The purpose of this study is to identify the research process of civic engagement in young children and methodology for building context-based learning theory. This study primarily focuses on the work of Jennifer Hauver, published in 2019, and describes that research process. The significance of this study can be summarized in following two points. First, it presents a qualitative research methodology based on a socio-cultural approach for transforming the field of classroom practice. Second, while, the concept of “public participation” has been traditionally used as a goal in Japanese social studies education research and practice, this study suggests the effectiveness of changing the concept to “civic engagement”. Future research is required to (1) investigate teachers behavior that promote children’s civic engagement and (2) attempt to connect early childhood education in Japan with civic engagement.