1. Integrated Literacy Assignment
Alyssa Franklin

2. 2 – C3. 3 Identify services commonly provided by local governments (e
2 – C3.0.3 Identify services commonly provided by local governments (e.g. police, fire departments, schools, libraries, parks)
2- C3.0.2 Use examples to describe how local government affects the lives of its citizens

3. Trade Books & Children’s Literature
Policeman Lou and Policewoman Sue by Lisa Desimini - they patrol the town, keeping the streets safe and clear of problems. They write tickets and help people across traffic, and also stop a robbery! Students will enjoy the details of Lou and Sue's police duties. includes safety tips in the back.
Career as a Firefighter & Career as a Police Officer - These trade books take you inside the career and shows you the day and the life of a firefighter/ police officer. Inside you’ll learn what they do, what training is required, what the future holds, and how you can become one!
Trade Books & Children’s Literature

4. Games & Web Resources
Academic Raceway 500 (
Allendale Township Website (
Academic Raceway 500 is a game that lets students practice their knowledge of the local governments and its responsibilities, includes questions about taxation, laws about school, and emergency services
Allendale Township Website shows township services, elected officials, maps, and online resources. Would be fun to explore as a class

5. Songs & Videos Local Government Services Schoolhouse Rock – Taxes
Schoolhouse Rock – Taxes
Schoolhouse rock video talks about what taxes are used for and how the government collects them!

6. CML Resources
The Mailbox – Aug./Sept – “Scouting Out Community Citizens”
I think: It’s Elementary!: Communities
Career Cutouts
Posters
Objects
Places
Services.
Who Helps? by Judy Nayer
The Mailbox issue has a fun activity for identifying community services by brainstorming people in our community that provide services.
I Think: It’s elementary is a standards based unit plan for teaching communities. It has several activities about policemen, firemen, libraries, postal services, and schools, which are all services provided by the government.
Career Cutouts – These go through a majority of the community helpers that students are familiar with and provides pictures. I think it would be fun to use these to show students just how many of their community members are provided by the local government.
Who Helps – lists people in our communities that are resources provided by the local government.

7. Poem- “The Teachers Jumped Out of the Windows” by Kenn Nesbitt
and ran out the door after him.
as staff members scurried and raced.
The principal ran for the door.
Oh my! Goodbye!
They’re not coming back anymore, no more.
The nurse and librarian bolted.
We’d never seen anything like it.
How fun! They’ve run!
They’re not coming back anymore.
But still, it was pretty darned cool
to see all the staff so excited
The counselor, hollering madly,
The lunch ladies threw up their ladles,
to leave on the last day of school.
escaped out the door of the gym.
then fled from the kitchen in haste,
The coach and custodian shouted
and all of the students looked puzzled
I bolded all of the people in the story that are examples of a local government at work.

8. Lesson Plans The Feet in the Gym by Teri Daniels
Axle Annie by Robin Pulver
Both of these books come with lesson plans that discuss the books in a context related to public services. In The Feet in the Gym, the custodian works within the school, keeping it clean and functioning. In Axle Annie, Annie is a bus driver that relates to public transportation and schools, both of which are services provided by the local government.

9. References
Academic Raceway 500: Community and State Government. Retrieved from
Amerikaner, P. (1997). Career cutouts. Santa Barbara, California: The Learning Works, Inc.
Coletti, S & Hellen, A. (Eds.).(2009) I think: It’s elementary! Communities. InspirEd Educators.
Daniels, T. (1999). The feet in the gym. New York, NY: WinslowHouse
Desimini, L. (2003). Policeman Lou and Policewoman Sue. New York: Scholastic Inc.
Larson, A., & Bower, B. (2010) Social Studies Alive! Me and My World (Me and My World, Visuals) . TCI Publishing.
McCall, D. (Producer). (1995). Tax Man Max [Motion picture]. United States: Disney.
Nayer, J. (2007) Who Helps?. Northborough,MA: Newbridge Educational Publishing.
Nesbitt, K. My Teachers Jumped Out of the Windows. Retrieved from
Pulver, R. (1999) Axle Annie.New York, NY: Penguin Putnam.
Rogers, B. (2013). Career As A Firefighter: Career As A Firefighter: What They Do, How to Become One, and What the Future Holds!. KidLit-O Books.
Rogers, B. (2013). Career As a Police Officer: What They Do, How to Become One, and What the Future Holds!. KidLit-O Books.
Unknown. (2007).Allendale Charter Township. Retrieved from
Unknown, [xAFlem22x]. (2011, October 25). Local Government Services[Video file]. Retrieved from
Wagner, L. (2007, Aug./Sept.).Scouting Out Community Citizens. The Mailbox, 45-47