Becoming a Citizen of the United States
This graphic organizer shows who a citizen of the United States how someone can become a citizen of the United States.
This lesson, and the graphic organizer that goes with it, explains to the student what rights a citizen of the United States has, how an individual can become a citizen, and the benefits of a diverse citizenry. The student will also learn about the different steps an individual has to take to become a citizen through naturalization.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- understand how an individual can become a United States citizen either by birth or naturalization.
- describe the requirements for becoming an United States citizen through naturalization.
- explain how immigration and naturalization has led to an increasingly diverse society.
Essential Question
What does it mean to be an American?
Procedure:
1. Introduction
This lesson describes the two methods an individual can become a citizen of the United States: birth or naturalization. The students will study the graphic organizer and the attached brief description about becoming a citizen of the United States and be able to explain in their own words the two different ways individuals can become citizens of the United States. Students will also understand how immigration and naturalization has made the United States a diverse society.
2. Explore
Students should use their device to research how individuals can become United States citizens along with the different ways immigration and naturalization has made American society diverse. Besides the graphic organizer, other resources for students to use is the short video on the Becoming a U.S Citizen and the attached brief description on Becoming a Citizen. The students can also go to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website to find more information.
3. Explain
Tell the students they will be able to understand and describe the process for becoming a citizen either by birth or naturalization. They will also know what rights a citizen of the United States has. Finally, they will understand the benefits immigration and naturalization has brought to America, making it a more diverse society. They will demonstrate this by doing the following:
- Research the process on becoming a United States citizen.
- Research why the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was made.
- Research the various benefits of immigration and naturalization.
- Using the Graphic Organizer as a backdrop, the students will create a presentation of the naturalization process to become a citizen of the United States. The presentation should explain why the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was made. Finally, the presentation should also include the reasons why immigration and naturalization has made American society increasingly diverse.
Directions: Tell the students that based on their research, they are to create a way to present to their class the process to becoming a citizen of the United States. They should also present why the 14th amendment to the Constitution of the United States was made and what the definition of "citizenship' is. Finally they should show the many benefits of immigration and naturalization and how they have made the United States a diverse society. Examples of how the student can make a presentation can be a poster, slide presentation (i.e. PowerPoint), flip chart, or video.
4. Assess
Driving Questions:
How does an individual become a citizen?
Writing assignment: Have students use their device to create an essay as to how an individual can become a citizen of the United States. In the essay they are to describe the many benefits of immigration and naturalization.
Extending the lesson: Have the students write about their ancestors and how they became citizens.
