Massachusetts Our Cities and Towns

Grade 3  

 Civics

 

Overarching Question: Why do we need government?

 

Essential Questions:

·                   What is government?

·                   What does our government do?

·                   Why does a community need government?

·                   How do our nation’s founding documents affect our lives today?

 

Enduring Understandings

 

         Skills/Knowledge

   MA History/ Social         Studies Framework (2003)      

 SAMPLE Assessments and

Learning experiences

Government is designed to protect the rights and property of its citizens.

 

Our nation was founded on principals identified in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights

 

 

 

 

Skills:

Give examples of local groups/town government, town structure.

 

Knowledge

The American flag is a symbol of our country.

 

Citizens have rights and responsibilities.

 

Each citizen has a role in a community.

 

Rules are necessary for communities to function well.

 

Rules/laws help preserve order.

 

Vocabulary

 

citizens

government

independence

 

 

.

Learning Standards

Give examples of why it is necessary for communities to have governments (e.g. governments provide order and protect rights).

 

Give examples of the different ways people in a community can influence their local government.

 

Identify the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights as key American documents.

 

Explain the meaning of the stars and stripes in the American flag, and describe official procedures for the care and display of the flag.

 

Resource:  Massachusetts Our Home (Gibbs –Smith Publisher 2002)

Sample Assessments

Diagram how town governments take care of their citizens including:

 

School Committee

Planning Board

Board of Health

Zoning Board

Police

Fire

Selectmen/town government

 

Diagram personal responsibilities that citizens have.

 

Sample Learning Experiences

 

Activity:  Who makes the rules? (pg 91 Massachusetts Our Home)

Services (pgs 92, 93)

Ways to be a good citizen