SS.4.CG.2.3

Using knowledge from the previous lessons, students will write a letter to a state senator or representative explaining the process of coastal erosion, the impacts of coastal erosion on the citizens of the State of Florida and requesting their support for a recommendation of how to address the problems created by coastal erosion.

This is lesson 3 of 3 in a mini-unit integrating civics and science.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will evaluate the direct and indirect impacts of erosion on citizens. Additionally, they will describe how citizens can help solve community problems and identify their state elected officials.

This is lesson 2 of 3 in a mini-unit integrating civics and science.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will find the sum of the populations of the counties in two congressional districts in Florida to determine why population is important when considering representation in the districts. Students will practice estimating sums to check their addition by rounding numbers to the nearest 1,000 in this integrated math lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson will allow the students to identify Florida’s Senators and their contributions to Florida. Students will recognize that Florida has a representative government and that citizens can communicate with elected officials via letter, email, and social media. Students will write an expository text about how Florida’s Senators work for the people.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will plot the populations of Florida counties within two congressional districts in ascending order on a number line in this civics integrated math lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this integrated lesson plan, students will engage in discussion about a representative government in Florida. They will compare the Florida county map and the Florida Congressional map to predict the fairness of representation and consider why the representation in the district map doesn't match the Congressional map. They will investigate this question by comparing the population size in the counties of each district.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this integrated lesson, students will compare and contrast the roles of representatives and senators. Through research, students will learn about the different expectations and requirements of each position. This is part 1 of a 3-part mini unit that integrates Civics with Computer Science.

Type: Lesson Plan

In the final lesson of this text unit series for Florida, by Tamra Orr, students will identify and explain a claim made by the author about Florida’s representative government, using text features as support. Students will discuss the various characteristics of Florida's citizens and gain an understanding of the impact of voting on the preservation of our republic, using the author’s claim as support.

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 lesson plan, students learn about the three branches of government in Florida. They will learn about the structure, function, and powers of each. Also, the branches will be compared to the federal branches of government.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will utilize direct instruction, guided-inquiry, and the internet to recognize that Florida has a representative government, identify their state representatives, and to explain elected representatives' authority to perform the duties and activities of their job in a representative form of government. 

Type: Lesson Plan

This PowerPoint slideshow is designed to support teachers in delivering direct instruction on Florida’s representative government, including identifying state elected officials. The presentation and activity focus on helping students understand Florida as a representative government, locate their elected officials, identify specific responsibilities and functions of representatives' jobs, and determine the best approach toward contacting elected officials. The accompanying guided notes can be completed by students during instruction.

Type: Teaching Idea

This Grade 4 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

Ardian Zika grew up in communist Yugoslavia (now Kosovo). He immigrated to the United States, became a U.S. citizen, and was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2018.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Former U.S Senator and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martínez shares his journey to freedom in the United States. Mr. Martínez was part of Operation Pedro Pan in which unaccompanied Cuban children were sent to the United States to escape the newly formed communist regime of Fidel Castro. Before leaving Cuba, he spent time with his father who shared life lessons with his son. Mr. Martínez distinctly remembers the pilot announcing that they were in America. After moving around the state of Florida in settlement camps, Mr. Martínez was placed in foster care. After four years he and his family were reunited. Mr. Martínez helped his father become a veterinarian in the U.S and as a family they were highly active in the community. His family’s spirit of activism was the foundation of Mr. Martínez’s career as a public servant. He graduated from Florida State University Law School in 1973 and began his political career. He was appointed the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 2001 and became a United States Senator in 2005.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation