This nation ... of the people, by the people, for the people.
Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg (1863)
New We the People Textbook for Grades 3–5
The elementary school years are the best time to help students gain a beginning understanding of the foundational ideas essential to preserving our free society and furthering its ideals.
The Center's new elementary We the People the Citizen & Democracy text for grades 3–5 can be used to increase their commitment to the our nation's founding principles.
Here's what your students will gain:
- A profound understanding and reasoned commitment to the fundamental principles and values of the American democratic republic contained in the Declaration of Independence and Preamble to the Constitution of the United States.
- A basic frame of reference for understanding democratic government and political life that will be enhanced by further learning as they go through the grades.
- Understanding of their rights and responsibilities.
- Dedication to furthering the goal in the Pledge of Allegiance of our being a nation "with liberty and justice for all."
Student Edition Features
- Full color
- Richly illustrated
- Two units and eleven lessons
- Written by Charles N. Quigley, author since 1965 of dozens of core civics textbooks
- Reviewed by expert teachers
- Student Resource Center, which contains Lesson Purposes, Objectives, Terms, and other resources
Download the Table of Contents
Teacher's Guide Features
- Step-by-step instructions on how to teach the curriculum
- Answer key
- Lesson Goal, Objectives, Background, Procedures, Conclusion, Optional Activities
- Prepared by teachers, for teachers
- An online Teacher Resource Center, which contains printable handouts helpful in implementing the curriculum (purchase of teacher's guide required)
We the People: The Citizen & Democracy Pricing
Classroom set: $550.00 each*
ISBN: 0-89818-252-S
Student text: $23.00 each, 10 or more: $22.00 each
ISBN-10: 0-89818-252-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-89818-252-1
Teacher's guide: $28.00 each
ISBN-10: 0-89818-253-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-89818-253-8
*A classroom set consists of 30 student textbooks and one teacher's guide.
About the Author
Charles N. Quigley is broadly recognized as one of the most prominent curriculum, framework, and program developers in the field of civic education. Prior to the founding of the Law in a Free Society Project of the State Bar of California in 1970, Quigley was executive director of the Committee on Civic Education, an interdisciplinary faculty committee at the University of California, Los Angeles founded in 1965. He is also the author and editor of many textbooks, curricular materials, and articles on civic education. Quigley is the principal creator of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, Project Citizen, the CIVITAS Model Civic Education Curriculum Framework Project; the National Standards for Civics and Government; and the Civitas International Programs. Quigley has served as a senior consultant and organizer for numerous civic education reform efforts, including two White House conferences, four Congressional Conferences on Civic Education, and the National Commission on Civic Renewal. He was selected by the secretary of education to be the principal respondent to the NAEP Civics report in 1999. In May 2011 he and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor were selected by NAEP to respond to the release of the 2010 NAEP Civics Report.
About the Teacher's Guide Contributing Writer
Maria Gallo oversees the professional development programs of the Center and manages the presentation of Center programs and curricula at conferences, both nationally and internationally. Gallo also directs the Citizens Not Spectators voting curriculum and the annual American Civic Educator Teacher Awards.
Gallo was formerly the national director of the School Violence Prevention Program, managing a network of program sites across the country that provided civic education as a means of preventing school violence. She was responsible for building and standardizing staff development programs for each of the sites and developing ongoing professional development opportunities in civic education for teachers. She also created the Training of Trainers Institute offered each summer. Prior to joining the Center, Gallo was a teacher and administrator in the New York City public school system.
Questions?
If you have any questions about whether We the People: The Citizen & Democracy would be right for your classroom, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 818-591-9321
