Social Studies StrandsPatriotism & Citizenship

Grade 3ED 417 Dr. Helms

By: Emily Bosch & Amber Richison

Table of Contents

• Strand I American Heritage• Strand II People in Societies• Strand III World Interactions• Strand IV Decision Making &

Resources• Strand V Democratic Process• Strand VI Citizenship Rights &

Responsibilities

Strand I

American Heritage

Activities

• Students will participate in a large group discussion on the history of the American Flag after reading The American Flag: True Book, by Ryon Quiri.

• After studying the differences between the American Flag and other nation’s flags, students will discuss the meaning behind the symbols that are used on flags and write a journal entry on the meaning of our country’s flag

Activities Cont.

• Each student will create a flag for an imaginary country using symbols to represent their beliefs.

• Students will view a presentation of the proper care of the flag by local military veterans. The presentation will include the raising & folding of the flag and these traditions will then be explored through literature.

• At the start of the day, the class will recite the pledge of allegiance and research who wrote the pledge and what it means, using the internet.

Websites

www.usflag.org

www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagpics.html

www.theodora.com/flags.html

Websites cont.

www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

www.legion.org/our_flag/of_pledge_fl

ag.htm

Strand II

People in Societies

Activities

• Students will discuss what it means to be an American and how one obtains citizenship, after reading Hannah’s Journal: The Story of an Immigrant by Marissa Moss.

• After learning about the diversity of races and cultures, students will discuss the term racism and how it infringes upon others’ right to freedom. The class will then create a poster against racism to display for the school.

Activities cont.

• After learning the diversity of races, students will discuss and explore their heritage by making a family tree. They will research this information on the Internet.

• Students will write a journal entry about their heritage and how it makes them feel special.

• Each student will recreate their own family crest using various symbols and colors to represent their heritage.

Websites

www.shusterman.com/toc-usc.html

www.familyheritage.org/

www.eduplace.com/act/f_crest.html

Websites cont.

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/secret/search/nehistgensociety1.html

http://books4jewishteens.tripod.com/books/jewish-children-teens-historicalfict-america.htm

Strand III

World Interactions

Activities

• The class will read about current events and discuss the effects it has on America and other countries.

• Students will learn what embassies are and use thumbtacks to pinpoint the locations of five different embassy locations on a map.

Activities cont.

• Students will write a letter to another country’s embassy in Washington D.C. asking them questions.

• The class will join a pen pal email group and talk to kids from other countries.

• Students will make their own globes our of paper mache and paint and label different countries.

Websites

www.timeforkids.com/TFK/

www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/kidsk5th.htm

www.ling.lancs.ac.uk/staff/visitors/kenji/keypal.htm#students

Websites cont.

www.embassy.org/embassies

http://travel.state.gov/links.html

Strand IV

Decision Making & Resources

Activities

• The students will list the resources our country depends on and discuss how we obtain these resources.

• The class will read about imports and exports and create a map labeling each major country.

Activities cont.

• The class will be divided into small groups and each group will be assigned a resource or product that will be exported

• Each group will be required to find a way to get their resource or product to the proper country.

• The class will discuss ways to recycle or reuse the resource in order to protect the environment.

Websites

http://sarbanes.senate.gov/pages/chesapeake_bay_for_kids.html

www.learner.org/exhibits/garbage/intro.html

www.ciwmb.ca.gov/PublicEd/

Websites cont.

http://ecedweb.unomaha.edu/k6goals.htm

www.epa.gov/kids/

Strand V

Democratic Process

Activities

• Students will learn about the voting process and hoe elections work by watching the video “Hail to the Chief: Presidential Elections,” by Sunburst Films.

• The class will participate in a mock election with the other third grade classes. Two of the 3rd grade teachers will be the candidates and students will help campaign and organize the election.

Activities cont.

• Students will take a field trip to the Board of Elections and learn about the registration process.

• Students will then create posters, buttons, and slogans for the third grade election.

• Students will vote and be a part of counting the votes to experience the entire process.

Websites

www.bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/election/

www.cyberbee.com/election/process.html

www.seo.sa.gov.au/process-voting.html

Websites cont.

www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd/Elect_Act1.html

www.educationworld.com/a_special/election_2000.shtml

Strand VI

Citizenship Rights & Responsibilities

Activities

• Students will learn about the Constitution and Bill of Rights by watching the video “Understanding the Constitution” by Sunburst Films.

• The class will get to see a copy of the Constitution and read about who wrote the document.

Activities cont.

• Each student will write a journal entry on how our country would be different with our the Constitution.

• The class will discuss the importance and process of respecting others’ rights. As a large group the class will create and write a class constitution.

• Students will be given a word search to complete in order to reinforce new vocabulary.

Websites

http://memory.loc.gov/const/bor/html

www.nara.gov/education/teaching/constitution/home.html

http://members.tripod.com/~tutor_me/companion/qconstitution.html

Websites cont.

http://peoplespublishing.com/SS004.html

www.congressforkids.net/games/writingconstitution/2_writingsonstitution.htm