officials like house representatives, senators, and mayors. Public service also includes non-elected jobs. These can include educators, scientists, and police officers.

Voting

Adult American citizens can choose officials who will represent them in government. These officials work to protect the various interests of the people of the country. When you are old enough, you will be able to vote. You can choose someone who will work to find solutions to problems important to the community.

Volunteerism

Volunteerism is the giving of your time to help others in the community.

Example: When an area gets hit by a hurricane, many people volunteer their time to make things better. They volunteer to clean up, rebuild homes and businesses, and distribute food and clothing.

Multiple Select

How can people help solve problems?

• votunteer

• vote

• do public service

• make friends

THINK ABOUT IT AND SHARE

Have you volunteered in your community? If so, how did you help?

Making a difference

When people care about an issue, they can choose to do something about it. A key part of finding a solution or improving things is working with others. Public service, voting, and volunteerism are all things that include the community. Together, people can make a difference. 

Is voting important?

Each citizen can only vote once per election, but that one vote influences who will represent them in government. Voting is a powerful way to be engaged in the community. It shows how important certain issues are.

Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson was a marine biologist and conservationist from Pennsylvania. She studied the effects of environmental pollution on sea animals and wrote many books.  Carson's work influenced many conservation projects. It also inspired lawmakers to make laws about protecting the environment.

John McCain

John McCain was a United States Senator from the state of Arizona. He worked with his colleagues and his constituents to protect the interests of Native Americans.

Barbara Jordan

Barbara Jordan was a United States Representative from Texas. After she stopped serving in the House of Representatives, she worked to better education for public officials. She also advised the Texas governor and lawmakers on issues like immigration.

Multiple Choice

Who am I?

-I was a marine biologist.

-I wrote many books about sea life.

-My work inspired many conservation projects.

-I inspired lawmakers to make laws to protect the environment

• Rachel Carson

• John McCain

• Barbara Jordan

• Abe Lincoln

Multiple Choice

What am I?

-You must be an adult American citizen to do this in the United States.

-People do this to show what issues are important to them.

-I am something people do to choose government officials.

-This happens during elections.

• walking

• flying

• voting

• talking

Multiple Choice

What am I?

-After hurricanes, people use me to help rebuild homes.

-I want to help the community.

-Every little bit helps.

-I give up my time to help others.

• Tourism

• Volunteerism

• Farming

• Construction

Civic Virtues

A good citizen is someone who is a member of a state or country who makes the right decisions and acts in the right ways. In other words, a good citizen is someone who has civic virtues. Civic virtues are important at the local, state, and national levels of government.

Civic virtues include

• integrity (having trustworthy, honest, and fair qualities and actions)

• respect for the law

• respect for the rights of all individuals

• civic involvement

• compassion

• patriotism (support for one's own nation)

What did we learn?

There are many issues that affect the daily lives of people. When there are problems, citizens can work together to influence government and to help find solutions. Good citizens demonstrate civic virtues. Sometimes, rules and laws are created to solve problems. Many of these are created to keep us safe and healthy.  

Multiple Choice

Which of these is an example of a civic virtue?

• Stealing

• Cheating

• Lying

• Integrity