1. Government and Civics
Grade 3

2. Standards of Learning SOL 3.1
The student will explain how the contributions of ancient Greece and Rome have influenced the present in terms of architecture, government (direct and representative democracy), and sports

3. Standards of Learning SOL 3.10
The student will recognize why government is necessary in the classroom, school, and community by
Explaining the purpose of rules and laws;
Explaining that the basic purpose of government are to make laws, carry out laws, and decide if laws have been broken;
Explaining that government protects the rights and property of individuals.

4. Standards of Learning SOL 3.11
The student will explain the importance of the basic principles that form the foundation of a republican government by
Describing the individual rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and equality under the law
Identify the contributions of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Recognizing that Veterans Day and Memorial Day honor people who have served to protect the country’s freedom.

5. Terms to Know
Community
Rules
Laws
Government

6. What is a community?
A community is a place where people live, work, and play.

7. What are Rules?
Rules are guidelines for what we must and must not do.

8. What are Laws?
Laws are rules that are made by the government that people must live by.

9. What is the purpose of rules and laws?
The purpose of rules and laws is to tell the people how they should behave.

10. What is Government?
Government is a group of people who make rules and laws, carry out rules and laws, and decide if rules and laws have been broken.

11. What are the basic purposes of government?
The purpose of government is to make laws, carry out laws, and decide if laws have been broken.

12. Why is government necessary?
Governments are necessary because they develop the laws and protect the rights and property of individuals.

13. What would happen without rules, laws or government?
Think about it!

14. How did we get our form of government?
The Greeks and Romans influenced our ideas about government

15. How did the Greeks influence our government?
Greece is called the birthplace of democracy or government by the people.
The Greek government was a direct democracy.
This means that the people voted to make their own rules or laws.
Here in the United States, we are allowed to vote on laws for our country too.

16. How did the Romans influence our government?
The Romans had a representative democracy.
This means that the people elected a smaller group of citizens to make the rules and laws for everyone else.
The United States is also a representative democracy.
We are allowed to vote for senators, governors, and presidents to name a few.

17. More Terms to Know
Direct democracy- a government in which people vote to make their own laws
Representative democracy- a government in which people vote for a smaller group of citizens to make the laws for everyone
Contribution- the act of giving or doing something

18. What are the basic principles held by all American citizens?
Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and equality under the law are the basic principles held by all American citizens
Thomas Jefferson outlined these principles when he drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1775.
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are privileges that people are born with and that cannot be taken away.
Equality under the law means that all people are treated fairly.

19. Holidays to Honor
We have special United States holidays during the year to honor people who have served to protect the country’s freedoms.

20. Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a day to recognize and show respect for American men and women who died in wars while they were serving their country.
It is observed in May.
One special tradition of Memorial Day is to place a flag or flowers at the grave of a soldier.

21. Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a day to recognize and show respect for Americans who served in the armed forces.
It is observed in November.

22. Citizens that have defended American Principles
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Abraham Lincoln
Thurgood Marshall
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rosa Parks