Cities in the Classroom - Jeanne Hill

Lesson Title:  Exploring the city Website

SS.7.C.2.3 – Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.

SS.7.C.3.14 – Students will differentiate between local, state, and federal governments’ obligations and services.

LA.7.2.2.1 – The student will locate, use, and analyze information from organizational text features.

Overview

  • This lesson is to familiarize the students with their City’s website and to develop their awareness of all of the resources and information that is available to the residents through this site. 

Objectives

  • Students will demonstrate ability to successfully manipulate through a government website to locate targeted information.
  • Students will demonstrate the higher order thinking skills of evaluation, synthesis, and compare/contrast.
  • Students will be able to identify at least 3 ways they can exercise civic opportunities in their city.
  • Students will at least 6 services the city provides for its citizens.
  • Students will locate the political districts of the city.
  • Students will recognize the political leaders of their city.

Time

  • (2) 45 minute class periods. 

Vocabulary

  • City Commission – a form of municipal government in which officials are elected and in conjunction with the mayor are responsible for the legislative and policy functions of city government.
  • Demographics – the characteristics of human populations and population segments, especially as used in government to distinguish political regions
  • District – political division of a city

Strategies

  • Technology  - Guided independent research or partner research as is appropriate for the class and computer lab setting 
  • Teacher guided whole class discussion

Materials

  • Computer Lab
  • “Exploring the City Website” Worksheet

Potential Role of a Public Official

  • Facilitate a whole class discussion along with the teacher as a wrap up activity

Activity

  1. Have students work independently or assign them to cooperative partners based on computer availability, reading level and technology level of comfort
  2. Activate prior knowledge by leading an opening discussion.  Have students write down as many facts about the city of Deltona as they can in 60 seconds.  Allow them to share with their partner or neighbor and then volunteer some to the class. 
  3. Pass out the “Exploring the City Website” worksheet.  Direct them on signing in on the computers and getting to the correct website to begin their assignment.  Have students work individually or in pairs to complete the assignment.
  4. Closure – Lead a discussion on the results of their search.  Identify new information that they learned about their city, new resources they were now aware of, and how they could continue to use this site in the future.

Extension

  1. Have students read through past city newsletters and summarize lead articles.
  2. Have students prepare a short questionnaire of their own based on the city website and administer it to their parents.
  3. Create a timeline of historic city events or a one year timeline of major city events.

Exploring the City Website

Website Scavenger Hunt

Use the City of Deltona Website www.deltonafl.gov/ to complete the following questions.

  1. What opportunities are available for civic participation by serving on advisory boards?
  2. Identify a volunteer opportunity other than serving on an advisory board that exists through the City.
  3. Identify one community event focusing on kids.
  4. Identify one community event focusing on senior citizens.
  5. Identify one community event focusing on families/whole community.
  6. List the 8 core values that have been adopted by the City of Deltona.
    1. __________________
    2. __________________
    3. __________________
    4. __________________
    5. __________________
    6. __________________
    7. __________________
    8. __________________
  7. What is the name the mayor?
  8. Into how many districts is Deltona divided?
  9. In which district do you live and who is your city commissioner?

10. In which city district is our school located?

11. When is the next city commission meeting?

12. List 3 services the fire department provides other than putting out fires.

  1. ___________________________________
  2. ___________________________________
  3. ___________________________________

13. Which department would you contact if your neighbors were mistreating their dog?

     14. When did Deltona become a city?

     15. City Demographics – What is the present population of Deltona?

     16. Deltona covers approximately _________ square miles.

     17. What was the highest voter turnout for a general election?

     Critical Thinking Questions:

     18. Identify the department you would need to contact if you wanted to build a home in Deltona and explain why you would need this department.

     19. Read the mission statement of the Parks and Recreation Department. Examine all of the Programs, Objectives and Performance Measures. Based on what you find, rank this department on how well they are fulfilling their mission. Base your ranking on scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the best) and defend your response with 2 supporting statements.

                        a. Rank - __________________________

                        b. Supporting Statement #1 - _________________________

                        _________________________________________________

c. Supporting Statement #2 - _________________________
_________________________________________________

     20. Review the summary of the Mackle Brothers Master Plan and the existing land uses and conditions. Create a Venn diagram with 1963 on the left side and Present Day on the right side. Identify 2 facts to place in each section of the diagram.

Lesson Title:  Your City Up-Close and Personal

SS.7.C.2.3 – Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.

SS.7.C.3.14 – The student will differentiate between local, state, and federal governments’ obligations and services.

LA.7.2.2.3 – The student will organize information to show understanding.

LA.7.4.2.2 – The student will record information related to a topic, including visual aids to organize and record information, as appropriate, and attribute sources of information.

Overview

  • The purpose of this lesson is to take the students outside of the classroom and have them engage in real life experiences.  Through these activities the students actively participate in civic opportunities and expand their awareness of the services and opportunities that exist for them as a resident of their city. 

Target Group

  • The target group for this extended lesson is the 7th grade gifted/advanced civics classes.  It can also be appropriate to offer it as a required or optional enhancement opportunity to regular or co-taught classes.   

Objectives

  • Students will create a graphic organizer of city departments.
  • Students will conduct interview with city officials/members of advisory boards.
  • Students will be able to identify at least 3 ways they can exercise civic opportunities in their city.
  • Students will attend and summarize the agenda of a city meeting.
  • Students will experience first-hand 1 of a city supported facility.
  • Students will recognize the political leaders of their city.
  • Students will synthesize information into a final product.

 Time

  • 9 week grading period

Vocabulary

  • City Commission – a form of municipal government in which officials are elected and in conjunction with the mayor are responsible for the legislative and policy functions of city government.
  • City official – a person who holds office, either elected or hired, to serve in a public capacity
  • Public Works – that department which oversees and administrates engineering, fleet maintenance, storm water, water, waste water, and utilities
  • Human Resources – that department that deals with recruiting and maintaining employees and working with collective bargaining agencies.

Strategies

  • Teacher explanation of enhancement activities
  • Technology  - Students will work in a computer lab setting to access the city website in order to create a graphic organizer
  • Group discussion time for planning for students that want to work with a partner for the interview of a city official
  • Periodic benchmarks throughout the grading period to evaluate student progress
  • Teacher guided whole class discussion

Materials

  • Interview, tour, and activity journal
  • Computer lab
  • Construction paper, scissors, glue (scrapbook materials)
  • “Your City Up-Close and Personal” Worksheet

Potential Role of a Public Official

  • Facilitate a whole class discussion along with the teacher as a wrap up activity

Activity

  1. Activate prior knowledge by leading an opening discussion.  Prompt students to brainstorm a list of civic responsibilities and opportunities.
  2. Pass out the “Your City Up-Close and Personal” worksheet.  Explain to them that this lesson is primarily an out of class assignment. It will provide with real life experiences to increase their civic knowledge and involvement.
  3. Discuss the time line they will have to complete the assignment and how to set benchmarks so that they will not fall behind.  Review each of the required activities.
  4. Allow time in the computer lab to use the city website to design a graphic organizer listing each of the city departments and their purpose.
  5. Schedule class time to work on scrapbooks.
  6. Closure – Allow students to share their scrap books with one another at the end of the assignment.

Extension

  • Have students create a museum display of their scrapbooks in the classroom and invite parents in for an open house presentation of the projects.

 

Your City Up-Close and Personal

Directions:

Timeline – 9 week grading period with benchmarks every 2 weeks to report progress.

Complete each of the following activities.  #1 will be scheduled in the computer lab. Students will be responsible for scheduling the out-of- class activities. 

Take pictures when appropriate and save agendas, brochures, etc for your scrapbook.

Class time will be provided to assemble the final product.

Activities:

  1. Create a graphic organizer showing each of the city departments and the main purpose of each.  Use the city of Deltona website. www.deltonafl.gov/
  2. Interview a city official or advisory board member.  Prepare 10 questions and have them approved by the teacher prior to the interview. 
  3. Attend one City Commission meeting, Advisory Meeting, or Community Workshop and write about your experience.
  4. Attend one City Social Event – Farmer’s Market, music program, holiday event, movie, dance, major sports event, etc. Write a critique of the event.
  5. Take a tour of one of the following – water facility, guided park tour, fire department. Deign a brochure or picture encouraging others to visit this location.
  6. Send an email to your City Commissioner with a question, comment or suggestion. Print out a copy of your email and the reply you receive.

Final Product – Alternative Assessment

Create a scrapbook of your experiences completing the above activities.  Include your graphic organizer.  Dedicate at least one full page to each of the activities that were completed.  Along with your writings, include any pamphlets, minutes, pictures, and other information that you have collected.