Introduction
Standards:
C.1.3.1 Discuss the origin of the United States founding documents (e.g. US Constitution and Bill of Rights)
C.1.3.2 Identify responsibilities and powers of government officals in different brancehs of state government
C.1.3.3 Explain the functions and structure of the state government
C. 2.3.1 Investigate origins of state and national symbols, patriotic songs, and mottos
C.2.3.2 Demonstrate the procedures for recitation of hte Pledge of Allegiance and proper etiquette for the Arkansas and American Flags
C.3.3.1 Examine the process of creating rules and laws at the local level
C.3.3.3 Compare ways people benfit fromo and are challenged by working together in response to local and state problems
Task
Students will discuss the origins of some founding documents, such as the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Students will identify our governor, state representatives, and senators along with their duties.
Students will explain the structure of our state government.
Students will research the origins of some state and national symbols.
Students will learn about proper etiquette for the state and national flags.
Students will examine how laws are created at the local level.
Students will compare the benefits and challenges of working together to solving problems.
Process
Videos of US Constitution Watch these videos to understand the origin of the US Constituion. Take notes are you watch and discuss with a peer 1) What did you hear that you already knew, and 2) What was something new you learned?
Time for Kids (3m)
Brain Pop (free video 4m)
Liberty Kids (21m)
What are the Bill of Rights? Watch this video to understand the need for the Bill of Rights. Divide into groups of ten. Each group will research one of the first ten admendments. Present information on an index card. Create a poster/anchor chart to display in the class. See this example.
YouTube (4m)
YouTube (3m)
Template Use this template to research the origins of national symbols. Divide into groups of five to research: the American Flag, the National Anthem, the bald eagle, the Statue of Liberty, and the Liberty Bell.
Etiquette for US Flag Watch this video to learn about proper etiquette of our flag.
YouTube (7m)
Template Use this template when researching state government.
Template Use this template to research the origins of state symbols. Divide into groups of five to research: the Arkansas Flag, one of the state songs, the state motto, the state gem, the state name.
Protocol for Arkansas State Flag Read these links to learn about proper etiquette of our state flag.
Template Use this template when research local government.
How a Bill Becomes a Law in Arkansas
Laws Look at this chart to examine ways law-making is compared at the state and local levels.
State Government Information
Evaluation
Divide the class into small groups. Half of the groups will research local problems and the other half will research state problems.
KNWA News
Little Rock News
Newsela
Newspapers: Arkansas Democrat or Morning News
From their government perspectives, students will compare the benefits and challenges or working together.
Rubric
Conclusion
Each student will create a "Classroom Tweet" about what they have learned in the past ten days about government on an index card. They must use 140 characters or less to be classified as a "tweet".
NOTE: Students will NOT be using a real Twitter post. You may want to create a large tree from butcher paper, label three branches: executive branch (governor/mayor), legislative branch (representatives/senators/council members), and judical branch (county judge, state justices). Then the students can place their cards around the appropriate branch.
Be sure to send pictures to kpowell2@sdale.org
Teacher Page
Contact me at kpowell2@sdale.org
479.750.8735