Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study aimed to develop a curriculum for “sovereign citizen education,” defining “civic literacy” as the qualities and competencies citizens should possess to realize a sustainable society. The study is characterized by its attempt to reframe sovereign citizen education in social studies and civics̶ moving beyond a narrow focus on politics to a broader perspective̶and to develop a comprehensive curriculum within a framework that spans elementary, junior high, and high school education. Specifically, the study developed an elementary school social studies lesson plan designed to foster civic literacy, using a 5th-grade unit as a case study. Trial lessons were conducted based on the developed plan, and the results were analyzed. The study developed a social studies lesson plan to cultivate civic literacy with an awareness of the continuity across elementary, junior high, and high school education. Focusing on “political literacy” within elementary social studies, the researchers developed a 5th-grade unit based on a map of required qualities and competencies and verified its effectiveness. In this unit, students learn about the impact of information technology developments on their immediate social lives. While the rise of social media enables rapid information transmission, it also gives rise to issues regarding information ethics, such as the spread of misinformation and online defamation. Through discussions on familiar issues, students explore media literacy and deepen their understanding of how to engage with information. Regarding learning methods, the unit incorporates the effective use of generative AI. By considering the advantages and disadvantages of generative AI, students reflect on how to utilize the technology and deepen their understanding of the relationship between scientific/technological advancement and the structure of society. Although this study involved the implementation of a single unit for 5th-grade students, it successfully verified a concrete approach to fostering civic literacy. By using a topic that is highly relevant to daily life and of great interest to children̶ specifically the rapidly evolving field of generative AI̶ as instructional material, the study enabled students to engage in deep reflection on societal issues. It is precisely by turning such chaotic, open-ended issues into educational material that we can foster the civic literacy required of future citizens.
Authors: 橋本 祥夫, HASHIMOTO Yoshio
Institution: Kyoto Bunkyo University
Language: Japanese
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204980267