Author:
Tracy Pitzer
Subject:
Social Science, Political Science
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Level:
High School
Grade:
9, 10, 11, 12
Tags:
  • Civics
  • Government
  • Locke
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
    Language:
    English

    Why Government? by iCivics

    Overview

    This lesson combines two readings from the iCivics Influence Library and adds activities that bridge the two topics: Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.

    Learning Objectives. Students will be able to:

    • Identify the basic ideas on government from Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.
    • Define the terms: state of nature, natural rights, sovereign.
    • Trace the development of the idea of the social contract from Thomas Hobbes to John Locke.

    Why Government?

    Why Government? by iCivics

    Teacher’s Guide

    This lesson combines two readings from the iCivics Influence Library and adds activities that bridge the two topics: Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.

    STEP BY STEP

    • ANTICIPATE by asking the following questions: “Why do people create governments? What purpose do they serve? Where did we get our ideas about government?” Then explain that these questions have kept scholars busy for centuries! They will learn about two of them today.
    • DISTRIBUTE the reading pages to students.
    • READ through page one on Thomas Hobbes with the class, discussing as appropriate.
    • ASK students if they think Hobbes was right about human nature and if they agree with his outlook on the ‘right’ kind of government.
    • READ through page two on John Lock with the class, explaining that he was not too far behind Hobbes as a scholar of government. Discuss as appropriate.
    • ASK students if Hobbes would agree with Locke’s idea of natural rights. Then ask if students prefer Hobbes’ or Locke’s ideas about government. (Note: Although Hobbes doesn’t really focus on the idea of natural rights, he does agree that people will fight for these type of things in a state of nature.)
    • DIRECT students to use the information they learned in the reading to complete the Sketch It Out activity.
    • DISCUSS the student’s cartoons.
    • ASSIGN the remaining activities on the worksheet.
    • REVIEW the worksheet with the class.
    • CLOSE by asking students to recall one idea Hobbes and Locke had in common and one idea they did not share. Have students share what they remember with a partner, or call on students to share with the class and record the answers on the board.

    Read the two-page reading about Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Print out the activity PDF to complete the work.