Immigration and Citizenship Lesson Seven: Becoming an American

Objective Students will understand the idea of a citizen as being a member of a country who has certain rights and responsibilities. Students will recognize our national motto, “e pluribus unum,” as meaning “out of many, one” and as being descriptive of our country. To able to explain the benefits of being a U.S. citizen

Vocabulary Citizen – a person who is a legal member of a country Naturalization – becoming a citizen of another country, even though a person was not born in that country

Immigrants can become United States citizens, too, if they want to. Once the immigrants got settled in America, they were eager to begin the steps to become full “members” of our country, to become Americans. A person who is a legal member of a country is called a “citizen.” How can people prove that they are born in the United States? (Birth Certificates) How do you get to be an American Citizen? If you are born in the United States, you are automatically a citizen of this country. But you don’t have to be born here to be a citizen. Immigrants can become United States citizens, too, if they want to. Read Becoming a Citizen from What Your Second Grader Needs to Know (Revised Edition), by E.D. Hirsch, Jr. PAGE 236 How can people prove that they are born in the United States? (Birth Certificates)

So you want to become a citizen? Becoming a Citizen You must take a test on American history and government After passing the test, you make a pledge to be loyal to the United States Now, you are an United States Citizen So you want to become a citizen? First you have to live in the Unites States for 5 years During that time you have to obey the law and pay taxes

Responsibilities of a Citizen As a citizen of the United states you have certain rights and responsibilities. For example All adult Americans citizens have the right to vote All citizens have the responsibility to obey the law and pay taxes.

Take the Test Take the citizenship test and see if you can pass.

Review What are the steps you need to take to become a citizen? First you have to live in the Unites States for 5 years During that time you have to obey the law and pay taxes You must take a test on American history and government After passing the test, you make a pledge to be loyal to the United States

Being a Good Citizen Video on the book Being a Good Citizen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3_REZhqR9g