government/civic understandings

Who Are They?

2nd Grade Government/Civic Understandings

By Pam Barnette

Table of Contents •Rationale •

Standards-based Education Unit Planning Template •Standards

•Concept Map • Activity One

•Activity Two •Activity Three •Activity Four

•Conclusion and Outcome •Teacher and Student Materials

•Resources

Rationale • The rationale for creating this unit is to provide an opportunity for second grade students to understand who our leaders are and why they are important.

Standard-based Education Unit Planning Template •Standards-based Education Unit Planning Template •Grade target: 2nd Subject: Social Studies Unit: Government/Civic Understandings •1st: What should students know and be able to do? •They should know and be able to discuss the difference between our local, state and national leaders and their jobs.Standard•SS2CG2 The student will identify the roles of the following elected officials: a. President (leader of our nation) b. Governor (leader of our state) c. Mayor (leader of a city) • What are the essential understandings? •Understand the importance of the roles our elected officials •Students will need to know... The difference between the mayor, governor and president • Students will need to be able to do... •Discuss and write about our elected officials

Planning Template Cont. •2nd: How will I and they know when they are successful? Through observation, graphic organizers, and projects. Also through one-to-one discussions with the students and class discussions. •What evidence will show that the students understand? (Performance Tasks, Quizzes, Tests, Other Evidence) writing journal entries, puzzles, games, discussions, and observations • 3rd: What learning experiences will facilitate their success? On-line video, books •What teaching and learning experiences will equip students to demonstrate the targeted understandings? The students will watch a video of the President. Also, reading books and completing on-line activities, and writing about what they have learned.

Georgia Standards •This unit covers the following Georgia state standards for second grade. •Standard 1 : Government/Civic Understandings SS2CG2 The student will identify the roles of the following elected officials: a. President (leader of our nation) b. Governor (leader of our state) c. Mayor (leader of a city)

•Standard 2: Writing •ELA2W1 The student demonstrates competency in the writing process. The student a. Writes text of a length appropriate to address a topic and tell the story.

Activity One • Goal: To introduce our local, state and national leaders and their responsibilities. • Objectives: Students will understand who our elected officials are and what they do.

Activity One Cont.• Tasks: •As a class, we will complete a graphic organizer web listing each leader and his responsibilities. •The students will record this information in their writing journal using Kidspiration.

*Click here for an example of the graphic organizer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Presidenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Perduehttp://www.cityofcartersville.org/index.asp?NID=12

Activity Two •Goal: To introduce our local, state and national leaders and their responsibilities. •Objectives: Students will understand what a day in the life of the mayor is like.

Activity Two Cont.• Tasks: • Working in groups of 3, students will come up with 3 questions to ask the mayor.•Each group will put their questions on a worksheet and elect a speaker for their group. The speaker will ask the questions when the mayor visits.*Click here *MAYOR* for a copy of the worksheet.

Activity Three • Goals: To introduce our local, state and national leaders and their responsibilities. • Objectives: Students will understand what a day in the life of the President and Governor is like. /

• With a partner students will read George W Bush •With a partner students will access http://www.nndb.com/people/363/000044231/ to learn more about Sonny Perdue.

Activity Three Cont.• Tasks:

Activity Four • Goal: To find out what the children have learned about their elected officials. • Objective: •The students will write/illustrate a book about one of the elected officials. •The students will write about and discuss the following essential question.

Activity Four Cont. •Tasks • Choose either the mayor, governor or President to write about.•With the teacher’s guidance fold your construction paper and copy paper to make a booklet.•Give your book a title.•List 5 facts about the person.•Illustrate where appropriate.

?Essential Question?After learning about the many duties and responsibilities of our elected officials why is it important for them to be honest, trustworthy and show good sportsmanship. Make an entry in your Kidspiration writing journal to answer this question.

Conclusion and Outcome

•This unit is designed to help second grade students understand the responsibilities of our elected officials. •The students will understand these responsibilities through observation, discussions and activities.

Teacher and Student Materials • George W. BushBy Wil Mara• Construction/copy paper•Computers with Internet connections •Printer with paper •Writing Journals -Kidspiration• Copies of graphic organizer•Copies of mayor worksheet

Resources Mayor of Cartersville

Book George W. Bush by Wil MaraPictures of Officials:www.google.com/images

Georgia Standards: www.georgiastandards.org/Sample Template:www.my.lesley.edu

Information on the President:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_President

Information on the Governor:http://en.widipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_PerdueInformation on the Mayor or Cartersville:

http://www.cityorcartersville.org/index.asp?NID=12Information on the Governor:

http://www.nndb.com/people/363/000044231/Kidspiration 2