1. Immigration and Citizenship
Lesson Seven: Becoming an American

2. Objective
Students will understand the idea of a citizen as being a member of a country who has certain rights and responsibilities.
Students will recognize our national motto, “e pluribus unum,” as meaning “out of many, one” and as being descriptive of our country.
To able to explain the benefits of being a U.S. citizen

3. Vocabulary Citizen – a person who is a legal member of a country
Naturalization – becoming a citizen of another country, even though a person was not born in that country

4. Immigrants can become United States citizens, too, if they want to.
Once the immigrants got settled in America, they were eager to begin the steps to become full “members” of our country, to become Americans. A person who is a legal member of a country is called a “citizen.” How can people prove that they are born in the United States? (Birth Certificates)
How do you get to be an American Citizen? If you are born in the United States, you are automatically a citizen of this country. But you don’t have to be born here to be a citizen.
Immigrants can become United States citizens, too, if they want to.
Read Becoming a Citizen from What Your Second Grader Needs to Know (Revised Edition), by E.D. Hirsch, Jr. PAGE 236
How can people prove that they are born in the United States? (Birth Certificates)

5. So you want to become a citizen?
Becoming a Citizen
You must take a test on American history and government
After passing the test, you make a pledge to be loyal to the United States
Now, you are an United States Citizen
So you want to become a citizen?
First you have to live in the Unites States for 5 years
During that time you have to obey the law and pay taxes

6. Responsibilities of a Citizen
As a citizen of the United states you have certain rights and responsibilities. For example
All adult Americans citizens have the right to vote
All citizens have the responsibility to obey the law and pay taxes.

7. Take the Test
Take the citizenship test and see if you can pass.

8. Review What are the steps you need to take to become a citizen?
First you have to live in the Unites States for 5 years
During that time you have to obey the law and pay taxes
You must take a test on American history and government
After passing the test, you make a pledge to be loyal to the United States

9. Being a Good Citizen Video on the book Being a Good Citizen