Social Studies Worksheets and Study Guides Third Grade. U.S. Government

The resources above cover the following skills:

National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (NCSS)
POWER, AUTHORITY, AND GOVERNANCE
SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAMS SHOULD INCLUDE EXPERIENCES THAT PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY OF HOW PEOPLE CREATE, INTERACT WITH, AND CHANGE STRUCTURES OF POWER, AUTHORITY, AND GOVERNANCE.
KNOWLEDGE - Learners will understand:
Fundamental values of democracy: the common good, liberty, justice, equality, and individual dignity.
The basic elements of government in the United States: executive, legislative, and judicial authority.
PROCESSES - Learners will be able to:
Ask and find answers to questions about power, authority, and governance in the school, community, and state.
CIVIC IDEALS AND PRACTICES
SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAMS SHOULD INCLUDE EXPERIENCES THAT PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY OF THE IDEALS, PRINCIPLES, AND PRACTICES OF CITIZENSHIP IN A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.
KNOWLEDGE - Learners will understand:
Concepts and ideals such as: individual dignity, fairness, freedom, the common good, rule of law, civic life, rights, and responsibilities.
National Standards for Civics and Government (NSCG)
What is Government and What Should It Do? What is government?
Defining government: Students should be able to provide a basic description of government. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
Describe government in terms of the people and groups who make, apply, and enforce rules and laws for others in their family, school, community, and nation and who manage disputes about them, e.g.,
The national government makes, applies, and enforces rules and laws for the nation
Courts at all levels apply laws, manage disputes, and punish lawbreakers
What is Government and What Should It Do? How can you evaluate rules and laws?
Evaluating rules and laws: Students should be able to explain and apply criteria useful in evaluating rules and laws. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
Identify the strengths and weaknesses of a school rule or a state law by determining if it is
Limits on government are designed to protect fundamental values and principles and to insure that government serves the purposes for which it was established.
What are the Basic Values and Principles of American Democracy? What are the most important values and principles of American democracy?
Fundamental values and principles: Students should be able to explain the importance of the fundamental values and principles of American democracy. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
Identify fundamental values and principles as they are expressed in the Declaration of Independence, Preamble to the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Pledge of Allegiance, speeches, songs, and stories
What are the Basic Values and Principles of American Democracy? Why is it important for Americans to share certain values, principles, and beliefs?
American identity: Students should be able to explain the importance of Americans sharing and supporting certain values, principles, and beliefs. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
Explain that Americans are united by the values, principles, and beliefs they share rather than by ethnicity, race, religion, class, language, gender, or national origin
Explain the importance of shared values, principles, and beliefs to the continuation and improvement of American democracy
Identify basic documents that set forth shared values, principles, and beliefs, e.g., Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, Pledge of Allegiance
How Does the Government Established by the Constitution Embody the Purposes, Values, and Principles of American Democracy? What is the United States Constitution and why is it important?
The meaning and importance of the United States Constitution: Students should be able to describe what the United States Constitution is and why it is important. To achieve this standard, students should be able to explain that the United States Constitution
Was created by people who believed that the
The people have the right to change their government and the United States Constitution
How Does the Government Established by the Constitution Embody the Purposes, Values, and Principles of American Democracy? What are the major responsibilities of state governments?
Organization and major responsibilities of state governments: Students should be able to explain the most important responsibilities of their state government. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
Distinguish between the national and state governments
How Does the Government Established by the Constitution Embody the Purposes, Values, and Principles of American Democracy? What are the major responsibilities of local governments?
Organization and major responsibilities of local governments: Students should be able to explain the most important responsibilities of their local government. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
Distinguish among national, state, and local governments
What are the Roles of the Citizen in American Democracy? How should Americans select leaders?
Selecting leaders: Students should be able to explain and apply criteria useful in selecting leaders in their school, community, state, and nation. To achieve this standard, students should be able to
Identify the major duties, powers, privileges, and limitations of a position of leadership, e.g., class president, mayor, state senator, tribal chairperson, president of the United States
National Center for History in Schools (NCHS)
Topic 3: The History of the United States: Democratic Principles and Values and the People from Many Cultures Who Contributed to Its Cultural, Economic, and Political Heritage
How democratic values came to be, and how they have been exemplified by people, events, and symbols.
The student understands events that celebrate and exemplify fundamental values and principles of American democracy.