Standard 2: Civic and Political Participation

Learn about the history and importance of American Founders Month with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Learn about the history and importance of the state flag as a symbol of Florida with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Explore the history and importance of the US Presidents as a symbol of the United States with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Explore the history and importance of the bald eagle as a symbol of the United States with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Learn about the history and importance of the U.S. flag as a symbol of the United States with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Learn about the history and importance of Martin Luther King Jr Day with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Learn about the history and importance of Patriot Day with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Explore the history and importance of Constitution Day with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Learn about the history and importance of Celebrate Freedom Week with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Discover the history and importance of Veterans Day with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Explore the history and meaning of Medal of Honor Day with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Explore the history and meaning of Memorial Day with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Learn about the history and importance of Independence Day in the United States of America with this interactive research page.

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Students will review examples of good citizens in their daily lives. The teacher will introduce the computational if/then statements to students to apply to examples of good citizens. Students will collaborate to use if/then conditionals as they consider citizenship examples. This is lesson 2 of a 3-lesson integrated computer science and civics mini-unit.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson #2 in the text unit series for The Star-Spangled Banner. As the text is read aloud, students will listen for rhyming words. After hearing the text, students will be presented with word pairs from the text. They will then practice making decisions by voting “yes” or “no" to tell whether the words are rhyming pairs. Students will work together to name another word(s) that rhymes with the words from the text. Civics content is integrated as the students vote to tell if the words are rhyming pairs and work together to make a decision as they name additional rhyming words.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson #3 in the text unit series for The Star-Spangled Banner. After hearing the text read aloud and exploring the book, students will listen to the musical version of The Star-Spangled Banner (National Anthem). As the music is played, they will be encouraged to paint/draw as the music evokes the emotion in them. They will then dictate or write their opinion of the text including at least one supporting idea.

Civics content is integrated as the students use their emotions/feelings to describe patriotism and pride in their country. Students will recognize The Star-Spangled Banner (National Anthem) as a symbol that represents the United States.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson #1 in the text unit series for The Star-Spangled Banner. Students will learn that “The Star-Spangled Banner” is a name sometimes used to describe the American flag. They will identify the flag and will then use the front cover of the book to help them describe the U.S. flag and engage in a picture walk through the text looking for the flag in each illustration. They will learn what the colors and symbols on the flag mean and why they are used to represent the United States of America. Students will work individually to create a picture/symbol that represents them as an individual and then work in small groups to combine their symbols to create a group flag. These will be presented to the class along with a description of how their group worked together to create the finished product. Flags can be displayed over the group tables throughout the exploration of the unit.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

This art and civics integrated lesson uses basic color theory (primary, secondary) to reinforce Florida's nickname, The Sunshine State. Students create an oil pastel crayon resist picture of a shining, warm-colored sun in a bright, cool-colored sky!

Type: Lesson Plan

In this integrated lesson plan, students will work in groups to create an algorithm to reach the responsible decision. Students will use the algorithm to identify examples of responsible and irresponsible decisions as they move across a grid. This is lesson 3 in an integrated civics and computer science unit. 

Type: Lesson Plan

In this integrated lesson plan, students will work together to use a given algorithm to reach the responsible decision. Students will use the algorithm to identify examples of responsible decisions as they move across a grid. 

This is lesson 2 of 3 of integrated civics with computer science.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this integrated lesson plan, students will discuss the different ways that groups of people can make decisions. Using communication and collaboration with peers and teachers, students will use a scratch program to solve a problem. 

*This is lesson 1 of 3 lessons that integrate civics with computer science* 

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson #6 in the text unit series for The Flag We Love. This lesson is a culminating activity that focuses on students’ recall of information from the text to answer the question: ”Why is the flag an important symbol of the United States?”. To demonstrate learning, students will use their knowledge of a symbol to create a personal flag and write a statement indicating why it is a meaningful symbol of themselves.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will discuss the Florida State flag and then create an art piece for the flag using art materials and mediums to complete this integrated lesson plan. Students will learn about the flag of the State of Florida and its nickname “The Sunshine State” and how they symbolize the State of Florida.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson # 4 in the text unit series for The Flag We Love. This lesson will use pages (1-2, 28-29) of the text to focus on students' oral retelling using the topic and details about the American Flag. Students will learn the concept of a symbol and recognize the American flag as a symbol of the United States, learning that the stars represent the 50 states, and the stripes represent the 13 original colonies. To demonstrate learning, students will create their own representation of the American flag, and orally present their flag while discussing the meaning of the stars and stripes.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson # 3 in the text unit series for The Flag We Love. This lesson will be the first read through of the text after a picture walk has been done. After a whole group reading of the text, instruction will focus on text vocabulary. Students will identify one word that answers the question “Why is the American Flag important?” and create a drawing to demonstrate understanding.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson # 2 of 6 in the text unit series for The Flag We Love. Students will engage in whole group and partner discussions about illustrations #8-15 in the picture book The Flag We Love. Students will make predictions about the text. The teacher will guide students through illustrations 8-15 in The Flag We Love, strategically guiding student discussions to targeted civics vocabulary words. The students will indicate what they learned by adding to the class graphic organizer.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson # 1 in the text unit series for The Flag We Love. Students will activate background knowledge about the American flag and add it to a class graphic organizer. Students will also generate questions, both independently and with a partner, about the American flag. Those responses will also be recorded on the graphic organizer. The teacher will introduce the book The Flag We Love. The class will complete a picture walk of the first seven illustrations with the teacher strategically bringing in targeted vocabulary words for the unit during the discussions. Students will share new learning or new questions after the picture walk. The teacher will also record that information on the graphic organizer.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson #5 in the text unit series for The Flag We Love. Students will participate in whole group and partner discussions about the places and times the American flag can be seen and is used as a symbol, as detailed in the picture book The Flag We Love by Pam Munoz Ryan. The teacher will elicit responses from the class to complete a topic/detail graphic organizer. Students will identify the topic of the text and several details, then illustrate one of the details and complete a sentence stem.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this integrated lesson, students will work as a class to categorize and sort stuffed animals by physical attributes. They will then work in groups to categorize and sort shapes.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this integrated lesson plan, students will use stuffed animals and objects from lesson 1 to directly compare the measurable attributes of two objects.  They will work in groups and practice decision making by comparing various objects. 

Type: Lesson Plan

The purpose of this lesson is for students to recognize that people work to earn money to buy things they need or want. Earning money often results in decision-making. Students will describe ways for groups to make responsible decisions, including voting, taking turns, class meetings, and discussions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will recognize that Florida’s nickname is, The Sunshine State, and will design a new state welcome sign by applying what they know about the Sun appearing in the daytime sky in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

After listening to The Bald Eagle by Norman Pearl or a teacher selected text about the bald eagle, students will identify the topic and details in the text while identifying the bald eagle as an American symbol in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will learn what it means to be a responsible citizen and explore the characteristics of responsible citizenship. The students will identify people from the past who have shown the character trait of responsibility while analyzing primary sources and explaining through writing why displaying responsibility is important.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will analyze and discuss the U.S. flag, the FL state flag, and the importance to use what they learn to create a flag that is a representation of the class.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will learn about the characteristics of being a responsible citizen and put into practice making responsible and irresponsible decisions by changing a piece of paper as an analogy for decision making, in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will identify representative American symbols and create a book that collects their learning about three important American symbols - the bald eagle, the flag, and the president. 

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will identify the topic and three important details of a text, using a graphic organizer, and the text The Bald Eagle by Norman Pearl.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, the teacher will provide students with an overview of what decision making entails, positive decision-making traits, jobs that require strong decision-making skills, and historical figures that have displayed these character traits. This lesson plan contains scenarios, a PowerPoint presentation, and a student handout.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will learn about the Florida state flag and understand that it represents the state of Florida. They will learn about the visual elements of the flag by observing representations of living organisms and discussing their similarities and differences in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this integrated lesson plan, students will work cooperatively in groups to choose a picture card that depicts a group of objects that is greater than, less than, or equal to the picture card shown by the teacher.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students reflect on the Founders’ decision to name the bald eagle as our national bird and symbol. They form their own opinion about whether bald eagles or wild turkeys would make a better national symbol and express their opinion with supporting reasons or facts. Students consider their classmates’ arguments before voting as a group to make a decision whether bald eagles or wild turkeys would make a better symbol for a country in part 2 of this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students use information from the book, The Bald Eagle by Norman Pearl, to compare the look and behavior of bald eagles and wild turkeys.  They explore early debates over the bald eagle as our national symbol as a way to differentiate fact from opinion in part 1 of this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will go on a simulated bird-watching trip around the classroom. They will collect and sort images of various birds into categories based on their visible characteristics. They will use these groups of bird images to practice counting and comparing objects in different categories. Students will use descriptions of bald eagles in the book, The Bald Eagle by Norman Pearl, to identify images of bald eagles among their categories and discuss how the bald eagle is a symbol of the United States.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will recognize Florida symbols including the state flag and nickname.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students create a patriotic picture that includes the following American symbols: the American flag, bald eagle, and the president.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will work together in small groups to discuss ideas for a topic that will be voted on at the end of the lesson using responsible decision making.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this integrated lesson plan, students will discuss the expectations for conduct within small group rotations of counting and representing with a written numeral (i.e.: how to take turns, how to make a responsible decision during the activity by staying on task and reminding other members of the group to stay on task while they are working at that rotation place, etc.). Students will also state the number of objects in a rearrangement of that group without recounting.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will learn about the Pledge of Allegiance and recite it themselves.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this integrated lesson plan, students are tasked with finding the Florida state flag by following directions from a partner who names the 2D or 3D shape it is hidden beneath. 

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will explore how the shape of modelling clay can be changed by cutting, tearing, crumpling, smashing, or rolling. They will mold clay into the shape of a bald eagle and discuss how their clay model is a representation of a bald eagle that shows its major features. The class will discuss the bald eagle as a symbol of the United States in this integrated lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will be able to sort objects, including American/Florida symbols based on size, color, and shape in this integrated lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will have the opportunity to apply knowledge of sorting and responsible voting to a fun and collaborative small group activity in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will identify the American flag as an important symbol of the United States. They will collect and sort data from the American Flag and compare the attributes. Students will sort and count red stripes and white stripes, long stripes and short stripes, long red stripes and long white stripes, short red stripes and short white stripes. Students will compare the stripes using the number line. They will also count stars by 1’s and 10’s in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

• Students will review the five senses and related body parts and then develop symbols that represent the senses. Students will then apply their understanding of symbols to study important US symbols in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will piece together a puzzle with numbered pieces (1-10 or 11-20) to reveal an image which they should recognize as a symbol that represents the United States (ie: American flag, bald eagle, U.S. Presidents George Washington or Abraham Lincoln) in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will review the five senses and related body parts and then develop symbols that represent the senses. Students will then apply their understanding of symbols to study important symbols of the state of Florida in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, teachers will assist students in recognizing symbols, including the state flag and state seal, that represent the state of Florida.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, teachers will assist students in recognizing symbols, like the U.S. flag and the bald eagle, that represent the United States.  

Type: Lesson Plan

Join Fiona as she creates a book all about Florida's state flag. Help Fiona locate different parts of a book, and use pictures to help understand meaning, in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Learn about the American flag by identifying colors and shapes and sorting parts of flag designs into groups in this interactive S.T.E.M. and civics integrated tutorial.

This is part 1 of 2-part series, click HERE to view part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Learn about the American flag by sorting flag designs and features into groups and counting the objects in a group in this interactive S.T.E.M. and civics integrated tutorial.

This is part 2 of 2-part series, click HERE to view part 1.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

This Kindergarten Civics Family Guide provides some ideas and activities to support civics education when at home, out and about, and in the community. The activities provided align to the civics learning benchmarks within Standard 2 at this grade level.

Type: Teaching Idea