Standard 2: Civic and Political Participation

General Information
Number: SS.1.CG.2
Title: Civic and Political Participation
Type: Standard
Subject: Social Studies
Grade: 1
Strand: Civics and Government

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Access Points

SS.1.CG.2.AP.1
Identify responsibilities of students in a school community.
SS.1.CG.2.AP.2
Identify characteristics of responsible citizenship in the school community.
SS.1.CG.2.AP.3
Identify ways citizens demonstrate patriotism during patriotic holidays.
SS.1.CG.2.AP.4
Identify the national motto “In God We Trust” as a symbol of the United States.
SS.1.CG.2.AP.5
Identify the governor as an individual who represents the state of Florida.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Interactive Research Pages

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Veterans Day - Interactive Research Pages:

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Medal of Honor Day - Interactive Research Pages:

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Memorial Day Interactive Research Pages:

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

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Patriotic Holidays: Independence Day:

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

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Lesson Plans

Expedition Florida:

Students will imagine being among Juan Ponce de León’s crew when they first landed on the coast of modern-day Florida in this science and civics integrated lesson plan. They will conduct their own expedition to explore a location on campus to observe living things. In the process, students will learn about the first European exploration and naming of the state of Florida as well as the annual celebration that commemorates it on Pascua Florida Day.

Type: Lesson Plan

Living or Nonliving: Pascua Florida Day:

Students will imagine being among Juan Ponce de León’s crew when they first landed on the coast of modern-day Florida in this science and civics integrated lesson plan. Students will use this experience to practice differentiating between living and non-living things. In the process, they will learn about the first European exploration and naming of the state of Florida as well as the annual celebration that commemorates it on Pascua Florida Day.

Type: Lesson Plan

I Pledge Allegiance: Justice for All:

This is lesson #6 of the text unit series I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin Jr. Students will deep dive into the meaning of the word justice as it is used on pages 23 & 23 while contributing to the class graphic organizer of descriptions or ideas of “justice for all”. Students will create a recipe of the ingredients for their classroom, school and community which will also have the moral of “justice for all”.

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

Making Connections and Creating Content:

After an introduction refreshing students on the basic functions of Scratch, students will work independently to demonstrate their knowledge of program functions, appropriate behavior for school, and responsible electronic device handling. This is lesson three of a 3-part integrated computer science and civics mini-unit.

Type: Lesson Plan

Responsible Citizens Using Electronic Devices:

Students will demonstrate their ability to use a planning sheet to record appearance changes of their backgrounds and Sprites in the Scratch program. This is lesson two of a 3-part integrated computer science and civics mini-unit.

Type: Lesson Plan

Responsible Citizenship at School:

Students will collaborate on a teacher-led Scratch program answering questions about the actions of responsible and irresponsible citizens. Student understanding will be assessed by an individual activity asking students to sort images into responsible/irresponsible behavior categories. This is the first lesson in a three-part integrated computer science and civics mini-unit.

Type: Lesson Plan

Who Was Benjamin Franklin?:

Type: Lesson Plan

I Pledge Allegiance- My Class Flag:

This is lesson #9 in the text unit series for I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson. In this lesson, students will identify the characteristics of responsible citizenship by compiling examples of classroom citizenship in a teacher directed class discussion, whole group brainstorm map, and creating a class flag that showcases these examples. The class maps will be created by groups of 3 to 4 students. The flags will contain a non-linguistic representation of their groups ideals and class ideals. It should also have connections to their pledge that was written in lesson 8. The class flag can be modeled with the same features and ideas that are represented in our national flag and state flag. Students may use a variety of multimedia elements such as drawing, painting, collage or digital effects. Teachers may reference the students group pledges from lesson 8.

In this unit, students will identify or explain rights and responsibilities in their school community, ways to show respect during the Pledge of Allegiance, symbols of the United States, and symbols that represent Florida as well as demonstrate characteristics of responsible decision-making. Students will engage in a read aloud over several days with lessons that emphasize text features, vocabulary, central idea, and similarities and differences between information provided visually and within text. In addition, the teacher will facilitate research, students' presentations, and artwork as activities to help students demonstrate their knowledge of respect for the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin: Lesson 7 We the People:

In this lesson, part of a text unit utilizing David A. Adler’s A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin, students will learn about what a constitution is and why our country has one. After, they will use their knowledge of Benjamin Franklin as well as key details from the text to collaborate and develop a classroom constitution starting with the words “We the People”. All students will sign the class constitution to reenforce the concept that a constitution is a set of rules agreed upon by the people.

This unit is focused on identifying Benjamin Franklin as the topic of the text. Civics is integrated through understanding that Benjamin Franklin represents the United States. Students will explore life in the 1700’s to gain background knowledge. Teacher will create an ongoing timeline to document the major events in Ben’s life as key details. Students will solve a real world problem through invention, create a newspaper article to spread news, write both an expository and opinion piece. The assessment for the unit will be a kite that is a graphic organizer for students to identify the topic and relevant details in a text.

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

A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin: Lesson 2 Going Back in Time:

In this lesson, part of a text unit utilizing David A. Adler’s A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin, students will be transported back in time by taking a picture walk and creating an environment like Benjamin Franklin’s era. Students will be reminded that Benjamin Franklin is the main topic of the unit, so it is important to understand the time period he lived in. Students will identify differences they see in the pictures as compared to things they see in today’s world. As they notice the differences, the vocabulary from the text will be introduced.

This unit is focused on identifying Benjamin Franklin as the topic of the text. Civics is integrated through understanding that Benjamin Franklin represents the United States. Students will explore life in the 1700’s to gain background knowledge. Teacher will create an ongoing timeline to document the major events in Ben’s life as key details. Students will solve a real world problem through invention, create a newspaper article to spread news, and write both an expository and opinion piece. The assessment for the unit will be a kite that is a graphic organizer for students to identify the topic and relevant details in a text.

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

George Washington: Vocabulary:

This is lesson #1 in the text unit series for George Washington by Philip Abraham, pages 1-11. Students will develop their own definition for targeted civics vocabulary words using illustrations and their background knowledge. They will begin to build background knowledge as they continue to discover why George Washington is an individual who represents the United States.

During this unit, students will use the text, George Washington, to explain how George Washington is an individual that represents our country, how he demonstrated patriotism, and a responsible citizenship. Students will engage in a read aloud spread out over several lessons emphasizing vocabulary, text features, and identifying relevant details the central idea of the text, George Washington. In addition, students will write expository texts that explain why George Washington is recognized as a national symbol/individual and opinion texts identifying characteristics of a responsible citizen.

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

George Washington: Inflectional Endings:

This is lesson #3 in the text unit series for George Washington by Philip Abraham, focusing on pages 6, and 12-18. In this lesson, students will identify common inflections on targeted words that relate to why George Washington is recognized as an individual that represents the United States. Building upon previous lessons, students will use words that contain inflections that change a word from present tense to past tense to further understand why George Washington is a historical figure that represents the United States.

During this unit, students will use the text, George Washington, to explain how George Washington is an individual that represents our country, how he demonstrated patriotism, and a responsible citizenship. Students will engage in a read aloud spread out over several lessons emphasizing vocabulary, text features, and identifying relevant details the central idea of the text, George Washington. In addition, students will write expository texts that explain why George Washington is recognized as a national symbol/individual and opinion texts identifying characteristics of a responsible citizen.

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

George Washington: An Individual Who Represents the United States:

This is lesson #4 in the text unit series for George Washington by Philip Abraham. Students will write an expository text identifying the topic of George Washington as an individual that represents the United States. They will use the text as a source to provide relevant details to support the topic.

During this unit, students will use the text, George Washington, to explain how George Washington is an individual that represents our country, how he demonstrated patriotism, and a responsible citizenship. Students will engage in a read aloud spread out over several lessons emphasizing vocabulary, text features, and identifying relevant details the central idea of the text, George Washington. In addition, students will write expository texts that explain why George Washington is recognized as a national symbol/individual and opinion texts identifying characteristics of a responsible citizen.

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

George Washington: Dollar Bill Design:

This is lesson #6 in the text unit series for George Washington by Philip Abraham. After reading, students will use the information from the text about George Washington to recognize him as an individual that represents the United States as a responsible citizen and recognize that as the reason he is on the US dollar bill. They will design a dollar bill of their own and develop an opinion writing piece that argues why George Washington was chosen to be on the US Dollar Bill. Students will then orally present their opinion writing and dollar bill design.

During this unit, students will use the text, George Washington, to explain how George Washington is an individual that represents our country, how he demonstrated patriotism, and a responsible citizenship. Students will engage in a read aloud spread out over several lessons emphasizing vocabulary, text features, and identifying relevant details the central idea of the text, George Washington. In addition, students will write expository texts that explain why George Washington is recognized as a national symbol/individual and opinion texts identifying characteristics of a responsible citizen.

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

George Washington: Characteristics of Citizenship:

This is lesson #5 in the text unit series for George Washington by Philip Abraham. During a read aloud, the teacher will explain the terms “responsible citizenship” and “patriotism” and how George Washington was an individual that showed both. During the read aloud, students will use a graphic organizer and text features to identify how George Washington demonstrated patriotism, responsible citizenship, or both. Students will use this information to recognize how citizens can show patriotism, and will describe the characteristics of responsible citizenship. Students will use the information from the graphic organizer to share their new understandings with a partner.

During this unit, students will use the text, George Washington, to explain how George Washington is an individual that represents our country, how he demonstrated patriotism, and a responsible citizenship. Students will engage in a read aloud spread out over several lessons emphasizing vocabulary, text features, and identifying relevant details the central idea of the text, George Washington. In addition, students will write expository texts that explain why George Washington is recognized as a national symbol/individual and opinion texts identifying characteristics of a responsible citizen.

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

George Washington: Text Feature Vocabulary Match:

This is lesson #2 in the text unit series for George Washington by Philip Abraham. During a read aloud, the teacher will read with students pages 12-22 of the text. With teacher support, students will identify and use picture clues to determine the meaning of unknown vocabulary words and gain knowledge of who George Washington was and how he is an individual that represents our country. With modeling and teacher support, students will complete a vocabulary-based graphic organizer using the visuals in the text to explain the similarities and differences between the vocabulary words and the visuals. Students will use the vocabulary words, picture clues, information provided in the visuals and completed graphic organizer to develop the skills to recognize and explain George Washington as an individual who represents our country.

During this unit, students will use the text, George Washington, to explain how George Washington is an individual that represents our country, how he demonstrated patriotism, and a responsible citizenship. Students will engage in a read aloud spread out over several lessons emphasizing vocabulary, text features, and identifying relevant details the central idea of the text, George Washington. In addition, students will write expository texts that explain why George Washington is recognized as a national symbol/individual and opinion texts identifying characteristics of a responsible citizen.

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

I Pledge Allegiance: Being Responsible By Showing Respect:

This is lesson 1 in the unit I Pledge Allegiance. In this lesson, students will identify the topic and relevant details from the text and create a poster describing ways they can demonstrate responsible citizenship by showing respect to others and the nation.

This unit will help students identify or explain rights and responsibilities in their school community, ways to show respect during the Pledge of Allegiance, symbols of the United States, symbols that represent Florida and demonstrate characteristics of responsible decision-making. Students will engage in a read aloud over several days with lessons that emphasize text features, vocabulary, central idea, and similarities and differences between information provided visually and within text. In addition, the teacher will facilitate research, students' presentations, and artwork as activities to help students demonstrate their knowledge of respect for the Pledge of Allegiance. In lesson one, students will be making a connection between pledging allegiance to the flag and country to how we show respect to others in our class and community.

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

Responsible or Irresponsible Citizens Care for the Environment- Lesson 3:

Students will use a Scratch model to identify ways responsible citizens act in an outdoor environment. This is lesson 3 of an integrated computer science and civics mini-unit. Students will be fully engaged while working with civics, computer science, and coding.

Type: Lesson Plan

Responsible or Irresponsible Citizens in the School Community-Lesson 2:

Using a Scratch animation, students will gather information about the characteristics of a responsible citizen within the School Community. Students will use a model of a common area (such as a library) and coding to identify the effects of responsible or irresponsible citizens in a libraby. This is lesson two of a three-part integrated computer science and civics mini-unit.

Type: Lesson Plan

I Pledge Allegiance: A Poem For All:

This is lesson #7 of the text unit series I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin Jr and Michael Sampson. Students will read the Pledge of Allegiance as a poem while learning the vocabulary and examples of stanzas and line breaks within the poem. Students will create an American flag with the poem on the stripes. Using their new created Flag, the teacher will teach the proper way of folding the flag and the proper ways of caring for the flag .

This unit will help students identify or explain rights and responsibilities in their school community, ways to show respect during the Pledge of Allegiance, symbols of the United States, symbols that represent Florida, and demonstrate characteristics of responsible decision-making. Students will engage in a read aloud over several days with lessons that emphasize text features, vocabulary, central idea, and similarities and differences between information provided visually and within text. In addition, the teacher will facilitate research, students' presentations, and artwork as activities to help students demonstrate their knowledge of respect for the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Lesson 1 - Responsible Sorting:

This is the first of three lessons integrating responsible citizenship in the classroom. Students will define responsible citizenship while sorting objects by their physical properties in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Who Was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?:

In this lesson plan, students will recognize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as an influential leader in the U.S. who demonstrated character, ideals, and principles.

Type: Lesson Plan

Responsible or Irresponsible Citizens in the Classroom- Lesson 1:

Based on a Scratch animation, students will use a concept map to organize and sort the characteristics of responsible and irresponsible citizens. This lesson is part one of a three-part integrated computer science and civics mini-unit. 

Type: Lesson Plan

Citizenship Topic:

Students will identify the topic of a text and a relevant detail using a civic-focused text. Students will understand the responsibilities of citizens in the community and be able to identify their responsibilities as a student in the school community.

Type: Lesson Plan

A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin: Lesson 4: If You Can Dream It You Can Make It:

In this lesson students will connect with Benjamin Franklin using A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin by David A. Adler for reference. Students will plan, design, and engineer an artifact that will better a task they encounter regularly. Through trial and error and free exploration, students will generate explanations about why their invention did or did not work.

This unit is focused on identifying Benjamin Franklin as the topic of the text. Civics is integrated through understanding that Benjamin Franklin represents the United States. Students will explore life in the 1700’s to gain background knowledge. Teacher will create an ongoing timeline to document the major events in Ben’s life as key details. Students will solve a real world problem through invention, create a newspaper article to spread news, write both an expository and opinion piece. The assessment for the unit will be a kite that is a graphic organizer for students to identify the topic and relevant details in a text.

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

I Pledge Allegiance- What Is It About?:

This is lesson #4 in the unit, I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin, Jr. In this lesson students will learn to identify the topic of a text and recall relevant details using the text, I Pledge Allegiance. Students then use the information gained to write an expository piece about how to show respect for the flag and our country during the Pledge of Allegiance.

In this unit students will identify or explain rights and responsibilities in their school community, ways to show respect during the Pledge of Allegiance, symbols of the United States, symbols that represent Florida and demonstrate characteristics of responsible decision-making. Students will engage in a read aloud over several days with lessons that emphasize text features, vocabulary, central idea, and similarities and differences between information provided visually and within text. In addition, the teacher will facilitate research, students' presentations, and artwork as activities to help students demonstrate their knowledge of respect for the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Let's Celebrate Pascua Florida Day with Georgia O'Keeffe!:

 In this integrated lesson, students will recognize the symbolism of Pascua Florida Day and celebrate flowers by looking at artwork by Georgia O’Keeffe, who became famous painting them.  They will then paint a close-up of a flower of their own using paper, pencil, washable markers, paintbrushes and water.

 

Type: Lesson Plan

Who Was George Washington?:

In this lesson plan, students will recognize George Washington as an influential leader in the U.S. who demonstrated character, ideals, and principles.

Type: Lesson Plan

Now and Ben: Leaving a Legacy like Ben Culminating Activity:

In this culminating activity for the book Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta, students will use a choice chart to select a product (written product, artwork, video, presentation, or oral/video presentation) that answers the questions: How did Benjamin Franklin contribute to his community? How can I contribute to my own community? Students will use their knowledge from reading Now and Ben and learnings about Benjamin Franklin as a citizen to share how they will impact their community and leave a legacy like Ben.

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

I Pledge Allegiance- Classroom Pledge:

This is lesson #8 of the text unit series for the text I Pledge of Allegiance. This lesson will build students’ understanding of the pledge, respect, and personal responsibility by creating a whole-group class pledge and a personal pledge. The students will use the text and work together to make a class pledge representing the promise all students will follow in the classroom.

This unit will help students identify or explain rights and responsibilities in their school community, ways to show respect during the Pledge of Allegiance, symbols of the United States, and demonstrate characteristics of responsible decision-making. Students will engage in a read-aloud over several days with lessons emphasizing text features, vocabulary, central idea, and similarities and differences between information provided visually and within the text. In addition, the teacher will facilitate research, students' presentations, and artwork as activities to help students demonstrate their knowledge of respect for the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

I Pledge Allegiance: Symbols that Represent:

This is lesson #5 of the I Pledge Allegiance text unit series. This lesson will build students’ knowledge of symbols representing the United States of America through discussion and interaction with their peers and teacher. During the discussion, the students will contemplate the meaning of “We the People” and “In God, We Trust,” using pages 18 and 19 to determine the meaning.

This unit will help students identify or explain rights and responsibilities in their school community, ways to show respect during the Pledge of Allegiance, symbols of the United States, and demonstrate characteristics of responsible decision-making. Students will engage in a read-aloud over several days with lessons emphasizing text features, vocabulary, central idea, and similarities and differences between information provided visually and within the text. In addition, the teacher will facilitate research, students' presentations, and artwork as activities to help students demonstrate their knowledge of respect for the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Responsible Citizens: Creating Code Part 2:

Students will create a Scratch block code program that explains the characteristics of a responsible citizen. Using a previously completed planning sheet, students will use Scratch block code programming to create a project that displays an act of responsible citizenship within the community.

Type: Lesson Plan

Let's be Nice:

Students will practice thinking about being responsible citizens in their school community. They will discuss the appropriate ways to interact with living and nonliving things and then demonstrate their understanding by acting as responsible citizens during a guided activity in this integrated lesson plan.

 

 

Type: Lesson Plan

Who's Who: Benjamin Franklin:

Students will explore why Benjamin Franklin is considered an individual who represents the United States, create symbols to represent him, then write to explain how the chosen symbols represent him, in this lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Being Honest, Courageous, Responsible is Not So Hard!!!:

In this lesson, students will read about who Martin Luther King Jr. is and how his actions, thoughts, and words were influential to U.S. History. Students will also explore traits such as honesty, courage, and responsibility for displaying citizenship.

Type: Lesson Plan

I Pledge Allegiance: What is a Pledge?:

This is lesson #2 in the text unit series I Pledge Allegiance. Students will explore the vocabulary words pledge, allegiance and republic from the Pledge of Allegiance and identify what a pledge is. Students will also be able to explain the similarities and differences of the visuals and text within the book I Pledge Allegiance. Students will identify a positive pledge, or promise, versus a negative pledge, regarding their rights and responsibilities within the classroom community.

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

Showing Respect During "The Star Spangled Banner":

In this lesson, students will learn the history behind "The Star Spangled Banner" and the respectful behaviors to display during its playing.

Type: Lesson Plan

Envisioning Our National Anthem Through Music and Art Part 1:

In this first lesson of a two-part series students will learn of the poet, Francis Scott Key, and the creation of “The Star-Spangled Banner”. They will discuss ways to show respect during the national anthem and practice the lyrics of the first verse. This is a music and civics integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Envisioning Our National Anthem Through Music and Art Part 2:

In this two-part integrated civics lesson teachers and students will continue to learn about the poet Francis Scott Key and sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” They will discuss ways to show respect during the National Anthem. This lesson focuses on reinforcing skills from part one and what students envision when they hear this song.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Pledge of Allegiance:

Students will learn the history of the Pledge of Allegiance, the proper behaviors to display while reciting the pledge, and the meaning behind the words.

Type: Lesson Plan

A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin: Lesson 3: Big Ideas:

In lesson 3 of this unit, students will dive into reading the text, A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin by David Adler. Civics will be integrated throughout as students make connections and identify the topic and relevant details of Benjamin Franklin's childhood as well as incorporate multimedia into their written timelines to develop awareness of important life events. This is the third lesson in a unit using the text, A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin by David Adler.

This unit is focused on identifying Benjamin Franklin as the topic of the text. Civics is integrated through understanding that Benjamin Franklin represents the United States. Students will explore life in the 1700’s to gain background knowledge. Teacher will create an ongoing timeline to document the major events in Ben’s life as key details. Students will solve a real world problem through invention, create a newspaper article to spread news, write both an expository and opinion piece. The assessment for the unit will be a kite that is a graphic organizer for students to identify the topic and relevant details in a text.

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

A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin: Lesson 5: Extra! Extra! Read All About Ben!:

In lesson 5 of the text unit using A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin students will apply newly learned relevant details about Benjamin Franklin’s life, which includes his contributions to society such as his innovations through science and his printing press, to write facts in the form of a newspaper article.

This unit is focused on identifying Benjamin Franklin as the topic of the text. Civics is integrated through understanding that Benjamin Franklin represents the United States. Students will explore life in the 1700’s to gain background knowledge. Teacher will create an ongoing timeline to document the major events in Ben’s life as key details. Students will solve a real world problem through invention, create a newspaper article to spread news, write both an expository and opinion piece. The assessment for the unit will be a kite that is a graphic organizer for students to identify the topic and relevant details in a text.

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

A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin: Lesson 6: Unfair Rules:

In lesson 6 of this unit, the teacher will continue reading A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin. Civics will be integrated throughout as students learn about the purpose of rules and laws in school, home, and community. Students will identify relevant details in order to make a connection with Benjamin Franklin, who stood up against a law that he felt was unfair, by writing their own opinion pieces about a fictitious rule.

This unit is focused on identifying Benjamin Franklin as the topic of the text. Civics is integrated through understanding that Benjamin Franklin represents the United States. Students will explore life in the 1700’s to gain background knowledge. Teacher will create an ongoing timeline to document the major events in Ben’s life as key details. Students will solve a real world problem through invention, create a newspaper article to spread news, write both an expository and opinion piece. The assessment for the unit will be a kite that is a graphic organizer for students to identify the topic and relevant details in a text.

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

Patriotism on Memorial Day:

This lesson will define patriotism and explain how citizens can demonstrate patriotic behaviors during patriotic holidays, such as Memorial Day. The students will learn that people who display courage and bravery, like soldiers, deserve patriotic appreciation from their country.

Type: Lesson Plan

Make a Patriotic Holiday Calendar:

Students will make a personalized calendar of patriotic holidays to reference throughout the academic or full calendar year.

Type: Lesson Plan

A Picture Book Of Benjamin Franklin: Lesson1: Understanding Timelines:

In this pre-reading lesson, lesson #1 of the text unit A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin, students will be introduced to the academic vocabulary word “Timeline” as well as vocabulary words that will be learned throughout the unit. Students' will use background knowledge of our class schedule to build a timeline of our day. Students are connecting the timeline of our day to a timeline of historical events, dating back to the 1700's, that focused on the life of Benjamin Franklin. This will help students understand the concept that Benjamin Franklin, an individual who represents the United States, is a person in history from another time long ago.

This unit is focused on identifying Benjamin Franklin as the topic of the text. Civics is integrated through understanding that Benjamin Franklin represents the United States. Students will explore life in the 1700’s to gain background knowledge. Teacher will create an ongoing timeline to document the major events in Ben’s life as key details. Students will solve a real world problem through invention, create a newspaper article to spread news, write both an expository and opinion piece. The assessment for the unit will be a kite that is a graphic organizer for students to identify the topic and relevant details in a text.

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

Responsible Citizens: Creating Code Part 1:

Students will plan a Scratch block code program that explains the characteristics of responsible citizens. After viewing an example Scratch project, students and teachers will explore the various block coding and commands that run Scratch programming. Using a brainstormed list of acts of responsible citizenship, students will then complete a planning sheet that includes aspects of block code programming to illustrate one act of responsible citizenship that they will describe.

Type: Lesson Plan

A Picture Book of Ben Franklin: Lesson 8: Build It Like Ben:

This is the final lesson in the unit. Students will connect with Benjamin Franklin, after reading A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin by David Adler, as an individual who represents the United States and whose curiosity led to many great explorations and impactful inventions. Students will be designing, exploring and building a kite. Through the process and with trial and error, students will describe the way their object moves and generate explanations about why their kite did or did not fly.

This unit is focused on identifying Benjamin Franklin as the topic of the text. Civics is integrated through understanding that Benjamin Franklin represents the United States. Students will explore life in the 1700’s to gain background knowledge. Teacher will create an ongoing timeline to document the major events in Ben’s life as key details. Students will solve a real world problem through invention, create a newspaper article to spread news, write both an expository and opinion piece. The assessment for the unit will be a kite that is a graphic organizer for students to identify the topic and relevant details in a text.

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

Responsible Citizenship:

Students will describe the characteristics of responsible or irresponsible citizenship for character in a story. They will then apply this knowledge to various, short story scenarios to identify the character traits of a person showing good citizenship. In small groups students will agree or disagree with their peer’s opinions and will explain their reasoning.

Type: Lesson Plan

Creating Block Code for Pascua Florida Day: Part 2 Coding in Scratch:

Students will create a simple Scratch coding program to explain how Pascua Florida Day is a symbol that represents Florida. Students will choose between provided backgrounds, sprites and write and voice their own narration. Students will use the paint editor tool or previously created images to add to their Scratch project.

Type: Lesson Plan

Are You a Responsible Sorter and Citizen?:

Students will identify and sort three-dimensional figures by their attributes while demonstrating and identifying qualities of responsible citizenship.

Type: Lesson Plan

Responsible Citizen:

Teachers will read a fiction book with a main character that shows various responsible character traits. After the story is read, the students will turn and talk to their shoulder partner using words and examples of how the character showed responsibility traits.  The teacher will record responses on a class chart. In this integrated lesson plan, the students will then draw and/or write about a time they showed responsible traits in their own lives.

Type: Lesson Plan

Creating Block Code for Pascua Florida Day: Part 1 Researching and Planning:

Students will explore information about the history and significance of Pascua Florida Day. After reading about Pascua Florida Day, students and teachers will highlight important information. Students will complete a coding planning sheet and practice creating flowers using a digital paint program. The coding planning sheet and digital artifacts will be used for the future creation of simple coding program using Scratch.

Type: Lesson Plan

Who's Who: Daniel Webster:

Students will explore why Daniel Webster is considered an individual who represents the United States, create symbols to represent him, then write to explain how the chosen symbols represent him, in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Who's Who: Martin Luther King Jr.:

Students will explore why Martin Luther King Jr. is considered an individual who represents the United States, create symbols to represent him, then write to explain how the chosen symbols represent him, in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Tally Patriotism:

Students will collect, record, and compare data about their favorite way to demonstrate patriotism during a patriotic holiday or observance.

Type: Lesson Plan

Recognizing a Constitution:

In this lesson plan, students will explain the meaning of a constitution, identify who "We the People," are, and explain why Florida and the United States both have constitutions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Recognizing Florida State Symbols - The Governor:

In this lesson plan, students will identify the job and responsibilities of the governor and write a letter to the current Florida governor.

Type: Lesson Plan

Recognizing Florida State Symbols - The State Motto and Seal:

In this lesson plan, students will identify and explain some of Florida's state symbols. The will create a Florida state seal including the state motto and write the date of Pascua Florida Day.

Type: Lesson Plan

If/Then Responsible Citizens :

In this integrated lesson plan, students will work collaboratively in guided partner groups to identify responsible and irresponsible characteristics of students in a school community. Using computational thinking language of if/then conditional statements, the students will sort the information regarding responsible and irresponsible citizens in a useful order.

Type: Lesson Plan

I Am Responsible:

Students will write about one of their responsibilities as a citizen at their school. In this lesson, students will discuss their role in contributing to a positive school community and create a class list of ways they can actively demonstrate their responsibilities. Students will then write a short explanation of one way that they can be a responsible member of their school community.

Type: Lesson Plan

Who's Who: George Washington Lesson:

Students will explore why George Washington is considered a symbol of the United States, create symbols to represent George Washington, then write to explain why the chosen symbols represent him, in this lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

U.S.A. Mottos:

In this lesson plan, students will recognize the national mottos “In God We Trust” and “We the People” as symbols that represent the United States. They will explore the meaning behind these mottos as well. 

Type: Lesson Plan

Recognizing Individuals that Represent the United States:

In this lesson plan, students will recognize individuals that represent the United States and understand their impact on U.S. history.

Type: Lesson Plan

Demonstrating Patriotism:

In this lesson plan, students will demonstrate patriotism in a classroom parade. Students will identify various patriotic holidays, including expected behaviors, and how to show respect while demonstrating their patriotism.

Type: Lesson Plan

What If Everybody Broke the Rules? Part 3:

Students will use previously identified character traits that have been connected to responsible citizenship to understand the importance of being responsible citizens. This information will help them identify and explain the moral of the story, choose responsible character traits to describe themselves, and write two ways they can be responsible citizens within their school community to make a positive difference.

This is part 3 of 3 in a series of ELA and Civics integrated lessons based on the book What If Everybody Did That?

Type: Lesson Plan

What If Everybody Broke the Rules? Part 2:

Students will analyze the main character’s actions, connect the character’s irresponsible character traits to responsible character traits, and create a scenario in which people can act responsibly by following the rules within the school community, in this integrated ELA and Civics lesson.

This is part 2 of a 3 part series based on the book What If Everybody Did That?

Type: Lesson Plan

What If Everybody Broke the Rules? Part 1:

Students will describe the main character using adjectives, determine if his actions throughout the community are responsible or irresponsible, and generate a list of responsible citizenship traits, in this integrated ELA and Civics lesson plan.

This is part 1 of 3 in a series of lessons based on the book What If Everybody Did That?

Type: Lesson Plan

Responsible and Irresponsible Citizenship Characteristics:

In this lesson plan, students identify characteristics of responsible and irresponsible citizenship. The lesson culminates with students drawing an explaining and example of responsible behavior at school. 

Type: Lesson Plan

Rights and Responsibilities in the School Community:

In this lesson plan, students explain their rights and responsibilities at school. 

Type: Lesson Plan

Guess Who: True American Edition:

In this integrated lesson plan, students will identify US coins, express their values using the cents (¢) symbol and state their equivalency to the US dollar while recognizing symbols and individuals that represent the United States.

Type: Lesson Plan

My Rights and My Responsibilities:

In this lesson, students will learn the difference between rights and responsibilities. They will explore different rights and responsibilities that they have in the school community, as well as opportunity costs when they must fulfill their responsibilities as students.

Type: Lesson Plan

How Do We Show Patriotism?:

In this lesson, students will learn about demonstrating patriotism through an interactive slideshow activity in which they identify patriotic symbols, activities, and holidays.

Type: Lesson Plan

David's big problem:

In this Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA), students will work collaboratively in guided groups to resolve conflicts while demonstrating respect and kindness with a focus on recognizing the characteristics of responsible citizenship. They will collect data into categories and represent the results using tally marks or pictographs.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

Let’s Celebrate: Pascua Florida Day!:

Learn more about Pascua Florida Day and the explorer Ponce De Leon who gave Florida its name in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Our Motto: In God We Trust:

Learn about the state and national motto "In God We Trust" in this short video.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Who's Who: Benjamin Franklin:

Learn about the accomplishments and life of Benjamin Franklin with the interactive book.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Who's Who: Daniel Webster:

Learn about the life and accomplishments of Daniel Webster in this interactive reader.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Who's Who: Martin Luther King Jr.:

Learn about the life and accomplishments Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with this interactive reader.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Who's Who: George Washington:

Learn about the accomplishments and life of George Washington with this interactive book.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Pascua Florida Day:

Use your imagination to experience what it may have been like to be a member of Ponce de Leon's crew as they arrived on the shores of Florida for the first time.  Make observations and discover the origin of Florida's name in this video.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Teaching Idea

Grade 1 Civics Family Guide: Standard 2:

This Grade 1 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

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorials

Let’s Celebrate: Pascua Florida Day!:

Learn more about Pascua Florida Day and the explorer Ponce De Leon who gave Florida its name in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Our Motto: In God We Trust:

Learn about the state and national motto "In God We Trust" in this short video.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Who's Who: Benjamin Franklin:

Learn about the accomplishments and life of Benjamin Franklin with the interactive book.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Who's Who: Daniel Webster:

Learn about the life and accomplishments of Daniel Webster in this interactive reader.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Who's Who: Martin Luther King Jr.:

Learn about the life and accomplishments Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with this interactive reader.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Who's Who: George Washington:

Learn about the accomplishments and life of George Washington with this interactive book.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Pascua Florida Day:

Use your imagination to experience what it may have been like to be a member of Ponce de Leon's crew as they arrived on the shores of Florida for the first time.  Make observations and discover the origin of Florida's name in this video.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Interactive Research Pages

American Founders Month - Interactive Research Pages:

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

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Interactive Research Pages:

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

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Patriot Day - Interactive Research Pages:

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

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Constitution Day - Interactive Research Pages:

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

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Celebrate Freedom Week - Interactive Research Pages:

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

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Veterans Day - Interactive Research Pages:

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

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Medal of Honor Day - Interactive Research Pages:

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

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Memorial Day Interactive Research Pages:

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

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Patriotic Holidays: Independence Day:

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

Type: Interactive Research Pages

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Teaching Idea

Grade 1 Civics Family Guide: Standard 2:

This Grade 1 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