Social Studies - 3rd Grade (2024)
Lesson Plans

Strand 3: Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Community Member

Students delineate their civic rights and responsibilities as members of their community and the limits to their rights when they conflict with the rights of others. Students are introduced to the concepts of civil rights, public virtue, and civic engagement.

Compelling Questions:

• What do you like about your community? Are there changes you would like to make?
• Who decides what your community is like?
• How can you demonstrate respect for others in your community?
• How has your community improved, and how can you help your community continue to improve?
• How are your local leaders chosen, and how does your community assure that its leaders do what your community wants and/or needs?

Standard 3.3.7

Discuss how the choices of individuals and leaders affect their community and its future (for example, supporting local businesses, volunteering, voting).

• Constitution EXPLAINED: Who Chooses the President?
  iCivics video about who chooses the President
• Election Foundations
  PBS Learning video about how the US Constitutional Democracy created, empowers, and limits the office of the president. Information is provided about why presidential elections happen in the United States. Video available in both English and Spanish.
• Electoral College
  Great resource from KERA (PBS station) about the electoral college with information, links, and class activities
• Four mini-lessons on presidential debates
  Teacher and student materials, information, and guidance about exploration of presidential debates, debate formats, candidate strategies, civic issues, and teen perspectives.
• Free and Fair Elections
  This is a great explanation for teachers and students about the standards that governments need to meet before, during, and after an election to ensure that the election is "free and fair".

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http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialist - Robert  Austin and see the Social Studies website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer  Throndsen.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.