Lesson
What are Civic Virtues?
Guiding question
What is civic virtue?
How do civic virtues ensure a healthy civil society and constitutional republic?
Guiding Question
- What is civic virtue?
- Can virtue be taught or acquired through practice, or do humans possess virtue by nature?
- How do we define civic virtue?
Objectives
- Students will define civic virtue and civil society through personal reflection and civil discourse.
- Students will explain the connection between civic virtue and a healthy civil society.
- Students will practice speaking and listening skills in a structured discussion.
Materials
Resources
- Student Handout- What is Virtue?
- Student Handout- Fishbowl Activity
- The Principles and Virtues Organizer provides BRI’s explanation and definition of civic virtues.
Lesson Components
ActivityWhat is Civic Virtue Student Handout
A pre-activity for the fishbowl discussion that helps students pre-form their responses to questions about virtue.
ActivityFishbowl Civic Virtue Activity Student Handout
A student handout to guide students in a fishbowl discussion about civic virtue.
Lesson plan
90 minClick a phase to open it
Key Terms
- Civil society
- A civil society is a society composed of community members linked by common interests, purpose, and activity. Civil society is composed of institutions and organizations that are not associated with the government—including families, schools and universities, service groups, churches, sports clubs, businesses, professional associations, and cultural institutions.
- Constitutional republic
- A system in which a representative government is bound by a written, legal document that defines its powers and limits.