Community Leadership is an 8th grade required marking period class. We will be learning what it means to be a productive member of our community. See below for the curriculum for this class.

Unit 1:  Introduction and Understanding Social Issues.

This unit the students will have the course expectations and requirements outlined. The students will then explore and identify social issues that have an impact on their community and their lives

What are social issues?
Why are there social issues?
How do you identify social issues?

Students will know...
Students will be able to explain and define social issue.
Students will be able to explain why issues become a social issue.
Students will demonstrate understanding of a social issue.

Unit 2:  Problem Soliving Skill and Leadership

This unit the students will explore the concepts for active listening, bias awareness, and how to acknowledge bias awareness in themselves. The students will analyze and discuss qualities of an effective leader.

What is active listening?
How does one identify bias awareness in themselves?
How does bias awareness impact one's decisions?
What makes someone an effective leader?

Students will know...
Students will be able to explain active listening.
Students will be able to understand and reflect on their own personal biases.
Students will understand and reflect own their own personal biases and how they impact their decisions.
Students will be able to analyze and explain qualities of various types of leaders.

Unit 3: Connecting to the Community

This unit the students will define and explain empathy. The students will explore the "human connection" to others and its value on the community.

What is empathy?
Why should humans care for others? (Human Connection)
What is the value/importance of a community? (Connecting the students to Jackson, New Jersey, United States, and the world)

Students will know...
•Students will learn what empathy can look like in action and how it applies to local, national and world issues.
•Students will begin to develop communication skills both interpersonal and intrapersonal to work with others of differing opinions and beliefs to address current issues.

Unit 4: Action Plan

The students will create an action plan to address the social issue(s) identified. The student will use a variety of media to research the social issue(s) and create an action plan that impacts their community.

1- How do you create an action plan?
2- What social issue(s) needs to be addressed today?
3- What does the "research" say about the social issue(s)?
4- How can citizens address the social issue(s)?
5- How does the social issue(s) impact Jackson, New Jersey, United States, and the world?


Students will know...
Students will learn how to create a action plan.
Students will research information about a social issue.
Students will identify ways citizens can address/respond to a social issue.
Students will explain how the social issue identified relates/impacts their life and community.