Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Concept of Citizenship

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The objectives stage is crucial to establish a clear foundation of what students should achieve by the end of the lesson. At this stage, the teacher guides students to understand the importance of rights and duties in everyday life, in addition to exploring how these concepts shape and are shaped by social changes. This initial clarity helps direct the subsequent discussions and activities, ensuring that all efforts are aligned with the desired learning outcomes.

Main Objectives:

1. Explore how rights and duties are fundamental in the life of a Brazilian citizen, highlighting practical and relevant examples for the students.

2. Understand and discuss the social transformations occurring in society through the lens of rights and duties, and how these aspects relate to citizenship.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage critical reflection on the individual role in building a fairer and more equitable society.
2. Foster a sense of responsibility and belonging to the local and national community.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students and connect the content they studied at home with practical and current situations. The proposed problem situations encourage students to think critically about how to apply citizenship concepts in real contexts. The contextualization helps see the relevance of the topic in everyday life, increasing students' interest and understanding of how citizenship manifests and can be improved at different scales.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are a mayor for a day. What would be the first measures you would take to improve citizenship and respect for citizens' rights in your city?

2. Think of a scenario where a new law is passed that prohibits the use of disposable plastics. What would be the responsibilities of citizens and the government to ensure this law is enforced and that the transition to more sustainable materials is effective?

Contextualization

To understand citizenship, it is important to look around and see how our actions and those of others affect our community and the country. For example, the right to vote, which is one of the pillars of citizenship, allows us to choose representatives who will decide on laws that affect everyone. Additionally, recently, the focus on disposable plastic use in Brazil has increased, showing how awareness and citizen participation can lead to significant changes in the country's policies and practices.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

The development stage is designed to allow students to practically and creatively apply concepts of citizenship, rights, and duties in fictional and real scenarios. By working in groups, they not only deepen their understanding of the content but also develop communication, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. Through the proposed activities, students are challenged to think of solutions to social problems, promoting a sense of individual and collective responsibility.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Citizen City

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Apply the concepts of citizenship and citizen rights in practice, developing teamwork and creativity skills.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people, and each group will receive an area of the classroom to transform into a 'mini city'. They will need to plan and build a model representing an ideal community, considering aspects such as public spaces, residential zones, recreation areas, and essential services. Each group must discuss and decide how the principles of citizenship and the rights and duties of citizens would be applied in their model city.

- Instructions:

• Divide the room into groups of up to 5 students.

• Choose a 'mayor' and a 'vice-mayor' for each group.

• Draw the city plan on paper, considering the different proposed sectors.

• Build the model using materials such as cardboard, sticks, glue, and paints.

• Present the model to the class, explaining the choices made and how the concepts of citizenship were applied in the model city.

Activity 2 - Law and Order: A New City

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand and apply in practice the laws that underpin citizenship, promoting a sense of responsibility and active participation.

- Description: In this activity, students will create a set of laws for a fictional city. The task is divided into two main stages: in the first, the groups will discuss and list the basic rights and duties they consider essential for community life; in the second, they will create posters representing these laws, using creativity and clear, accessible language for everyone.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of no more than 5 participants.

• Discuss and list essential rights and duties for a healthy community.

• Choose the three most important rights and duties for the fictional city.

• Create posters that represent these laws in a clear and creative way.

• Present the posters to the class, explaining the reasoning behind each choice.

Activity 3 - Rights Detectives

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop argumentation skills and understanding of rights and duties, in addition to promoting teamwork.

- Description: Students, grouped together, will take on the role of 'Rights Detectives'. They will receive fictional cases where rights of citizenship are disrespected and must investigate how to resolve each situation, using laws and principles of citizenship. The activity will culminate in the presentation of the solutions found to the class.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute the fictional cases to each group.

• Groups should discuss and investigate how the rights of the characters can be defended.

• Prepare a presentation that includes the case description, the violated rights, and the proposed solutions.

• Present the solutions to the class, which can discuss and evaluate the proposals.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to allow students to reflect and articulate what they learned during the practical activities. Group discussion helps consolidate knowledge, allowing students to see different perspectives and approaches. Additionally, by sharing their experiences, students can learn from each other and gain a deeper and richer understanding of the impact of rights and duties in society.

Group Discussion

At the end of the activities, organize a group discussion session with all the students. Start the discussion with a brief review of the lesson objectives and ask how each group applied the concepts of citizenship, rights, and duties in their creations and solutions. Encourage students to share discoveries and challenges encountered during the activities. It may also be asked for each group to highlight one strength and one area for improvement in their creations.

Key Questions

1. What were the main challenges in applying the concepts of citizenship in your activities?

2. How can understanding rights and duties help build a fairer society?

3. Was there any aspect of the activities that changed your view on the role of the citizen in society?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the conclusion is to consolidate learning, ensuring that students have a clear and integrated understanding of the concepts discussed during the lesson. This moment also serves to reinforce the relevance of the theme of citizenship in students' lives and in society in general, encouraging them to apply the knowledge acquired in their own lives and communities.

Summary

To conclude the lesson, the teacher should summarize the main topics discussed about citizenship, rights, and duties of citizens. It is crucial to reinforce students' understanding of how these concepts apply in different contexts, both in practical activities and in everyday examples.

Theory Connection

During the lesson, the connection between theory and practice was established through activities that simulate real situations and that require the application of the concepts learned about citizenship. This approach not only facilitates students' understanding but also prepares them to think critically and act according to their rights and duties in their own communities.

Closing

Finally, the teacher should emphasize the importance of active citizenship in everyday life, highlighting how knowledge and practice of individual rights and duties contribute to building a fairer and more equitable society. This final reflection helps students understand the impact of their actions and choices in the community.