Reference this list of examples of fundamental principles and values of American political and civic life:
Liberty
The common good
Justice
Equality
Tolerance
Law and order
Due process
Rights of individuals
Diversity
Civic unity
Patriotism
Constitutionalism
Popular sovereignty
Representative democracy
(these terms are specified in the MA History & Social Science Frameworks 8T4.4—check your state’s curriculum frameworks for additional ideas).
Discuss: For example, what does the “common good” mean?
Possible response: people working together for the good of everyone, not just an individual.
What does this look like in practice? If you were to make an image, Sculpture, or Tableau of what this phrase means, what would it look like?
Divide participants into small groups of 3–5.
Each group receives slips of paper or index cards with 1–3 civics terms and their definitions.
Variation: Use terms from Civil Rights law.
Variation: Participants may work in pairs or individually to create a Sculpture instead of a Tableau.
Groups have seven minutes to create Tableaux demonstrating the definition of as many of their words as possible.
One group member will read the word and definition while the rest of the group is in the Tableau depicting the meaning.
Once time is up, go around the room to have each group present their words and Tableau.
Discuss: Next, we will think a little further about what these concepts look like in our world in a whole class discussion/brainstorm:
We’ve already stated what these values mean and what they should look like.
What do we know about the people who wrote the Declaration of Independence and advocated for these values?
What are some examples of situations in which our society does not live up to these values? Or in which the narrow section of society that was represented in the writing of the Declaration shows up in the way those values are interpreted?
Encourage each group to share an example for one of their values of a situation in which society fell short of living up to the term’s meaning.
Return to groups to create a companion Tableau for one of their values that shows an example in which society falls short of living up to that value.
Share with the full class:
Each group presents both of their Tableaux, in sequence.
Read the definition of the value being addressed during both Tableaux.
