Lesson Plan: Reflecting on January 6th – Understanding Democracy and Civic Responsibility

Grade Level: High School

Objective

Students will:

1. Analyze the events of January 6, 2021, in historical and civic contexts.
2. Explore the importance of peaceful democratic processes, media literacy, and responsible citizenship.
3. Reflect on their role in upholding democratic values and institutions.

Introduction

1. Engage: Begin with a question:
   • “What do you already know about the events of January 6, 2021?”
   • “Why is this event significant to our understanding of democracy?”
2. Factual Framework: Write student responses on the board while ensuring accuracy. Provide a quick factual summary to correct misconceptions. Key topics:
   • Electoral College certification.
   • The Capitol breach.
   • Role of government officials and law enforcement.

Main Activities

1. Historical Context and Civic Foundations

• Present a brief overview of the events, focusing on:
  • The peaceful transfer of power in U.S. history.
  • The Electoral College’s certification role.
  • Statements from government officials before and after January 6th.
• Visual Aid: Use timeline  to illustrate key moments of January 6. Timeline_and_Flowchart_January_6
• Discussion Prompt:
  • “How do democratic institutions depend on both laws and norms to function?”

2. Group Discussion: Analyzing Key Themes

Divide students into small groups and assign each group one of the following themes:

1. Peaceful Transfer of Power in a Democracy
   • Why is it essential?
   • Examples of peaceful transfers throughout history.
2. Role of Citizens in Upholding Democracy
   • What does responsible citizenship look like?
   • Examples of citizen-led movements to protect democracy.
3. Impact of Misinformation on Democracy
   • How does misinformation spread?
   • Real-world examples of its effects on public perception and action.

• Groups summarize their discussions and present findings to the class.

3. Reflection Activity

Students write a brief reflection on:

• “What does responsible citizenship mean to me?”
• “How can I actively contribute to strengthening democracy in my community?”

Conclusion

1. Summarize the key takeaways:
   • Democracy depends on active, informed, and responsible citizens.
   • The role of media literacy and critical thinking in combating misinformation.
   • The importance of respecting democratic institutions and processes.
2. Provide actionable steps for civic engagement, such as voting, attending town halls, or joining community initiatives.

Extension Activities

1. Research Project:
   • Investigate historical challenges to democracy (e.g., Reconstruction Era, McCarthyism, Watergate). Present lessons learned and parallels to today.
2. Media Literacy Workshop:
   • Analyze news articles or social media posts for credibility, bias, and intent.
   • Discuss tools for identifying trustworthy information sources.
3. Civic Engagement Exploration:
   • Research and present ways to get involved in local governance, such as school boards, town meetings, or community projects.

Links and Resources

1. As Trump rewrites history, victims of the Jan. 6 riot say they feel betrayed. NPR
2. Politics Trump supporters accused of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 now seek permission to attend inauguration

3. Biden urges Americans not to rewrite, or forget, Jan. 6, 2021. The Washington Post