Models of Citizenship Lesson

Lesson Title: Models of Citizenship
Grade Level: 3rd
Time: 60 minutes


Objective: The objective of this lesson is to show students the importance of being a good citizen by using examples of historical people and how they were good citizens.

Indiana Academic Standards:
Social Studies:

• 3.2.5. Explain the importance of being a good citizen of the state and the nation. Identify people in the state who exhibit the characteristics of good citizenship.
  
  Example: Being respectful, trustworthy, practicing tolerance, and working with others to solve problems.
  

Literacy:

• 3.5.5 Write for different purposes and to a specific audience or person.

Materials Needed

• Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder
• 22 cereal boxes (one per student)
• 44 strips of white paper (two per student)
• 22 half sheets of white paper
• 22 half sheets of red construction paper
• Crayons, markers, glue, scissors
• Models of Citizenship PowerPoint (view at the bottom of entry)
  
• Example Citizenship Box
• Copes of PowerPoint slides about Thomas Jefferson, Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, Martin Luther King Jr. and community helpers (This is for students to use as a reference while they are making their citizenship boxes)
• Brainstorming poster

Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is for students to gain an understanding of the importance of being a good citizen.


Procedure:

1. Read Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder to the class.
2. Discuss Harriet Tubman and why she was a good citizen. What characteristics did she have that made her a good citizen?
3. Brainstorm as a class various character traits a good citizen would have. Give a few examples of character traits so students get an idea of what you are looking for. List them on the brainstorming poster.
4. Share examples with students of people who were good citizens using the Models of Citizenship PowerPoint. (Individuals discussed in PowerPoint: Thomas Jefferson, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., Helen Keller, and community helpers.) Make sure to keep revisiting brainstorming poster as you go over each person
5. Explain to the students that they will be making citizenship boxes. Show students the example box that is already completed.
6. Go over each direction step individually. Directions will be displayed on a PowerPoint slide. Allow students to work on each step after demonstrating to the class. Directions to give:
   
   • Choose a person (Thomas Jefferson, Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., or community helpers)
   • Think of two good citizen character traits for the person you chose. Once you choose two, write one on each strip of white paper.
   • On the half sheet of white paper, write why the person you chose was a good citizen and how you can be a good citizen like that person.
   • Color the picture of your person and decorate your character traits. Cut out the picture when you are done coloring.
   • The strips of white paper get glued to the sides of your box. The half sheet is glued to the backside of the box on top of the red construction paper. The picture goes on the front of the box.
     
7. When everyone is done, students can share their citizenship boxes with the class.

Homework: None

Assessment: Students will be assessed based on their response of why the person they chose was good citizen and how they can be a good citizen.








Student Examples: