Overview of Government/s: Lessons 1 and 2 (5 days) Lesson One: Why Government? (Day One) 1. Hand out the reading on the Purpose of Government (1 of 4). Have students read and answer questions 1 – 3. Go over the questions and then have students work on question #4. 2. After discussing answers to questions #4, tell students that there are different theories or ideas about how government should work. Hand out the first Why Government (2 of 4) worksheet. Tell students that you are going to ask them to draw something different in each of the nine boxes – they are to sketch something quickly in response to the directions you give them. 3. Read out loud the following: Draw what is described here for each box: Box 1: Draw a man thinking. He’s thinking about government. Box 2: Draw a picture of life without rules. How might people behave? Box 3: Draw a man having three ideas! Box 4: Draw someone doing something to survive. Box 5: Draw someone owning things. Box 6: Draw someone being free to live how they want (or a symbol of freedom). Box 7: Draw two people making an agreement with each other. Box 8: Draw someone giving something away Box 9: Draw a symbol of government. 4. Next have students cut out each of the cards on the second Why Government* (3 of 4) worksheet. Have them match the statement from each card with the picture that illustrates it; then have them attach the two. (They are creating “The Story of John Locke” in a comic strip).
Lesson One: Why Government? (Day Two) 1. Have students complete the third Why Government* (4 of 4) worksheet. (They will need their completed Story of John Locke comic strip to complete this worksheet). a. Using the bold words from their story, they will create a vocabulary list. b. Using the words from their list, they will come up with the definitions of natural rights, social contract, and state of nature. c. Using the words, they will make connections. d. Using the words, they will complete a Venn diagram. 2. To close the lesson, have students return to the Purpose of Government worksheet (from the previous lesson) and answer question #5. Discuss the student’s answers as a class. *You can print very clean copies of these worksheets; they are available as pdf @ http://static.icivics.org/sites/default/files/uploads/Why%20Government.pdf
Lesson Two: Who Rules? (Day One) 1. Begin the lesson by asking students to consider the following question: “Do you think that rules are more effective when developed by the class as a whole or when the teacher simply makes all the decisions and tells the class what they can and cant’ do/say.” 2. Hand out the “Who Rules?” worksheets and explain to students that they will be looking at different forms of government and different ways that countries are run. 3. As a class, read over the first page together (I of 2) and then have students pair up to complete Compare and Contrast questions 1 and 2. Have students share their answers and then go on to the next page, 2 of 2. 4. As a class, read over the descriptions of monarchy, dictatorship, and socialism. Pairing up again, students answer questions 3 and 4; share and discuss as a class. 5. To check for understanding, have students work on their own to complete the rest of the worksheet.
Lesson Two: Who Rules in the Western Hemisphere? Day Two (Need Computers)
Note: Students will need to be assigned countries to research. Each country is on the chart and the chart is numbered, so it may be easiest just to assign students numbers. 1. Go to World Book Online @ http://www.worldbookonline.com and log on. (Log on information is available under “Staff Downloadable Items /Passwords/Log-ons). 2. Under “World Book Web” have students go to World Book Kids. 3. Students should click on the circle that says “Compare Places” and then “Compare Countries.” a. All students should choose Mexico as place 1. They need to find the Mexican flag (the countries are in alphabetical order) and click on it. b. Next, they should click on “Compare Places.” c. To make sure students understand what they need to do, have all students find the United States flag. d. Next, they should click “Compare Now.” e. Students will see a series of facts. They should scroll down to find the: i. Capital ii. Government iii. Head of state iv. Head of government f. Students should record this information on their charts (1 of 4). g. Students should then ‘X” out the two countries and find the flags of the two countries that they were assigned. Once they click on those flags they should again click “Compare Now.” h. Students should then record the information on their charts. i. Next, students should click “Kids” at the top to take them back to the first page and then go to “Maps and More.” They should click “World Book Atlas” and use the links on the side to look at the maps of the North and South America. (Clicking on the countries zooms into just the country so that students can see where the capital is located). j. Students should label the country name and capital on the maps ( 2, 3, and 4 of 4) for each country that they were assigned, as well as the United States and Mexico.
Lesson Two: Who Rules in the Western Hemisphere? Day Three) (Need overhead projector/transparency) 1. Students should pair up and share the information they recorded on their charts. This should be done several times so that each student has at least 8 different countries on their chart. Students should also add the countries and capitals to their maps. 2. Using an overhead transparency, have students share information with you so that the chart can be completed. Once they have a completed chart: a. They should get an atlas and complete the map. b. Create a key to show which type of government exists in each country. c. Write a concluding statement on the back of their maps indicating their understanding of the types of governments that exist in the western hemisphere. (Most nations in the western hemisphere are republics). Students may note: only one country is a constitutional monarchy, but several have the British monarch as the head of state. (This is a hold over from colonial times); only one country is a socialist state – you may wish to tell students that most people refer to Cuba as a communist country and that in the entire world there are only five such nations: China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam; Haiti simply says elected government – you may wish to refer to the earthquake and the incredible instability of that nation (once a French colony that gained its independence in 1804 following a successful slave revolt).
Teachers Note: The website identifies the type of government of the western hemisphere in a variety of ways. Students will be recording one of the types listed in the chart below. Regardless of the type of government they record, there are only four types of government in the western hemisphere: republic (the first 5 listed), democracy (the next 3 listed), constitutional monarchy and socialist state. Republic (Federal) Republic (Constitutional) Republic (Democratic) Republic (Democratic Constitutional) Republic (Constitutional) Democracy (Parliamentary) Democracy (Constitutional Parliamentary) Democracy Constitutional Monarchy Socialist State
Name _____________________________________________
Government Unit Lesson 1, 1 of 4
Purpose of Government
Governments have been formed by people for thousands of years. In early times, several families would live together. They had customs to help them live peacefully. They also had at least one leader who decided how to share food and settle arguments. The leader made rules that most people obeyed. This was an early form of government — a leader and a set of customs and rules. The word government can mean the way people make rules or laws. It can also mean the people who make the rules. Government takes many forms. Today, most people believe that a democracy is the best kind of government. In a democracy, the citizens decide who their leaders will be. All the people have a voice. President Abraham Lincoln of the United States spoke of this idea in 1863 when he said democracy is a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people…” A national government, or the government of a whole country, makes laws about trade, war, and taxes. It also builds national roads and decides how citizens will live together.
1. In much earlier times, how were decisions made?
2. What is a democracy?
3. What types of rules/laws does a government make?
A good government keeps everything running smoothly. The people are expected to obey laws and pay taxes. In return, the government provides them with safe and healthy surroundings.
4. Based on this reading, what is the purpose of government? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
5. What did John Locke say is the purpose of government? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
Name _____________________________________________
Government Unit Lesson 1, 2 of 4
Why Government: The Story of John Locke 1
2
4
3
7
5
8
6
9
Name _____________________________________________
Government Unit Lesson 1, 3 of 4
Why Government Read each of the boxes below and match the statement from each box with the picture that illustrates it. (from the pictures you just drew in the 9 boxes). Cut out each box below and attach the box to the picture it matches up to create “The Story of John Locke� in a comic strip.
Name _____________________________________________ Why Government
Government Unit Lesson 1, 4 of 4
Name__________________________________________________
Who Rules?
Government Unit Lesson 2, 1 of
There are many different forms of government in our world. Each looks a little bit different. The major differences lie in who is on control, but there are other smaller differences as well. Let’s explore some different categories and forms of government. Direct Democracy: All citizens have a chance to participate in government. The people directly control and are responsible for the laws that govern their society. The world’s first direct democracy was in ancient Athens where they held assemblies to pass laws. Representative Democracy: This is also a government by the people, but where citizens elect leaders to write and manage laws for the country. These leaders represent the will of the people. Often the rules that leaders have to follow are written in a constitution*.
Any form of government in which political power is exercised by all citizens, either directly or through their elected representatives
Democracy
*constitution: the key political principles/ideas on which a state is governed (also refers to the actual document where these ideas are written down). Republic: Any form of government whose head of state** is not a monarch and is usually a president. In a democratic republic, leaders represent the people who elected them. The United States is a democratic republic. **Head of State: the chief public representative of a country who may also be the head
of government
Compare 1. Direct democracy and representative democracy are alike because ______ __________________________________________________________________ 2. A republic and a democracy are alike because ________________________ __________________________________________________________________
Government Unit Lesson 2, 1 of
Monarchy: Kings, queens, princes, and princesses. We all pretend when we’re little, but in a monarchy these roles are a reality. Monarchy is rule by a king or a queen who gains power because their family is in charge. Monarchs inherit their right to rule a country. Some modern monarchies, like Spain and Japan, have constitutions, while others do not.
Dictatorship: A dictator has complete control over the lives of his or her citizens. Often dictators take control of a government by force (meaning they are not elected by the people). Because a dictator has absolute power, opposition is usually not allowed and people are prevented from voicing their opinions. Socialism: In a socialist state, all property is owned by the state (the government). There is no private property. It is the job of the government to make all of the economic decisions and in many socialist states the government makes all of the rules with no input from the citizens. 3. Monarchy and dictatorship are alike because _____________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ 4. A dictatorship and a socialist state are alike because _______________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Examine the characteristics of each form of government in the box below and circle the one that doesn’t belong. Direct Democracy: Monarchy: Dictatorship:
rule by the people rule by one rule by one
led by a monarch power inherited ruler elected
regular voting by citizens regular elections citizens voice their opinions
Your Opinion Which form of government do you think is best? _____________________________________________ List two reasons why you think it is the best:________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________
Which form of government do you think is the worst? ________________________________________ List two reasons why you think it is the worst:_______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________
Answer Key: Who Rules? Worksheet Direct democracy and representative democracy are alike because they are both ruled by the people/both hold voting A republic and a democracy are alike because leaders represent the people/people have a say in government, the rules/laws Monarchy and dictatorship are alike because in a monarchy power is inherited and in a dictatorship it is taken by force A dictatorship and a socialist state are alike because in both the people have no say; the government makes all the rules/decisions Direct Democracy: Monarchy: Dictatorship:
rule by the people rule by one rule by one
led by a monarch power inherited ruler elected
regular voting by citizens regular elections citizens voice their opinions
Government Unit Lesson 2, 1 of 4
N Naam mee ________________________________________________________________________________________
G Goovveerrnnm meennttss iinn tthhee W Weesstteerrnn H Heem miisspphheerree Country
1
Argentina
2
Belize
3
Bolivia
4
Brazil
5
Canada
6
Chili
7
Colombia
8
Costa Rica
9
Cuba
10 Dominican Republic
Capital
Government
Head of State
Head of Government
Country
11 Ecuador 12 El Salvador 13 French Guiana 14 Guyana 15 Haiti 16 Honduras 17 Jamaica 28 Mexico 19 Nicaragua 20 Panama 21 Paraguay
Capital
Government
Head of State
Head of Government
Country
22 Peru 23 Suriname 24
United States of America
25 Uruguay 26 Venezuela
Capital
Government
Head of State
Head of Government
N Naam mee ________________________________________________________________________________________
Government Unit Lesson 2, 2 of 4
Government Unit Lesson 2, 3 of 4
N Naam mee ________________________________________________________________________________________
Government Unit Lesson 2, 4 of 4
AAN NSSW WEERR KKEEYY
Country 1
Capital
Argentina
Government
Head of State
Head of Government
Republic
President
President
Parliamentary Democracy
British Monarch
Prime Minister
2
Belize
Buenos Aries Belmopan
3
Bolivia
La Paz
Republic
President
president
4
Brazil
Brasilia
Federal Republic
President
President
5
Canada
Ottawa
Constitutional Monarchy
British Monarch
Prime Minister
6
Chili
Santiago
Republic
President
President
7
Colombia
Bogota
Republic
President
President
8
Costa Rica
San Jose
Democratic Republic
President
President
9
Cuba
Havana
Socialist State
President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers
10
Dominican Republic
11
Ecuador
Santa Domingo Quito
12
El Salvador
San Salvador
13
Guatemala
Democratic Republic
President
President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers President
Republic
President
President
Republic
President
President
Republic
President
President
Republic
President
Prime Minister
Elected Government
President
Prime Minister
Democratic Constitutional Republic
President
President
Guatemala City 14
Guyana
15
Haiti
16
Honduras
Georgetown Port-au-Prince Tegucigalpa
17
Jamaica
Kingston
British Monarch
Prime Minister
Mexico City
Constitutional Parliamentary Democracy Federal Republic
18
Mexico
President
President
19
Nicaragua
Managua
Republic
President
President
20
Panama
Panama City
Republic
President
President
21
Paraguay
Asuncion
Constitutional Republic
President
President
22
Peru
Lima
Constitutional Republic
President
President
23
Suriname
Constitutional Democracy
President
President
Republic
President
President
Constitutional Republic
President
President
Federal Republic
President
President
24
United States of America
25
Uruguay
26
Venezuela
Paramaribo Washington D.C. Montevideo Caracas