This Pathway to Citizenship Board Game takes students through the naturalization process as they learn what it takes to become a United States citizen! As they play the game, students learn the requirements for both naturalized and natural-born citizens, pass a citizenship test, and swear an oath of loyalty! Includes a post-game reflection. Perfect for middle school Civics, American Government, and American History students learning the citizenship process!
Can you make it through the Naturalization Process and become a naturalized United States citizen?
Aligned to the Florida State Standard for Middle School Civics SS.7.CG.2.1, Defining Citizenship, this board game is covered in curriculum-focused information for the kids to soak up while they play — and, most importantly, it’s FUN! In this game, students attempt to meet all the requirements of the naturalization process, with the goal of collecting as many natural-born and naturalized citizens as they can before time’s up. As they play through the game, they gradually start to memorize the requirements for citizenship — without even noticing!
While playing the Pathway to Citizenship game, students:
✯ Identify whether a character, based on a short description, is a natural-born citizen through Law of Blood or Law of Soil; whether they are eligible for naturalization; or whether they have no path to citizenship.
✯ Move through the naturalization process, reinforcing the age and residency requirements by rolling dice to determine how old their character is and for how long they have lived in the country.
✯ Pick cards to determine whether their character is “of good moral character”.
✯ Pass a Citizenship Test of American Government and American History factoids!
✯ Swear a (summarized) Oath of Loyalty to the nation.
The game also comes with a Reflection, which asks such questions as:
- What are the two ways someone can become a U.S. citizen?
- About how many people are naturalized as U.S. citizens each year?
- What language must you prove you can read and write in order to become a citizen?
- Do you think the process of becoming a United States citizen is unfair or too difficult? Or is it necessary for the citizenship process to be lengthy and complicated?
This resource comes as a non-editable, printable PDF.
Also included:
- Gameplay Instructions, including pictures of the assembled board
- How To Play instruction cards for each group of students
- the 3-page board game
- 3 sets of game cards: Citizenship Cards, Good Moral Character? cards, and The Citizenship Test cards.
- Pathway to Citizenship Tally Sheet for each student to keep track of their played cards.
- Pathway to Naturalization Reflection worksheet to be completed post-game
Want a great culminating activity for your United States Citizenship lessons? This is it right here!
What other teachers are saying about this resource:
“This game is one of my favorites!”
I’m a homeschooling mom who truly appreciates the work of this artist! This game is one of my children’s favorites for our government study! We now can’t purchase enough of her products!! Great job in creating this!!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— Shelley B.
“My students loved it!”
My students loved it! The instructions were clear. It is a lot of work to print and cut out everything, but now that I have done it once, I have everything I need. Great product and worth the $$!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— Mrs. Campbell’s Class
“Great activity”
Great activity to use with students once they have finished the citizenship lessons. I use this activity as a review during stations.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— Shatonga Reid
More Happy Teacher Products You Might Enjoy:
✩ Standards-Based Bell Ringers for Civics & American Government | Quarter One
✩ Who is a Citizen? Civics & Citizenship Article & Review for American Government
✩ Passport to U.S. Citizenship: Naturalization Process Scenarios for Civics
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