Fire It Up!

This presentation represents a carefully constructed collection of

graphic images designed to help K-12 students deeply understand and

connect the Core Democratic Values of American society.

By tapping into the Visual/Spatial intelligence, more students can build associations that will help them truly

understand complexities and interrelationships among our Core

Democratic Values.

Dendrites, Axons, and Nerve Cell bodies

Where memory and thinking occurs in the nervous system

Studies now say that over 60% of K-12 students are Visual/Spatial learners or processors. Because of the many pictures and images they have been exposed to from early on, they are a generation whose brains are more well developed in this area than many adults.

As educators, we need to give them more ‘visual cueings’ that will trigger the Visual/Spatial memory system. If we expect students to deeply understand Core Democratic Values, we can help them develop new visual cues to pair with the Language cues they have already developed. This gives them two cueing systems to help retrieve information from their memories.

Adding Body/Kinesthetic cues, such as with CDV Lego building, can provide even deeper understanding and reach even more students.

• as visual flash cards for practice and skill building

• as assessments to check mastery

• for warm-ups or cool-downs to encourage writing skills

and making connections between CDV’s

• combine with Lego building Core Democratic Value activity to add Body/Kinesthetic Intelligence

• import these visual CDV images into your own or student presentations

•

For each graphic image, a suggested list of primary and related Core Democratic Values appears under the “Add Notes” section. There are interesting and varied “answers” that are acceptable for each image.

You or your students may suggest alternate Core Democratic Values that come to mind that definitely have a connection to the visual image. These should be encouraged and supported to the extent that they help students understand the connections, complexities, and overlap between and among the Core Democratic Values.

Contributors:Liz Chala, Cyndi Neal, Kristi Horan, Phillips Elementary School,

Norma Shunta, McLaughlin Elementary School

Ken Horn, Muskegon Area Intermediate School District

Editors:John Noling, Steele Middle School

Jan Pascavis, McLaughlin Elementary School

If you have any suggestions that could improve this learning resource for teachers or students, including

new graphic images or classroom uses, please contact:

John Noling, Social Studies CurriculumConsultant

Office of Academic Excellence

Steele Middle School

1150 Amity Ave

Muskegon, Michigan, 49442

Phone: (231) 720-3026

Email: jnoling@muskegon.k12.mi.us

Core Democratic Values are the fundamental beliefs and constitutional principles of American society which unite all Americans. These values are expressed in the Declaration of Independence, the United States

Constitution, and other significant documents, speeches, and writings of the nation.

Life Patriotism

Liberty (Personal, Political,Economic Freedom) Rule of Law

The Pursuit of Happiness Separation of Powers

Common Good Representative Government

Justice Checks and Balances

Diversity Individual Rights

Equality (Political, Legal, Social, Economic) Freedom of Religion

Truth Federalism

Popular Sovereignty Civilian Control of the Military

Chief

Pontiac

Sitting

Bull

EXECUTIVE

JUDICIALLEGISLATIVE

STATES

STATES

CONCURRENT POWERS

(shared)

STATES NATIONAL GOV’T

STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

EXEC.

JUD.

LEGIS.

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