SS.3.CG.3.2

Recognize that government has local, state and national levels.

Clarifications

Clarification 1: Students will recognize that each level of government has its own unique structure and responsibilities.

Clarification 2: Students will distinguish between the responsibilities of the local, state and national governments in the United States.

General Information
Subject Area: Social Studies
Grade: 3
Strand: Civics and Government
Date Adopted or Revised: 05/24
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
5021050: Social Studies Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
7721014: Access Social Studies - Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
SS.3.CG.3.AP.2: Identify levels of local, state, and federal government to their functions.

Related Resources

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

Lesson Plans

Graph the Election 2:

Students will conduct an election and learn about the structure and functions of the government. With election data, students will represent data and graph the data. Math and Civics are in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Father of the Constitution: A Story about James Madison: The Branches of Government:

This is lesson #3 in the text unit series for Father of the Constitution, A Story about James Madison by Barbara Mitchell. This lesson will focus on page 43 in chapter five and the different parts of government. Students will conduct research about each government branch's purpose.

This unit of study is about the text Father of the Constitution, James Madison by Barbara Mitchell. Through this unit, students will follow the life of James Madison, creating a timeline of events that led to the creation of the U.S. Constitution and the democratic government system still in use today. Students will research, develop an argumentative debate, and vote, as they read the text. Students will realize that his process prepared Madison for the writing of the U.S. Constitution. Students will engage in the expository writing process to construct a Classroom Constitution that aligns with the school’s vision and mission statements.

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

Abraham Lincoln: Life of Honesty: Comparing and Contrasting Levels of Government:

This is lesson #2 in the text unit series for Abraham Lincoln: A Life of Honesty by Tonya Leslie. Students will be learning about the local, state, and national levels of government. This will be done before reading the text Abraham Lincoln: A Life of Honesty to build background knowledge.

This unit will help students explain why the United States Constitution is an important document that protects the rights of American citizens, the responsibilities of the United States government, and how Abraham Lincoln is an important symbol of the United States government.

Students will engage in a read aloud spread out over several lessons emphasizing vocabulary, central idea, research, expository and opinion writing, and collaboration in groups.

The teacher will facilitate vocabulary instruction, student research, determination of central ideas, student presentation, expository and opinion writing, and group collaboration to help students demonstrate why the United States Constitution is an important document.

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

The Government, Services, and People :

In this lesson plan, students with recognize that government in the United States has local, state, and national levels. Students will recognize the responsibilities each level of government has in their lives by evaluating the actions of each level in relationship to each other, against the backdrop of services and needs of their community. 

Type: Lesson Plan

Going to the Dogs?:

In this integrated lesson plan, students will use their knowledge of collecting and interpreting data as they participate in a hypothetical election based on the controversy of whether or not their community should have a leash law. Students will be given background knowledge of the differences between state and local governments, and how laws are enacted, in particular, “leash laws” for dogs. The students will vote, tally the results, and use a frequency table to create a bar graph determining the range, title, and labels. Students will then interpret the election results while answering one- and two-step problems based on their bar graphs while demonstrating their knowledge of different levels of government and the importance of voting in local elections.

Type: Lesson Plan

Who Has the Power?:

In this lesson, students will learn that government has local, state, and national levels with their own unique structures and responsibilities. The teacher will provide brief direct instruction with a slideshow and then guide students through a worksheet activity to identify different powers and responsibilities of the local, state, and national government.

Type: Lesson Plan

Teaching Idea

Grade 3 Civics Family Guide: Standard 3:

This Grade 3 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 benchmark.

Parent Resources

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

Teaching Idea

Grade 3 Civics Family Guide: Standard 3:

This Grade 3 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