State and Local Governments Teacher Resources
Sitting in your classroom are the voters of tomorrow. But how much do they know about their state governments? Or the local governments that directly affect their lives every day?
Teach young citizens the ins and outs of state and local governments with short reading activities on the basics of governance, and the duties of local officials. They’ll learn about the structure of all levels of government with an engaging, informative video from Crash Course.
A lesson and presentation focuses on the different types of local governments, including the ways city and county governments operate. For a fun classroom activity, use an educational game in which players exercise the powers of the governor.
Apply the concepts to your own community with a research project on the demographics of state governments, or an interview assignment with local officials. You can also bring current events into the classroom with a lesson on local democracy and elections—a great way to prepare those future voters for their civic duty!
Showing 721 resources
University of North Carolina
Local Government Jeopardy!
Class teams compete in a Jeopardy game to test their knowledge of local government.
iCivics
Governing Communities
The government at the local level acts as perhaps one of the most relevant government systems to many in their communities. Learners discover how the local government shapes their lives and the similarities and differences between the...
Curated OER
Using the newspaper to learn about state and local government
Young scholars investigate the purposes of state and local government. They categorize newspaper articles into state and local issues. Pupils summarize nonfiction text. Students given an oral presentation on a news report to the class.
Curated OER
Local Government: Caring for Your Community
Seventh graders investigate the role of local governments. In this government lesson, 7th graders examine historical photographs and determine what services are being performed in the photographs. Students research how the...
K12 Reader
Three Levels of Government
Help your learners work their way through a reading assignment for informational text. Using context clues, they answer five comprehension question based on a short passage about the three levels of government: local government, state...
K20 LEARN
Government Power: Do the Actions of Government Effect Me?
What does the government have to do with getting a driver's license? Including the calorie count for a meal on a restaurant menu? By discussing these kinds of questions and researching how concepts behind federal, state, and local...
Curated OER
American Government
Challenge your students with this lesson on American government! Learners discuss the three branches of government and its responsilbities, and then go on to more complex critical-thinking activities. Students interview members of the...
Curated OER
Citizenship Worksheet 5 - Local and State Government
The Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution delegates rights that have not been defined by the federal government to the states. But what are the responsibilities of state governments? What about county and city governments?...
Curated OER
Forms of Government: Ch 1
Assist your class by clarifying aspect of various forms of government. This resource contains 5 true/false and 5 multiple choice questions.
PBS
Reading Adventure Pack: Government
A reading adventure pack looks closely at government with the help of two books—one fiction, one nonfiction, and a series of activities. Learners craft a mobile to visualize a balanced government, participate in a scavenger hunt around...
Carolina K-12
Choice, Conflict, and Compromise at the County level
With all the hubbub surrounding national elections, it's easy to forget the importance of local government. After learning about county governance and voter turnout for local elections, young citizens demonstrate how local...
Curated OER
Participating in State and Local Government
Students analyze the structure, organization, and powers of State legislatures. They outline the overall shape of the office of the governor.
Students analyze the structure of local governments as creations of the State. They describe...
College Board
Civic Knowledge and Action in AP U.S. Government and Politics
Vote, it's your civic duty! The high school lesson plan focuses on voter turnout and civic participation with a series of activities. Young scholars analyze data to discover voter turnout trends, complete worksheets, and participate in...
Teaching Tolerance
Why Local Elections Matter
Uncle Sam wants everyone to vote in local elections! Geared toward middle and high school scholars, the resource explores voter turnout and the importance of local elections. Academics participate in group discussion, complete...
Curated OER
Distinguishing Between Levels of Government
Twelfth graders study confederal, federal, and unitary governments. They compose an essay that compares and contrasts the purpose of state/local government with that of the national government in the American federal system.
Curated OER
A City Council Meeting
Here is an interesting plan for introducing your pupils to the workings of the local city council. The teacher must go videotape a city council meeting in it's entirety. Learners watch the tape, and discuss what they observed from the...
Curated OER
City, County, Community
Students explore issues and situations that make for a city and its local environments. In this local government lesson plan, students design maps, define issues and create brochures that illustrate their understandings of these concepts...
iCivics
Municipal Government: High School
Municipal government takes on many roles, not just the ones we are used to hearing about such as Parks and Recreation. Scholars delve into the topic to get a grasp on how the government system functions. They participate in readings,...
iCivics
Power Play
Should states or the federal government have more power? With this fantastic online interactive, your pupils will be charged with the task of identifying arguments that support either federal or state power.
K12 Reader
Branches of Government
Set down the basics of the three branches of government with the reading passage included here. After reading, class members answer five questions related to the passage.
PBS
Should the U.S. Require Half Its Government to Be Female? | America From Scratch
If you had the opportunity to change the format of the United States government, what changes would you make? That is the question asked by PBS's "America From Scratch" series. Would you require that half of the government be female?...
Curated OER
Dr. Fix-It Subjects: Health, Government
Help your students undertand the critical problems around healthcare. By focusing on the political and private process of healthcare, students will watch a video, analyze issues, and write an essay on their findings. Additionally, they...
Crash Course
Freedom of the Press: Crash Course Government and Politics #26
When does freedom of the press end and national security begin? Learners research the idea of the freedom of the press under the First Amendment in the United States government and politics. They view the 26th lesson of a 50-part unit,...
National Constitution Center
Federalism
Federalism divides power to protect individual rights while giving the government enough power to be effective. The concept comes from a balance the Founding Fathers struck between authority and freedom. Scholars explore the relationship...
