Teaching government to kids can feel a little baffling at first. What do you teach? How can you be unbiased? Will parents get offended? Our free What is Government lesson will set your worries aside. This lesson lays the foundation for your students to understand the functions and purposes of government, and how it connects to their lives.
Tips for Teaching Government to Kids
Studying government encourages students to think critically about their role as citizens in a democratic society. This is integral to developing their understanding of the world in which they live and the ways they will participate in their community.
Give students a birds eye view of government before diving into the content.
As teachers, it’s easy to get wrapped up in covering certain topics and practicing certain skills. We dive straight into the content without giving students a birds-eye view of what they are learning and why they are learning it. We may assume that students are making these connections themselves, when they aren’t. One effective way for students to make these connections during your Government Unit is by teaching what is and isn’t government, so that students can identify examples of government in their life.
Start by introducing government to your students.
Use the reading passage in this lesson plan to lead a discussion with these questions:
- What is government?
- What isn’t government?
- What do governments provide citizens, and what do they expect in return?
- When did the first governments form, and why?
This introductory reading passage will give your students context for the topics and skills they will learn later in the unit, like how different types of governments function.
Connect Government to your Students’ Lives
One of students’ biggest complaints is that they do not feel like their education applies to life outside of school. So it is important to make sure you make this connection explicit. When it comes to government, students may also have negative perceptions about politics that they formed at home. Regardless of their parents’ beliefs about government, your role as a teacher is to give students the information they need to make informed decisions and well-considered opinions.
What many government units miss is talking about the origins of government, which date back well before ancient Greece. In this reading passage, students will learn just how old governments are and how they were integral to humans forming large, organized societies.
Build Twenty-First Century Skills
One of my favorite ways to engage students in social studies lessons is to explore quotes. Quotes can give students a firsthand perspective about a topic. They are also great for building twenty-first century skills, like critical thinking. It is important for students to consider the perspectives of other people and explore ideas from multiple angles.
In our free lesson, students will get to explore quotes about government from famous leaders like former President Abraham Lincoln. Try our method for teaching government to kids using our free What is Government lesson plan. This lesson plan is ideal for second grade, third grade, and fourth grade. Download your own copy below.
Free Lesson for Teaching Government to Kids
In this free lesson, you will find:
- A step-by-step lesson plan
- What is Government reading passage
- What is Government worksheet
- Explore famous quotes about government
- An informational writing activity
- A mini informational writing rubric
- Answer keys