|
The Government & You 1. Teacher's Notes Teacher's Notes Purpose: To provide students with an understanding of the levels and branches of government, how laws are made, and where in the government they can go for help. Print the word GOVERNMENT on the chalk board or on chart paper. Tell the students what the word is and ask them to tell you what they think it means. Give them time to come up with their own answers, and write their answers on the chalk board. After everyone has had a chance to volunteer an answer, explain that the government makes our laws, carries them out, and makes sure people obey them. Now ask students where the government is located. Some may say Washington, D.C., and some may say Jefferson City or St. Louis. Some may already have an understanding of the different levels of government. Distribute G&Y Activity Sheet 1, "Levels of Government." Write the names of the current president, governor, and mayor on the chalk board and ask students to write the appropriate name in each box. Next ask them where the main offices of each government are located. Write Washington, D.C., Jefferson City, and St. Louis on the chalk board. Have students complete the blanks for location as well. Explain that the federal and state governments also have offices at the local levels, for example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federal agency located in Washington, D.C., but it has an office in St. Louis and other cities, too. Distribute G&Y Activity Handout 2, "Federal and State Governments." Explain that the federal (or national) government is responsible for the whole nation. It is made up of the Congress, the President, many different federal departments and agencies, and the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts. At the state level, government is made up of the state legislature, the Governor, state-level departments and agencies, and state-level courts. Have students examine each collage on G&Y Activity Handout 2 and discuss some of the similarities and differences between federal and state government, based on these illustrations. For each of the federal and state agencies listed, have students try to identify the agency's major responsibility. Distribute G&Y Activity Handout 3, "Local Government." Explain that there are several different forms of local government, and that in St. Louis, there is an elected mayor and an elected board of aldermen (or city council). This is called a mayor-council form of government and is the most common type of city government in Missouri. Have students analyze the chart on Activity Sheet 5.3 and answer the following questions: Who chooses the mayor? Distribute G&Y Activity Handout 4, "Responsibilities of Local Governments." Have students examine each illustration and identify and discuss examples of the services associated with each responsibility. Distribute G&Y Activity Handout 5, "Levels of Government Quiz." Ask students to read the directions to themselves while you read them aloud. Answer any questions students may have. Read each item aloud and give students time to mark each space with an F for federal, an S for state, or an L for local. When all students have completed the form, discuss their responses to each question. After discussing each item, share the correct response. 1.F Distribute G&Y Activity Handout 6, "Branches of Government." Explain that governments at all levels are divided into three different branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Each branch of government has powers that the other branches do not have. This is called "separation of powers" and these powers are spelled out in the U.S. Constitution. Have students examine each illustration and give some examples of the responsibilities of each branch. For example: Legislative Branch:
Distribute G&Y Activity Handout 7, "Branches of Government Quiz." Ask students to read the directions to themselves while you read them aloud. Answer any questions students may have. Read each item aloud and give students time to mark each space with an L for legislative, and E for executive, or a J for judicial. When all students have completed the form, discuss their responses to each question. After discussing each item, share the correct response with them. 1.E The pace at which the materials are covered will depend on the ability levels of the students. Each of the activity sheets can be completed in anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes or more. Community Resource Lesson Depending on time and the availability of community resources in your area, this unit should include at least one lesson presented by a community resource person. A sample lesson plan is included; however, other government or law-related topics would also be appropriate. The specific topic should be determined in collaboration with the community resource person you select to visit the class. Possible resource persons for this unit are: State or local legislator President or member of the city council or board of aldermen The mayor or someone from the mayor's office Someone from the governor's office A judge A representative of a federal, state, or local government agency Family Involvement Activities Two family involvement activities for parents/guardians and their preschool children are included. These activities can be completed during class time or at home. |