Curated OER
Makers of the Law, The Legislative Branch
Students, in teams, research the legislative branch and complete a "Legislative Information List." Teams research different parts of the list and jigsaw teach the other groups about each part. One group researches names of state officials.
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Nebraska Counties
Students explore the counties of Nebraska. In this Nebraska history lesson plan, students examine maps of the state and determine the location of specific counties and conduct research on them. Students also use the county names to fill...
Curated OER
The Origins of American Government
Learners create an advertising campaign to persuade the Founding Fathers to adopt a particular political philosophy. Working in groups, they conduct research about a certain political philosophy. Students create a pitch to be made to...
Curated OER
Exploring County Ordinances
Students examine county ordinances, develop understanding of degree to which county government serves and regulates citizens, describe competing interests involved in making local political policy, and decide whether government should be...
Curated OER
Interconnections Between Private and Civic Life -- Focus on the County
Young scholars distinguish between civic and public life. In groups, they identify the relationships between the two types of arenas as well. They research the roles of the Fairfax County government and how well they provide...
Curated OER
Seals: From the National To the Local
Third graders investigate official government symbols by completing a scavenger hunt. In this U.S. Government activity, 3rd graders participate in a scavenger hunt in which they locate seals or logos in their community....
Curated OER
Shh! We're Writing the Constitution
Fifth graders research, examine and study about the three branches of the government and the contents of the Constitution including both the Articles and the Amendments. They create their own classroom constitution at the end of the unit.
Curated OER
A System of Rules
Students write letters, create models, create a photo display, and make charts about the rules that a state has. In this rules lesson plan, students learn about and make different displays of how states come up with rules, change them,...
Curated OER
We the People: Promise and Practice in our Constitution
Students examine the concept that the constitutional government guarantees that our government is not all-powerful and analyze the purposes of our government that are listed in the Preamble. They assess that equality under the law and...
Curated OER
History of the Local Community
Students research their local communities and identify the founding fathers of their city and county. In this communities lesson plan, students research using the library and internet. Students also interview citizens who have lived in...
Newspaper Association of America
Community Connections with Geography and the Newspaper
Understanding geography and government begins at the local level. Using maps and the parts of a newspaper, a unit plan introduces the concept of community. It starts with the creation of classroom and school maps, and then moves through...
Curated OER
Local Government Internet Project
Eighth graders use given websites to gather information needed to complete a worksheet regarding county, city, and school governmental districts. They write and create presentation on their county to share with class.
Curated OER
Powers of Congress: The Scope of Congressional Powers
Use this as a quiz or to guide reading. There are five true/false and five multiple choice questions for the class to answer. Topics covered relate to the type of power Congress has and the constructionists movement.
Curated OER
A City Council Meeting
Here is an interesting plan for introducing your pupils to the workings of the local city council. The teacher must go videotape a city council meeting in it's entirety. Learners watch the tape, and discuss what they observed from the...
Alabama Department of Archives and History
A Cry for Help in Alabama - 1934
What should be the role of the federal government during an economic crisis? That is the question at the center of this introduction to a study of the New Deal. Class members examine letters to the state government asking for help,...
Curated OER
Civics Review for Grade 3
For this civics review for grade 3 worksheet, 3rd graders answer 25 multiple choice questions about U.S. government in standardized test format.
Curated OER
Mystery State #47
In this mystery state worksheet, young scholars answer five clues to identify the state in question. They then locate that state on a map.
Curated OER
The Birth of a City
Third graders understand the role of rules and laws in our daily lives. They research the basic structure of the United States government. They participate in a simulated City Council meeting.
Curated OER
Our Country's People, Lesson Two
In this US government worksheet, students answer 8 multiple choice questions about the laws, courts, and Constitution of the United States.
Curated OER
Interconnections Between Private and Civic Life -- Focus on the County
Students discuss the connections between their lives and the government. In groups, they examine the roles that governments have in different societies throughout the world. They role-play the roles of County members in providing...
Curated OER
Participation in Local and State Government
Students investigate the state and local levels of government. They demonstrate an examineing of government at these levels. The identification of officials and resources can be used for assessment.
Curated OER
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors' Meeting
Middle schoolers examine the role of the Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County, Virginia. In groups, they research their responsibilities to the community and role play in their own Board meeting. To end the lesson, they discuss how...
Curated OER
The Structure of Virginia Local Government
Students explain origins of Virginia's unique local government organization,
define numerous terms essential to understanding local government, and
evaluate impact of Dillon's Rule on local government in Virginia through debate.
Curated OER
The Fairfax County Budget -- A Look At Spending
Students brainstorm a list of items that should be a priority for the government to help its citizens. Using an out of date budget, they identify individual line items and the conflicts involved in making a budget work. They discuss...