Kindergarten

I

Recognize that a person is a citizen of the country in which he/she is born.

I

Understand that rules are created to protect an environment.

I/D

Know that family structures can change.

I

Identify authority figures in the home, school, and community.

I

Explain how authority figures make and enforce rules.

I

Explain the use of voting as a method for group decision-making.

I/D

Recognize the need for rules for daily living and fair treatment of others.

I/D

Identify purposes for having rules.

I/D

Be aware that laws and rules are followed and created by the people, school, community, and country.

I/D

Know rules of safety including signs and signals.

I/D

 Define cooperation.

I

Identify the flags of the United States and Tennessee.

I

Recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

I

Explain the reasons for national patriotic holidays such as President’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Independence Day.

First Grade

I

Recognize the United States Constitution as the basis for the laws in our country.

D

Categorize rules and laws we follow as members of a family, school, and community.

I

Explain the purpose of government and give examples of laws that establish order, provide security, and control conflict.

D

Understand that community governments employ various service workers.

I

Identify leaders in the community, state, and nation.

I

Describe the relationship between local, state, and national government.

I

Define citizenship and responsibility.

D

Examine the rights and responsibilities of the individual in relation to his or her social group, such as family, peer group, and school class.

D

Categorize responsibilities that citizens have to their community, state, and country.

M

Design a set of rules or laws for a home, classroom, or community.

M

Recognize family and school rules as compared with those from another culture.

D

Recite and explain the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.

I

Understand that voting is a way of making choices and decisions.

D

Explain how selected customs, symbols, and celebrations reflect an American love of individualism and inventiveness.

I

Explain selected national and state patriotic symbols such as the United States and Tennessee flags.

Second Grade

I

Recognize how groups and organizations encourage unity and work with diversity to maintain order and security.
Kids Next Door

I

Identify functions of governments.

U.S. Government for Kids

Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government

M

Be aware that every community has some form of governance.
Community pride

I

Describe how governments establish order, provide security, and manage conflict.
The Democracy Project

I

Know that communities have different laws depending on the needs and problems of their community.

D

Recognize people who make laws and people who enforce them in Tennessee.

I

Identify ways that public officials are selected, including election and appointment.

I

Distinguish among local, state, and national government and identify representative leaders at these levels such as mayor, governor, and president.
 

D

Identify characteristics of good citizenship such as establishing beliefs in justice, truth, equality, and responsibility for the common good.
Kids Next Door

D

 Identify qualities of good citizenship.
Kids Next Door
Responsibilities of citizens

D

Identify ordinary people who exemplify good citizenship.
 

D

Identify some governmental services in the community such as the libraries, schools, and parks, and explain their value to the community.
Field Trip

The Democracy Project

I

Explain how citizens fund various community services.

M

Explain the meaning of selected patriotic symbols and landmarks of Tennessee.
Explore Tennessee

Third Grade

I

Describe the basic structures of government in the state.
Congress for Kids  
How our government works
U.S. Government

A

Select from a set of visual representations a service provided by the government (i.e., parks, schools, and libraries). 
PBS Kids  
PBS Kids Budgets  
Kids Next Door
Your Neighborhood and Beyond

D

Recognize who makes laws in the state.
Ben's Guide     
How Laws Are Made2     
US Government for Kids  
U.S. Government

I

Know that governmental agencies exist to protect the environment at local, state, and national levels.
FDA Kids’ Page

I

Describe varied basic structures of governments in the state, nation, and world.
U.S. Government

D

Examine how regions choose to govern in different ways.

A

Determine the representative acts of a good citizen (i.e., obeying speed limit, not littering, and walking within the crosswalk).
Responsibilities of a good CITIZEN
Kids Next Door

D

Identify services commonly provided by the state government and contrast with other regions.
How Does Government Affect Me

I

Compare the Tennessee and the United State Constitutions with other governing procedures around the world.
United States Government for Kids

D

Identify government officials and explain how they are chosen.
United States Government for Kids

I

Explain the concept of the consent of the governed and its importance to the functions of government.

A

Distinguish between conflict and cooperation within group interactions as represented by pictures.
Out on a Limb:  A Guide to Getting Along
Power Point

D

Identify examples of rights and responsibilities of citizens.
Rights of a Citizen
Responsibilities of  Citizens
Ben’s Guide to Citizenship

I

Describe how public policies are used to address issues of public concern.

D

Identify and explain the importance of acts of civic responsibility, including obeying laws and voting.

The Difference of One Vote

D

Identify diverse historic figures that exemplified good citizenship.
Benjamin Franklin

D

Identify ordinary people who exemplify good citizenship.

D

List the differences between community, city, county, state, and country events which occur.

I

Recognize the relationship of local governments to the state, the nation, and the world.