About "Wisconsin Government" Unit

This Social Studies Curriculum Unit was designed for and taught to a class of 4th Grade students.  The material in it covers a wide range of material that meets the 4th grade MMSD Social Studies Standards.  The unit was taught in Mid October during a busy election year.  The timing of this unit paired well with the environment because a lot of political and government issues were happening while the students were learning this unit.  The goal of this lesson was to give students an overview of many of the aspects of their state government and then help them connect what they learn to their actual lives. Throughout the lessons students were continuously reflecting on what they learned in the lesson and how it related to their lives making wach concept they studied relevant. Topics such as citizenship, taxes, the three branches of government, the election process, as  well as campigning were explored throughout the unit.  The unit ended with students conducting their own class president where they were allowed to apply many of the government concepts they previously learned about in a hands on experience. Choices made by government officials directly effect students in so many ways, and as a result I created this Curriculum Unit to help them become aware of the structure, duties, and actions of our state governement and explore the ways that they are connected to this major institution. 


The Essential Questions of this Unit are:

• What are characteristics of a good citizen? What are some of the tasks citizens do?
• How does our government work and who is in charge of Wisconsin’s? Why do we need a government?
• How are government officials elected? What is included in the campaign process?
• What are the jobs of each government official? What are the characteristics of government officials?

Photograph from: http://www.madcitymerchants.com/EMFConsulting.html