There are seven core democratic principles: an ideal, moral, or theme found in the Constitution, Bill of Rights, or Declaration of Independence. The Common Good, Truth, Justice, Patriotism, Equal Opportunity, Individual Rights, and Diversity are all ideas that we can use in the classroom and in our "real life" to shape how we think and act.

1. Pop Culture in the Social
Studies Classroom: Using
Comic Books, Trading Cards
and Action Figures to Engage
Students
Quinn Rollins 2013

2. BIG IDEAS
Use your passions to find ways to teach
students. “Teach Like a Pirate”
– Dave Burgess (buy it, live it, be it)
• Sports, Music, Television, Fashion, Cars,
Movies, Books, Architecture, Food,
Travel
Be willing to leave your comfort zone
and use your students’ interests to

3. Rollins 2013

4. A Core Democratic Principle is an ideal, moral, or
theme found in the Constitution, Bill of
Rights, or Declaration of Independence.

5. These are ideas and goals that the United
States has said we should use to make
choices. Government, Schools, and
Individuals can use these Principles in their
daily activities.

6. There are seven of these principles. As we go,
think about what you know about History,
your own life, your family and friends. Are
you “good at” these principles? What needs
some work?

7. The Common Good: Seeking and promoting what’s
best for everyone, not just one individual.

8. Examples of Common Good:
 Paying Taxes
 Speed Limits
 Public Education

9. What happens when we don’t follow the
principle of the common good?

10. Truth:
Being completely and actively
honest. (Government and Citizens)

11. How many of you have told a lie in the last…
 Year?
 Six
Months?
 Month?
 Week?
 Today?

12. Why do we lie so much?
Is it ever okay to tell a lie?
Is it ever easier to lie?
How would our lives be different if everyone
told the truth?

13. Justice:
All people should be treated
fairly and given “due process of law.”

14. Justice is sometimes
represented with this
image…
Why is the woman
blindfolded?
What’s the signifance of the
objects she holds?

15. What are some reasons we’re treated unjustly?
Are you treated differently than adults? Than
people of another race? Another religion?
Another size? Another gender?
How do we promote justice?

16. Patriotism:
A feeling of love, pride,
and devotion to the country.

17. What are some ways we display our patriotism?

18. Is patriotism important?
Is it possible to be patriotic to more than one
country?

19. Equal Opportunity:
Legal, political, social, and economic
equality of opportunity. No matter who you
are, or what your background is, you should
have the same chance as everyone else.

20. The United States used to deny opportunities to large
groups of people.
Does it still?

21. What are ways that some people have more
opportunities than others?
Are there ways to
promote the
principle of
Equal Opportunity?

22. Individual Rights: Each person is born
with the rights of life, liberty, property, and
the pursuit of happiness.

23. How do we know what rights we have as
citizens of the United States?
What are some of the rights we have?

24. Are those rights important?
How would our lives be different without those
rights?

25. Diversity:
Variety in cultural and ethnic
background is permissible, desirable, and
good for the community and the nation.

26. What are some ways the United States is
diverse?
What’s good about that?
Is there anything bad about it?

27. What does “tolerance” mean in regards to
diversity?
What are ways that we could promote
tolerance in our school?

28. Do we do all these things well?
If yes, how did we learn to do them?
If no, why do we talk about them?

29. Which one is most important?

30. Are there any that we could get rid of without
hurting our country?

31. Be thinking about which one you think is most
important, and how that influences your
life…