1. Wanted: Good Citizens! How do you participate?
Define the term “citizen”…(SS.7.C.2.1)
Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels (SS.7.C.2.3)
How do you participate?

2. Write this down on a blank sheet of paper:
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” - President John F. Kennedy What does this quote mean to you?

3. What are the qualities of a “good citizen” in your opinion?
Characteristics?
Actions?
Some answers might include someone who: is honest, cares about their community, volunteers in the community, helps others, donates items to those in need, etc. Explore different kinds of civic participation with the students – student might include actions such as voting, running for political office, and other avenues of civic participation.
What are the qualities of a “good citizen” in your opinion?

4. What kinds of citizen participation are there?
Problem Solving Citizen Community Oriented Citizen Personally Responsible Citizen Inactive Citizen
Tell students that we will be examining citizen participation using a ladder as an example: the higher on the ladder you climb, the more involved you are as a citizen.

5. Inactive Citizen Description: Sample Action:
Is not involved in his or her community, does not vote
Sample Action:
Does not participate in civic affairs, complains about government

6. Personally Responsible Citizen
Description:
Acts responsibly in his/her community and works individually to contribute to the community. While they are contributing to a group effort, they are not organizing that group effort.
Sample Action:
Contributes food to a food drive, works and pays taxes, obeys laws, recycles, gives blood, volunteers to lend a hand in times of crises, votes
Inactive
Citizen

7. Community Oriented Citizens
Description:
She/he organizes community efforts to solve problems and assumes leadership positions in these efforts.
Sample Action:
Helps to organize a food drive
Personally Responsible Citizen
Inactive
Citizen

8. Problem Solving Citizens
Description:
She or he researches problems in the community and develops strategies for change. This person seeks out and addresses social problems, knows about social movements and how to effect systematic change, monitors and influences government, and produced works to change public policy.
Sample Action:
Explores why people are hungry and acts to solve root causes through passing legislation
Community Oriented Citizen
Personally Responsible Citizen
Inactive
Citizen

9. Test Your Citizen Knowledge!
Each slide is going to have an example of citizen action. It’s your job to decide what kind of citizen is being described. Once you all make your decision, click on the citizen title to see if you are correct!
Good luck!

10. Personally Responsible Citizen
Jessica loves animals and has organized a fundraiser to aid a local animal shelter in their adoption campaign. 150 people attended her fundraiser raising over $5000 dollars to help the shelter.
Inactive Citizen
Personally Responsible Citizen
Community Oriented
Citizen
Problem
Solving
Citizen

11. Personally Responsible Citizen
Ricky hates the new policy in his community restricting how loud you can play music while driving. He thinks the policy is unnecessary and unfair. He complains about it constantly to all his friends.
Inactive Citizen
Personally Responsible Citizen
Community Oriented
Citizen
Problem
Solving
Citizen

12. Personally Responsible Citizen
Sandy is really upset about all of the juvenile crime that has been going on in her community. Through research, she discovered that the cause of the recent crime increase is that the city recently closed 3 community centers for kids, leading to them not having a place to hang out. She has created a petition, and has a meeting to present to the City Council about why these centers need to be re-opened in the community.
Inactive Citizen
Personally Responsible Citizen
Community Oriented
Citizen
Problem
Solving
Citizen

13. Personally Responsible Citizen
Brian’s community was recently hit by a major hurricane. He has been working very hard to clean up his house. He is also assisting his neighbors during this difficult time by volunteering to hand out food and clothes to those who lost their homes.
Incorrect!
Inactive Citizen
Personally Responsible Citizen
Community Oriented
Citizen
Problem
Solving
Citizen

14. Personally Responsible Citizen
Tammy loves to run. She has decided to start a local running group for kids in her neighborhood who are at risk for getting involved in gang activity. She sets up the weekly running schedule, organizes the different run groups, and publicizes the running group in her community.
Inactive Citizen
Personally Responsible Citizen
Community Oriented
Citizen
Problem
Solving
Citizen

15. Personally Responsible Citizen
Jake watches the news every morning before he goes to work. He hears all about the upcoming presidential candidates. He does not care for any of the candidates, so he has decided not to vote.
Inactive Citizen
Personally Responsible Citizen
Community Oriented
Citizen
Problem
Solving
Citizen

16. Personally Responsible Citizen
Mrs. Anderson’s 7th grade class is concerned about the number of kids in the state that are obese. Through research, they have found that many students don’t get enough physical activity during the day. They are working with their school board to get more time allocated to the physical education programs in schools in their community.
Inactive Citizen
Personally Responsible Citizen
Community Oriented
Citizen
Problem
Solving
Citizen