Title of Lesson: Compare and Contrast Local Government Around the World

Transcription

1 Title of Lesson: Compare and Contrast Local Government Around the World Level: Middle level- 6 th and 7 th grade Short Overview: This lesson is designed to help students apply what they learned from Local Government and Me and compare and contrast it with other countries local governments. The 6 th and 7 th grade curriculum is divided into studies of the Western and Eastern hemisphere, respectively. Therefore, this lesson is designed to fit within this curriculum, while providing students with a local perspective they know and understand to support the study about other countries. Length: One 60-minute class period (depending on the curriculum, this lesson can be extended to compare and contrast multiple countries). Standard: 4. Civics: Analyze origins, structure, and functions of governments and their impacts on societies and citizens Evidence Outcome: 6 th grade: d. Compare various governments and the liberties of their citizens 7 th grade: e. Give examples illustrating how various governments and citizens interact and analyze how these interactions have changed over time. Preparation: information, handouts, and activities to study and learn about the local governments in whichever countries you are currently studying, copies for each student of the following handouts: Making a Difference Where you Live, Duties of Governments, Some Whys About U.S. Government, and Some Whys About s Government. The World s Mayors Web Site and International City Managers Association are great resources. Activities/procedures: Warm-up (5-10 minutes): Have students brainstorm what they already know about the country s/countries government the class is studying about. o When students are finished, help them sift through their lists and identify what may be local government responsibilities based upon the local government responsibilities in the United States. Main activity (~45 minutes): Let students know before they begin learning about other countries governments and what is similar and different about them, they are going to examine a major similarity between the U.S. and any country in the world: citizenship. Have students complete the Making a Difference Where You Live handout and discuss their

2 answers as a class. Share with students that citizenship occurs in all countries. Specifically connect this for students who have may have lived in other countries (as long as they feel comfortable sharing). (~10 minutes) Next, have students read the handout Duties of Governments and complete the handout Some Whys About the U.S. Government. This will help reinforce the idea that there are different levels of government (federal and state) with different responsibilities in the U.S. and other countries. (10-15 minutes) o (These handouts cover the United States. However, after students learn about other countries local governments, students could answer Some Whys About s Government handout pertaining to each country they studied as a way to compare and contrast the United States to the other countries. Here would be a good place to present your information on other countries local governments. (~20 minutes) Closing activity (5 minutes): Have students draw a picture of a similarity and difference between the local government in the United States and whichever country/countries they are studying. Possible extensions and homework: Students could create a Venn diagram between the United States and other countries local governments. Keywords: local government, citizenship, other countries, compare, contrast, Western hemisphere, Eastern hemisphere, similar, different, middle level

3 Compare and Contrast Local Governments Around the World Handouts Making a Difference Where You Live Duties of Governments Some Whys About Governments Some Whys About s Government

4 Making a Difference Where You Live In the past few lessons you have learned a lot about local government and how it works. In this lesson you will see how people work together to make a difference in their community. You will learn about what it means to be a good citizen. Before we begin the lesson, think about what you already know about being a good citizen. Don t look up the answers to the questions below, just think about the beliefs you have. 1. What is a citizen? 2. What is good citizenship? 3. Compare your answers with the rest of your class. What were the similarities and differences? Similarities Differences

5 Duties of Governments FEDERAL- provides services and regulates activities for people of the nation, such as: - collects taxes - maintains the military - issues currency - makes treaties with foreign countries - regulate trade - provide for the general welfare STATE- provides services and regulates activates for people of the state of Colorado, such as: - maintains law and order - enforces criminal law - protects property rights - regulates business - supervises public education - provides public welfare programs - builds and maintains highways - operates state parks and forests - collects state income tax - direct authority over local government LOCAL- provides services and protection for citizens at the local level, such as: - collects property and sales taxes - provide for police and fire protection - build and maintain roads - libraries - airports - hospitals - enforce laws through municipal courts - provides clean water and sanitation - provides public education How is local government different from federal and state government?

6 Some Whys About the U.S. Government Look over the list of the duties of each level of government. Then answer the following questions. 1. Which level of government is responsible for our monetary system? 2. Why do you think the U.S. Constitution gave the money system function to this level of government? 3. Which level(s) of government can collect taxes? 4. Why do you think governments need to collect taxes from citizens? 5. Which level of government is responsible for providing education to citizens? 6. What are some advantages of this level of government providing education? 7. Some services are provided by more than one level of government? Which ones are they? 8. Why do you think that maintaining the military is not a local duty?

7 Some Whys About Other s Government Look over the list of the duties of each level of government. Then answer the following questions. 1. Which level of government is responsible for the monetary system? 2. Why do you think gave the money system function to this level of government? 3. Which level(s) of government can collect taxes? 4. Why do you think governments need to collect taxes from citizens? 5. Which level of government is responsible for providing education to citizens? 6. What are some advantages of this level of government providing education? 7. Some services are provided by more than one level of government? Which ones are they? 8. Why do you think that maintaining the military is not a local duty?