Howard R. Driggs Civics Award
The Howard R. Driggs Civics award is an award given to qualified students in 5th grade. This award is given to students who participate and complete a year-long project that emphasizes the History of the United States.
The purpose behind this award is to encourage students to become more educated and interested in the history of our country.
This is a challenging project and will require significant dedication and passion from students who wish to receive the award. Many of the projects will be done in class, so remember to check with your teacher before you get started.
The purpose behind this award is to encourage students to become more educated and interested in the history of our country.
This is a challenging project and will require significant dedication and passion from students who wish to receive the award. Many of the projects will be done in class, so remember to check with your teacher before you get started.
Requirements
1. 13 Colonies
Students must memorize the first 13 colonies
2. States and Capitals
Students must receive 100% on their States and Capitals Test
3. Physical Geography of the United States
Students must receive 100% on their United States Physical Geography Test
4. Presidents
Students must be able to name every President in United States History in chronological order
5. President Report
Students must create and give a presentation on one president
6. Declaration of Independence
Students must memorize a section of the Declaration of Independence
7. Preamble of the Constitution
Students must memorize the Preamble of the United States Constitution
8. Bill of Rights
Students must memorize the first 10 amendments of the Bill of Rights
9. The Three Branches of Government
Student must be able tell about the three branches of government.
10. Speeches from United States History
To complete this requirement you will be choosing one important speech from United States history. You must memorize a portion of the the speech and be able to tell me the historical significance of the speech and why this speech is important to you.
11. National Symbols of the United States
Students will create a presentation on famous symbols of the United States.
12. Famous American Literacy Response
Students will read a biography or autobiography on an American Hero and complete a choice board.
13. Branches of the Military
Students must be able to tell about the six branches of the military.
14. National Holidays
Students will create a presentation on National Holidays
Students must memorize the first 13 colonies
2. States and Capitals
Students must receive 100% on their States and Capitals Test
3. Physical Geography of the United States
Students must receive 100% on their United States Physical Geography Test
4. Presidents
Students must be able to name every President in United States History in chronological order
5. President Report
Students must create and give a presentation on one president
6. Declaration of Independence
Students must memorize a section of the Declaration of Independence
7. Preamble of the Constitution
Students must memorize the Preamble of the United States Constitution
8. Bill of Rights
Students must memorize the first 10 amendments of the Bill of Rights
9. The Three Branches of Government
Student must be able tell about the three branches of government.
10. Speeches from United States History
To complete this requirement you will be choosing one important speech from United States history. You must memorize a portion of the the speech and be able to tell me the historical significance of the speech and why this speech is important to you.
11. National Symbols of the United States
Students will create a presentation on famous symbols of the United States.
12. Famous American Literacy Response
Students will read a biography or autobiography on an American Hero and complete a choice board.
13. Branches of the Military
Students must be able to tell about the six branches of the military.
14. National Holidays
Students will create a presentation on National Holidays
13 Colonies
To complete this requirement you must memorize the 13 original colonies.
Virginia Massachusetts New Hampshire Maryland Connecticut Rhode Island Delaware North Carolina South Carolina New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Georgia |
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States & Capitals
To complete this requirement you will need to be able to locate and name all 50 states and their capital.
*We will be studying the states and capitals in school during the 4th quarter, but it never hurts to start studying early*
*We will be studying the states and capitals in school during the 4th quarter, but it never hurts to start studying early*
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United States: Physical Geography
To complete this requirement you will need to be able to locate and name important physical features of the United States.
Required:
Lakes: Lake Superior Lake Huron Lake Ontario Lake Michigan Lake Erie Great Salt Lake Rivers: Mississippi River Hudson River Missouri River Columbia River Colorado River Rio Grande Mountains: Rocky Mountains Appalachian Mountains Sierra Nevada Oceans: Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Alaska Bering Sea |
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The Presidents
To complete this requirement you will need to be able to name every American President in chronological order.
President Report
To complete this requirement you will be creating a presentation that you will present to our class on one president. This can be done on Google Slides, PowerPoint, Prezi, or any other presentation program.
Required Information:
Required Information:
Early Life
-Map with birthplace -Date of Birth -Parents' names and occupation -Family- parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, etc -Education -Important Events -Career -Personal Life |
Presidency
-Political Life -Years in Office -Political Party -Vice President -Important Events -Famous People of the Time -Picture as the President |
Later Years
-Place of Residence -Place of Library -Activities -Date -Remembered for... |
The Declaration of Indepedence
To complete this requirement you will be memorizing a portion of The Declaration of Independence.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Preamble of the Constitution
To complete this requirement you will be memorizing the Preamble of the United States Constitution.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." |
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The Bill of Rights
To complete this requirement you will need to know the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which are collectively known as the Bill of Rights.
1. The First Amendment grants freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, and the right to protest.
2. The Second Amendment grants the right to bear arms
3. The Third Amendment states that soldiers cannot take over a home during war or peace without the homeowner’s permission.
4. The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from unreasonable and unlawful search and seizure of property.
5. The Fifth Amendment allows all citizens due process and states that a person cannot be forced to serve as a witness against himself when accused of a crime.
6. The Sixth Amendment provides a speedy and public trial by jury for all who are accused of a crime.
7. The Seventh Amendment also allows a trial by jury to be held for certain civil disputes.
8. The Eighth Amendment prevents those accused of suffering cruel and unusual punishment.
9. The Ninth Amendment states that no one’s Constitutional rights should be used to infringe upon the rights of another citizen.
10. The Tenth Amendment provides each state with powers that are not specifically assigned to the nation’s government in the Constitution.
1. The First Amendment grants freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, and the right to protest.
2. The Second Amendment grants the right to bear arms
3. The Third Amendment states that soldiers cannot take over a home during war or peace without the homeowner’s permission.
4. The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from unreasonable and unlawful search and seizure of property.
5. The Fifth Amendment allows all citizens due process and states that a person cannot be forced to serve as a witness against himself when accused of a crime.
6. The Sixth Amendment provides a speedy and public trial by jury for all who are accused of a crime.
7. The Seventh Amendment also allows a trial by jury to be held for certain civil disputes.
8. The Eighth Amendment prevents those accused of suffering cruel and unusual punishment.
9. The Ninth Amendment states that no one’s Constitutional rights should be used to infringe upon the rights of another citizen.
10. The Tenth Amendment provides each state with powers that are not specifically assigned to the nation’s government in the Constitution.
The Three Branches of Government
To complete this requirement you will need to be able to tell me about the three branches of our government.
Executive: The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and, to that end, appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet. The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch, ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise.
Legislative: The Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.
House of Representatives: The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. They are elected every two years.
Senate: The Senate is composed of 100 Senators, 2 for each state. They are elected for every two years.
Judicial: Where the Executive and Legislative branches are elected by the people, members of the Judicial Branch are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Federal courts enjoy the sole power to interpret the law, determine the constitutionality of the law, and apply it to individual cases. The courts, like Congress, can compel the production of evidence and testimony through the use of a subpoena. The inferior courts are constrained by the decisions of the Supreme Court — once the Supreme Court interprets a law, inferior courts must apply the Supreme Court's interpretation to the facts of a particular case.
Executive: The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and, to that end, appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet. The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch, ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise.
Legislative: The Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.
House of Representatives: The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. They are elected every two years.
Senate: The Senate is composed of 100 Senators, 2 for each state. They are elected for every two years.
Judicial: Where the Executive and Legislative branches are elected by the people, members of the Judicial Branch are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Federal courts enjoy the sole power to interpret the law, determine the constitutionality of the law, and apply it to individual cases. The courts, like Congress, can compel the production of evidence and testimony through the use of a subpoena. The inferior courts are constrained by the decisions of the Supreme Court — once the Supreme Court interprets a law, inferior courts must apply the Supreme Court's interpretation to the facts of a particular case.
Speeches from american history
To complete this requirement you will be choosing one important speech from United States history. You must memorize a portion of the speech and be able to tell me the historical significance of the speech and why this speech is important to you. You can choose any speech from United States History. Below you will see some examples of speeches that you could choose to study and memorize.
'Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death' |
The Gettysburg Address |
'Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death' - Patrick Henry, 1775
Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! |
'The Gettysburg Address' - Abraham Lincoln, 1863
Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. That these dead shall not have died in vain- that this nation under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth. |
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'I Have a Dream' |
Franklin D. Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address |
"I Have A Dream' - Martin Luther King Jr., 1963
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, that one day right down in Alabama little Black boys and Black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. |
Franklin D. Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address, 1933
This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. |
JFK Moon Speech - Rice StadiumJohn F. Kennedy Moon Speech - Rice Stadium
"We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win" |
The Space Shuttle "Challenger" TragedyRonald Reagan - The Space Shuttle "Challenger" Tragedy Address
"We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for twenty-five years the United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space, and, perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers." |
National Symbols of the United States
To complete this requirement you will be creating a presentation or pamphlet on famous symbols and monuments of the United States of America. This can be done on Google Slides, PowerPoint, Prezi, Paper or any other presentation program.
Your presentation must include information and pictures on the following symbols and monuments.
The American Flag
The Liberty Bell
The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
The Washington Monument
The White House
The National Bird
The Great Seal of the United States
The National Mammal
The National Anthem
The National March "Stars and Strips Forever"
The National Tree the Oak Tree
The Lincoln Memorial
The Capital Building
*If you would like to add another symbol or monument, please let me know.
Your presentation must include information and pictures on the following symbols and monuments.
The American Flag
The Liberty Bell
The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
The Washington Monument
The White House
The National Bird
The Great Seal of the United States
The National Mammal
The National Anthem
The National March "Stars and Strips Forever"
The National Tree the Oak Tree
The Lincoln Memorial
The Capital Building
*If you would like to add another symbol or monument, please let me know.
Americans In History ~ Literacy Response
To complete this requirement you will be reading a biography or autobiography on an important person in United States History. Then you will choose one option from the choice board to complete your literacy response.
Our library has a lot of good biographies and autobiographies. Please let me know if you need help finding one. *I am open to other ideas on how you choose to share your literacy response.
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Branches of the Military
To complete this requirement you will need to be able to tell me about the six branches of the United States Military.
U.S. Department of Defense Our Forces
Army: The United States Army is the main ground-force of the United States. The Army's main function is to protect and defend the United States (and its interests) by way of ground troops, armor (tanks), artillery, attack helicopters, tactical nuclear weapons, etc.
Navy: Like the Army, the Navy was officially established by the Continental Congress in 1775. The Navy's primary mission is to maintain the freedom of the seas. The Navy makes it possible for the United States to use the seas where and when our national interests require it.
Air Force: The Air Force was created in 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. The primary mission of the Army Air Corps was to support Army ground forces. However World War II showed that air power had much more potential than simply supporting ground troops, so the Air Force was established as a separate service. The primary mission of the Air Force is to defend the United States (and its interests) through exploitation of air and space. To accomplish this mission, the Air Force operates fighter aircraft, tanker aircraft, light and heavy bomber aircraft, transport aircraft, and helicopters (which are used mainly for rescue of downed-aircrew, and special operations missions).
Marine Corps: The Marines are often referred to as the "Infantry of the Navy." Marines specialize in amphibious operations. In other words, their primary specialty is to assault, capture, and control "beach heads," which then provide a route to attack the enemy from almost any direction.
Coast Guard: In peacetime, the Coast Guard is primarily concerned with law enforcement, boating safety, sea rescue, and illegal immigration control. However, the President of the United States can transfer part or all of the Coast Guard to the Department of the Navy in times of conflict. The Coast Guard consists of ships, boats, aircraft and shore stations that conduct a variety of missions.
Space Force: The Space Force organizes, trains, and equips space forces in order to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force.
U.S. Department of Defense Our Forces
Army: The United States Army is the main ground-force of the United States. The Army's main function is to protect and defend the United States (and its interests) by way of ground troops, armor (tanks), artillery, attack helicopters, tactical nuclear weapons, etc.
Navy: Like the Army, the Navy was officially established by the Continental Congress in 1775. The Navy's primary mission is to maintain the freedom of the seas. The Navy makes it possible for the United States to use the seas where and when our national interests require it.
Air Force: The Air Force was created in 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. The primary mission of the Army Air Corps was to support Army ground forces. However World War II showed that air power had much more potential than simply supporting ground troops, so the Air Force was established as a separate service. The primary mission of the Air Force is to defend the United States (and its interests) through exploitation of air and space. To accomplish this mission, the Air Force operates fighter aircraft, tanker aircraft, light and heavy bomber aircraft, transport aircraft, and helicopters (which are used mainly for rescue of downed-aircrew, and special operations missions).
Marine Corps: The Marines are often referred to as the "Infantry of the Navy." Marines specialize in amphibious operations. In other words, their primary specialty is to assault, capture, and control "beach heads," which then provide a route to attack the enemy from almost any direction.
Coast Guard: In peacetime, the Coast Guard is primarily concerned with law enforcement, boating safety, sea rescue, and illegal immigration control. However, the President of the United States can transfer part or all of the Coast Guard to the Department of the Navy in times of conflict. The Coast Guard consists of ships, boats, aircraft and shore stations that conduct a variety of missions.
Space Force: The Space Force organizes, trains, and equips space forces in order to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force.
National Holidays
To complete this requirement you will be creating a presentation or pamphlet on National Holidays. This can be done on Google Slides, PowerPoint, Prezi, Paper or any other presentation program.
Your presentation must include information, dates, and pictures about 5 National Holidays
Required:
Memorial Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Choose 2:
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Washington's Birthday
Independence Day
Columbus Day
Thanksgiving Day
Your presentation must include information, dates, and pictures about 5 National Holidays
Required:
Memorial Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Choose 2:
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Washington's Birthday
Independence Day
Columbus Day
Thanksgiving Day