Facilitated for Merit Badge University held by the Lake Erie Council of BSA at Lake Erie College on August 28, 2021.

1. Citizenship in
the Nation
Merit Badge Counselor
Meagen Howe

2. United States of America: Pledge of Allegiance

3. Download the
Workbook
http://usscouts.org/mb/mb003.asp

4. What does citizenship
mean to you?
Discussion: What does it take to be a good citizen in the U.S.A.?
Oh, and tell us your name and where you’re from!
Take notes in section #1 of your workbook

5. 8 BSA Merit Badge Requirements
1. Explain what citizenship means
2. Do two activities to visit & learn about federal/national landmarks
3. Follow the news for five days and discuss national issues
4. Read and discuss founding documents of the U.S.A.
5. List & discuss 6 functions of government in the Preamble to the Constitution
6. Learn and present about a speech of national importance
7. Name & explain significance of the 3 branches of government
8. Name your two senators and house representative from your congressional
district. Contact them about an issue of importance to you

6. Today’s Agenda:
1. Icebreaker: what does citizenship mean to you? (#1)
2. Name & explain significance of the 3 branches of government (#7)
3. Look at the past 5 days of national news, and choose a topic of importance to you
(#3)
4. Name your two senators and house representative from your congressional district.
Contact them about an issue of importance to you (#8)
LUNCH!
1. Do two activities to visit & learn about federal/national landmarks (#2):
a. Visit LEC’s College Hall and share what you found interesting (time may vary based on weather)
b. Research a National Monument of interest to you
2. List & discuss 6 functions of government in the Preamble to the Constitution (#5)
3. Read and discuss founding documents of the U.S.A. (#4)
4. Learn and present about a speech of national importance (#6)

7. Kahoot!
3 Branches of Government
Take notes in section #7 of your workbook

8. What impacts
citizens today?
Visit The Week’s “Daily Briefing” at https:// theweek.com/daily-briefing
Skim “10 Things You Need to Know Today” for the past 5 days
Choose & report back ONE topic of greatest importance to you
Take notes in section #3 of your workbook

9. Who is Your Congress Member?
Visit Congress.gov and take notes in section #8 of your workbook

10. Contact Your Congress Members About Your #1
Issue
Draft a message listing your issue, why it’s important to you, and what you’d like Congress to do
about it.
Email message to Merit Badge Counselor (me) and send to your 2 Senators and 1 Representative.

11. Locations of National Importance
Visit a location on the
National Register of Historic
Places (#2a)
Why do we have a national
register? How does a
building get on the list?
Learn more about a National
Monument (#2d)
Why do we have national
monuments?

12. LUNCH!

13. Lake Erie College’s
College Hall
is on the National Register of
Historic Places!
Take notes in section #2a of your workbook Source: https://www.lec.edu/college-hall/

14. Choose a
National
Monument
Find resources with more
information about the
monument
Where is it located?
When was it built?
What does it represent?
Why is it important to U.S. citizens?
Take notes in section #2d of your
workbook

15. U.S.A. Founding Documents
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs

16. Preamble to the Constitution
List the 6 purposes of
government:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Discussion: How do these
functions impact your family
and local community?
Take notes in section #5 of
your workbook

17. Divide up the list, learn, and report back
How might life in the U.S. be
different without this document?
Declaration of Independence
The Constitution
Bill of Rights (10 Amendments)
Amendments (#11-27)
Take notes in section #5 of
your workbook

18. Kahoot!
Founding Documents
Optional if there is time! Take notes in section #5 of your workbook

19. Choose a
Historic Speech
Select a speech and ask the
Merit Badge Counselor (me!)
for approval
You will write and/or present a brief
report on the speech:
Who was the author?
When and where did they speak?
Why was the speech important?
What does it mean to U.S. citizens
today?
Take notes in section #6 of your workbook
Suggestions: “Looking at 10 Great Speeches in American
History” at https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/looking-at-10-
great-speeches-in-american-history

20. Thank You!
Go in peace to love and serve your
fellow citizens