Social Studies Foundation: 5 - Citizenship

Topic: SS5.1 - Demonstrate awareness of citizenship

Citizenship involves not only meeting the legal requirements of a government, but also obeying laws, participating in and contributing to the community. Members of society have duties, obligations, and functions as citizens. When children have an awareness of citizenship, they are more likely to look out for their own well-being while also considering the needs and feelings of others.

The development of awareness of citizenship leads to:
*Thinking and communicating
*Problem solving and critical reasoning
*Decision making and consensus building skills
*Character building
*Becoming active, responsible citizens
*Cultivating cooperation and collaboration skills

Looking Ahead to Kindergarten	Family Engagement	Special Populations
Kindergartners will be expected to give examples of how to be a responsible family member and member of a group (K.2.4).	Encourage families to: Work as a family to create or talk about family respect/rules (e.g.”We take our own dishes to the sink after dinner. It makes clean-up easier and faster!"). Volunteer in the local community and/or provide support to neighbors in need when possible. Take child to polling place when voting, as time and crowding permits. (e.g. Primary Election in May). Provide their child choices when appropriate (e.g. “Do you want spaghetti or tacos for dinner?”).	Educators can: Acknowledge and respond to verbal and non-verbal cues. Encourage and support the use of visual supports. *Intentionally focus on and promote the strengths and uniqueness of individuals with varying abilities.

Looking Ahead to Kindergarten

Family Engagement

Special Populations

Kindergartners will be expected to give examples of how to be a responsible family member and member of a group (K.2.4).

Encourage families to:

*Work as a family to create or talk about family respect/rules (e.g.”We take our own dishes to the sink after dinner. It makes clean-up easier and faster!").
*Volunteer in the local community and/or provide support to neighbors in need when possible.
*Take child to polling place when voting, as time and crowding permits. (e.g. Primary Election in May).
*Provide their child choices when appropriate (e.g. “Do you want spaghetti or tacos for dinner?”).

Educators can:

*Acknowledge and respond to verbal and non-verbal cues.
*Encourage and support the use of visual supports.
*Intentionally focus on and promote the strengths and uniqueness of individuals with varying abilities.

Powerful Practices
Across all developmental stages, educators can: Through intentional planning, provide choices that are safe and inviting for young children. Provide a clean, safe, and inviting environment with developmentally appropriate choices, boundaries, and expectations.
Infant
Create supportive and nurturing environment for infant (e.g. talk in soothing voice) Respond to infant’s needs (e.g. pick up infant when crying. Talk to infant when she smiles at you.) Speak about what the infants are doing (e.g. “Ava has the red ball. Malik threw the green ball and laughed!”)
Younger Toddler
Perform and verbalize day-to-day routines and responsibilities for child to observe and imitate Use descriptive vocabulary to identify actions
Older Toddler
Encourage child to complete simple tasks and routines with adult support Model and assist child with performing prosocial daily tasks (e.g. using gentle touches with peers) Give each child the opportunity to make choices
Younger Preschool
Provide opportunity for child to participate in daily routines and responsibilities (e.g asking a child to assist with sorting/preparing materials for an activity) Offer simple tasks for child to perform (e.g. “jobs” within the program) Offer child choices whenever possible Provide opportunities for child to vote on decisions that are meaningful to them
Older Preschool
Provide opportunity for child to participate in daily routines and responsibilities (e.g asking a child to assist with sorting/preparing materials for an activity) Provide time for children to work on projects and play collaboratively Create an environment that supports cooperative play Provide opportunities for child to vote and discuss the outcome and develop a plan to implement the result

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