Learners

This lesson is designed for a secondary United States Government class, however, because of the depth and expanse of the topic of civil disobedience, it could also be applied to a History or English class. Given the complexity of the lesson, it could be implemented in a high school setting or, with adaptations to provide greater student support, a middle school Social Studies classroom.

Prior to the implementation of this activity, students must be familiar with the concept of resistance and how it has instigated change throughout modern history; a basic knowledge of social and political movements, such as the Civil Rights and Women’s Suffrage Movements, is also helpful.  A general understanding of the conflicts between individual liberties and the public interest, especially as it applied to the passage and enforcement of legislation, is likewise important in order to provide context.  In order to complete the assignment, students must be able to engage in critical thinking in determining which method of resistance is most effective.  In addition, students must also possess a variety of fundamental research skills, including the analysis of information as provided via primary and secondary sources and knowledge of basic Internet usage and search techniques.  Finally, students must be able to present their project through either oral communication or persuasive and analytical writing.