1. Catch a Clue What will we learn about in our current unit?
Oceans and landforms
Relatives and ancestors
Government and democracy
Countries and continents

2. Catch a Clue Government and democracy Oceans and landforms
Relatives and ancestors
Countries and continents
We will not focus on bodies of water.
2. We will not focus on the past.
3. We will not focus on where people live.
4. We will learn about the functions of our government.

3. Created by: Suzi Heter, North Side Elementary
U. S. Government
Key Learning: Our United States Government is a Democracy Unit Essential Question: What is government and how does it work?
Created by: Suzi Heter, North Side Elementary

4. What is government? – KWL
Concept Map
What is government? – KWL

5. This word is not part of our Citizenship and Government unit.
Sorry Try again
This word is not part of our Citizenship and Government unit.

6. Yes this is an important new word!
Constitution A written set of laws that describes how a government is to work.

7. Yes this is an important new word!
Legislative One of the three branches of government. The legislative branch is responsible for making the laws.

8. Yes this is an important new word!
Judicial One of the three branches of government. The judicial branch is responsible for determining whether laws are fair.

9. Yes this is an important new word!
Executive One of the three branches of government. The executive branch is responsible for seeing that the laws are obeyed.

10. Yes this is an important new word!
Capitol The building in a state’s capital city where lawmakers meet.

11. Yes this is an important new word!
Local Community governments are one type of local government. They make laws for small towns or cities. A mayor is an example of a local government leader.

12. Yes this is an important new word!
State Each state has a governor, elected by it’s citizens, to suggest laws that will be good for the entire state.

13. Yes this is an important new word!
National The national government is led by the President and makes laws for the entire country.

14. Word Warm-Up
Which words might you expect to find while learning about government?
equator
constitution
state
latitude
continent
local
executive
legislative
judicial
climate
national
capitol

15. You are a Member of Many Communities!
The type of community you live in, influences the government or laws which you must obey. Let’s think about the communities that we live in…

16. Where do you live? Where do you live?
Review the communities that we live in by having students come to interactive board to write in answers. Today, we are going to look at the government of our entire country – The United States of America.

17. What is government?

18. Dauphin County, Lower Paxton Township
What is government?
National Government
State Government
Dauphin County, Lower Paxton Township
Local Government

19. What type of government does the United States have?
The United States has a form of government called a democracy.

20. What is a democracy?
A democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

21. Sharpen Your Word Skills
Noun: democracy, democracies Noun: democrat, democrats
Adjective: democratic Adverb: democratically
Democracy is the type of government practiced in the United States.
Mr. Smith is a registered democrat.
John F. Kennedy was a member of the democratic party.
We chose our new leader democratically.

22. What does a democracy mean to U.S. citizens?
What democracy means to U.S. Citizens.

23. How is our National Government Organized
The Government is divided into three branches:

24. The Legislative Branch
What is the duty of the legislative branch of the U.S. government?
What are its two parts?
How are members chosen?
How many senators and representatives are sent from each state?
Congress is the law making body of our country. It is comprised of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Representatives are determined by state population. Each state sends 2 senators.

25. The Legislative Branch
The Capitol Grounds A photo tour of the Capitol building grounds
A View of the Capitol Building Outer views of the Capitol Building
Inside the Capitol Building Photos of the inside of the Capitol Building
Statuary Hall State Statues located in the Capitol Building
Ben’s Guide: Branches of Government
Congress is the law making body of our country. It is comprised of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Representatives are determined by state population. Each state sends 2 senators.

26. The Executive Branch
Who is in charge of the Executive branch of our government?
Where does this leader live and work?
What is the function of the Executive Branch?
What are four duties of the President?
The President – George W. Bush
Washington D.C. – in the Whitehouse
The Executive branch is responsible for making sure the laws are obeyed. Make sure laws are executed, speak to the nation; lead the armed forces; work with leaders of other nations

27. The Executive Branch
Video Tour of the Whitehouse
Record facts that you learn on the tour into your Whitehouse journal!
The President – George W. Bush
Washington D.C. – in the Whitehouse
The Executive branch is responsible for making sure the laws are obeyed. Make sure laws are executed, speak to the nation; lead the armed forces; work with leaders of other nations

28. The Judicial Branch
What are the leaders of the judicial branch called?
What is the name of the highest court in the land?
What is the function of the judicial system?
How are the nine Supreme Court justices chosen?
Leader: judges/ justices
Supreme Court
Function: determine whether laws are fair Justices are appointed, or named, by the President and must be approved by the Senate. They may serve for the rest of his or her life or until he/she retires.

29. The Judicial Branch
Photo tour of the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C.
Supreme Court Virtual Tour
Leader: judges/ justices
Supreme Court
Function: determine whether laws are fair Justices are appointed, or named, by the President and must be approved by the Senate. They may serve for the rest of his or her life or until he/she retires.

30. How are State Governments Organized?

31. How are Local Governments Organized?
County Governments
Board of Supervisors and Courts
Local Governments
Town or city council
Mayor or City manager

32. Anticipation Guide True or False?
Government service is the work that people do for the government in a community.
One job of the health department is to offer special programs for children in the summer.
Public schools and libraries are not the responsibility of community government.
Without the public works department a community might not have clean water.
People pay sales taxes on the land and buildings they own.

33. What Services do Local Governments Provide?
Community governments provide many services for its citizens.

34. Reading the Text Group 1 – Safety and Health
Group 2 – Public Education
Group 3 – Parks and Recreation
Group 4 – Public Works
Group 5 – Taxes Pay for Services Directions: Read the assigned section in your group 2. Prove whether or not the anticipation guide statement is true or false. If false, correct the statement to make it true. If true, explain why the statement is true.

35. Anticipation Guide True or False?
Government service is the work that people do for the government in a community.

36. Anticipation Guide True or False?
2. One job of the health department is to offer special programs for children in the summer.

37. Anticipation Guide True or False?
3. Public schools and libraries are not the responsibility of community government.

38. Anticipation Guide True or False?
4. Without the public works department a community might not have clean water.

39. Anticipation Guide True or False?
5. People pay sales taxes on the land and buildings they own.

40. What is Patriotism?
Patriotism is a feeling of pride that citizens have for their country.

41. What is a symbol? Can you name any U.S. symbols?
The symbols of our country help us honor our heritage and think of the U.S. as a country of hope, freedom, and friendship.
Can you name any U.S. symbols?

42. The U.S. Flag What do the stars on the flag represent?
What do the stripes on the flag represent?
Why red, white, and blue?
How many stars on the current US flag?

43. The Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell cracked the first time it was rung in A new bell was made but it, too, cracked!
The Liberty Bell is on display near Independence Square in Phhiladelphia, PA

44. The Statue of Liberty Biggest birthday present the US ever received.
Symbol of hope for freedom.
France created the statue as a gift of friendship.
Arrived in New York harbor on October 26, 1886

45. The Bald Eagle Represents freedom and power.
Placed on Great Seal of our country in 1782.

46. What important documents helped to shape our government?
Constitution
Checks and Balances
The Bill of Rights

47. How can citizens help to promote changes to the lives of others?
Can you name any Americans who have worked to make life better for others?
What risks have some people taken to secure freedom for themselves and others?
Can you identify ordinary people who exemplify good citizenship?

48. Citizens Who Made a Difference
Born/Died
Occupation
Contribution
Thomas Jefferson
Third president, vice-president, secretary of state, member of congress, governor of VA
Worked hard for freedom of speech, religion, and the press
Harriet Tubman
Slave
Risked her life to help more than 300 people escape from slavery
Helen Keller
Public speaker and author
Read and studies, using her sense of touch, and encouraged people not to give up when challenged
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Baptist Minister
Spoke out against unfair laws and called on people to work for civil rights peacefully

49. Get Logical
There were four guest speakers at the charity event. Each speaker was an elected official or was running for office. Each person spoke about his or her job and area. Use the clues to decide who works in each area of government.

50. Get Logical Mayor Governor Manager President
Ms. Penner does not govern a state.
Mr. Olson does not govern a city or county. He was running for an office that has a term of four years.
Mr. Komisky works for the city. He is not the mayor.
Ms. Consuelos is in charge of a state.
Mayor
Governor
Manager
President
Mr. Komisky
Ms. Penner
Ms. Consuelos
Mr. Olson

51. Review for the test

52. PA State Standards
Civics and Government A Describe what government is B Explain the purposes of rules and laws and why they are important C Define the principles and ideals shaping government E Identify documents of US government G Describe the purpose of the United States Flag, The Pledge of Allegiance, and The National Anthem I Explain why government is necessary in the classroom, school, community, state and nation and the basic purposes of government in the United States K Identify symbols and political holidays D Identify the importance of political leadership and public service in the school, community, state, and nation A Identify the elected representative bodies responsible for making local, PA, and US laws B Identify the role of the three branches of government.
History A Identify contributions of individuals and groups to U.S. history B Identify and describe primary documents, material artifacts, and historic sites important in U.S. history.

53. ISTE Standards
1. Basic Operations and Concepts 4. Technology Communications Tools 5. Technology Research Tools

54. Resources
Berson, M. (2005). Harcourt Horizons: People and Communities. Orlando, FL: Harcourt School Publishers.
Callella, T. (2002). Integrating Maps and Money Huntington Beach, CA: Creative Teaching Press.
The American Government. United Learning (2003) Retrieved March 15, 2007, from unitedstreaming:
The Education Center, (2000). The White House Exploring Social Studies, TEC 1483,
This is Our Government. 100% Educational Videos (2003). Retrieved March 15, 2007, from unitedstreaming:
TLC Elementary School: Understanding Government Discovery Channel School(2006). Retrieved March 15, 2007, from unitedstreaming:
U.S. Symbols. 100% Educational Videos (1998). Retrieved March
31, 2007, from unitedstreaming: