Standard 3: Structure and Functions of Government

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General Information
Number: SS.1.CG.3
Title: Structure and Functions of Government
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.3.AP.1
Identify a constitution as an agreed-upon set of rules.
SS.1.CG.3.AP.2
Demonstrate ways of responsible decision-making such as voting on a class snack.

Related Resources

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

Lesson Plans

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

Lesson 3 - Tally Our Vote:

Lesson 3 - Tally Our Vote

Type: Lesson Plan

Lesson 2 - Tally the Vote:

In this lesson, students will discuss how a class of students can vote to make a decision when they don't all agree on a choice. Students will count tallies to determine answers to questions about voting for a class pet. This is lesson 2 in a 3-part series integrating math and civics.

Type: Lesson Plan

I Pledge Allegiance: Vocabulary Fun:

This is lesson # 3 of the text unit series for I Pledge of Allegiance by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson. This lesson will continue lesson #2, building students understanding of the vocabulary in the text I Pledge of Allegiance. Students will develop their vocabulary knowledge through reading, writing, and their choice of performance or drawing.

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

Class Pet Vote:

Students will vote on a favorite class pet, record results, and use the most popular choice to decide the favorite as a way of demonstrating group decision making.

Type: Lesson Plan

Creating a Classroom Constitution:

The teacher will present both Preambles of the US and FL Constitution worded in kid-friendly language. Students will identify the similarities and differences between both texts. Students will create a Classroom Constitution based on the perspectives of all students’ perspectives on appropriate laws and rules. Students will compare and contrast their classroom constitution to the US Constitution.

Type: Lesson Plan

Responsible Decision Making:

In this lesson plan, students will decide if decisions are responsible or irresponsible decisions and evaluate the outcomes of each. 

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

Teaching Idea

Grade 1 Civics Family Guide: Standard 3:

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 3 at this grade level.

Type: Teaching Idea

Student Resources

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

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 3:

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 3 at this grade level.

Type: Teaching Idea