Civic Engagement for Elementary Students

organizing community marches or protests, voting, attending a town hall meeting, or deliberating in sophisticated ways about current events.

understanding the value of diversity in communities, understanding how individuals can use their diverse strengths to benefit their communities, and understanding how citizens can build something meaningful using their different abilities and life histories.

supporting students' ability to solve problems of injustice.

they may not be in a position to engage in activities such as organizing community marches or protests, voting, attending a town hall meeting, or deliberating in sophisticated ways about current events.

they can come to understand the value of diversity in communities, the ways individuals can use their diverse strengths to benefit their communities, and how citizens can build something meaningful using their different abilities and life histories.

Some challenges that teachers face in promoting high-quality discussions in the classroom include lack of preparation, monopolization, weak facilitation skills, and low-quality remarks.

The main idea behind discussions is that something positive can occur when people express their ideas and listen to others.

Some common features of discussions are that it is a dialogue between or among people, involving the exchange of information about a topic, and it is a particular approach to constructing knowledge.

Discussions can enhance participants' knowledge, understanding, appreciation, or judgment by allowing them to exchange information about a common concern.

Some purposes of using discussions include exchanging information about a common concern, enhancing knowledge, understanding, appreciation, or judgment, and constructing knowledge.