Exploring the Meaning of Democracy

To launch their mini-unit on the U.S. Constitution and government, Saklan’s 8th-grade students began with the question: What does “democracy” mean?

The class first brainstormed words and phrases they associate with democracy, identifying examples that reflect democratic principles as well as those that do not. From there, students read and discussed a series of quotes about democracy, using the perspectives of others to expand and refine their thinking.

The group then compared dictionary definitions of democracy, ultimately crafting their own collective definition. In doing so, they came to understand that democracy is both an idea and a form of government rooted in that idea.

Finally, each student created a sketch in response to the question: What image or symbol might we use to represent democracy? These drawings reflected their evolving understanding of democracy as both a guiding principle and a system of governance.