Title of lesson: What makes a good citizen?

Type of lesson: whole group/center

Standards:
1. SS.3.C.2.1-Identify group and individual actions of citizens that demonstrate civility,
cooperation, volunteerism, and other civic virtues.
2. LAFS.3.SL.1.1
Objectives: Students will be able to explain the traits of a good citizen.
Materials: internet access, computer, crayons, paper, social studies notebook,
Procedure:
1. Start the lesson by explaining to students that today’s lesson will be all about how to be a
good citizen. Ask if anyone remembers what a citizen is? Proceed to talk about how
every citizen has a civic duty, which are things people are required to do by law for the
good of the country and their fellow citizens, such as neighbors.
2. Compare it to the rules of the school. Ask students what rules come to their mind?
Answers can be no running in the hallways, no screaming in the classroom, no
cellphones, no bullying, etc.
3. Explain that just like the rules of the school that people are expected to follow, there are
rules to the country. It is to maintain law, order, and to uphold a safe country.
4. Play this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKCtzuvBZPc
5. After watching the video, tell students to take out their social studies notebook.
6. Display a piece of paper on the projector and create a T-chart. On the right side: how to
be a good citizen. On the left side: how to not be a good citizen.
7. Ask students what are character traits of a good citizen?
a. Answers could be being respectful, helpful, being kind,
8. Next, ask students what can we do to be good citizens? What don’t we do? Fill out the T-
chart together as a class.
9. After this, explain to the class that they will break up into centers to continue their
exploration of being a good citizen:
10. There will be 5 centers. Rotate centers every
11. Center 1: Group reading with teacher: read the book, How Kids Can Be Good Citizens by
Gina M. Bennett. Ensure each student either has a copy of the book or can clearly see and
hear the book as you read. Have each student bring their social studies notebook.
a. After reading the book, have a discussion about the lessons the book teaches.
b. Have students relate to the story and give an example of an event in their life.
c. Discuss how being a good citizen is about making good and smart decisions.
d. Continue adding on to the T-chart with the students.
12. Center 2: students will write an “I Am” poem about being a good citizen.
13. Center 3: students will become chef as they write their own recipe card. Recipe card must
entail 5 well thought out traits of being a good citizen. Students can draw this recipe card
by drawing a cake, muffin, or anything that allows them to be creative.
14. Center 4: Have students create a scenario of being a good citizen. They will act it out for
the class. Students will have to use their creativity process for this!
a. One scenario can be, “You are at the store, and you see someone drop a $100 bill.
What do you do?
 15. Center 5: here students will need a computer and access to the internet. They will play
the online game and practice what it takes to be a good citizen:
https://www.tinytap.com/activities/g1qsv/play/all-about-being-a-good-citizen
16. This may take the course of two social studies lesson days. If so, just have the students
break out into their centers the next day.
17. Once students have rotated between all centers, bring students back together for whole
group instruction.
18. Discuss why being a good citizen is important and have students can present their skits.

Evaluation: check for students understanding by their recipe cards, their skits, and their I Am
Poem.

Resources:

Bennett, G. M. (2013). How Kids Can Be Good Citizens: Lessons for Keeping America Strong &
Safe. Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing.

YouTube. (n.d.). YouTube: Good Citizenship & Social Skills for Kids. https://m.youtube.com/?
app=m.