Let’s Get the Town Organized
Developed by: Maine Council for the Social Studies

divider line - brown/gray, with break in the line
Grade Level: K-2, 3-4

The MLR performance indicators listed below are for illustrative purposes. Depending on the focus of the lessons as developed by individual teachers, these indicators may or may not be addressed. Conversely this is not a definitive listing of all of the performance indicators which could be addressed in this lesson.

MLR: Civics and Government (Purposes and Types of Government): B-1; English/Language Arts: A-7; B-2, B-11; C-1, C-5; D-5; E-3; F-1, F-2, G-1, G-6, G-7; H-1, H-2, H-3

 

Task Description

Pose these questions, or similar ones, to the students:

                        1. How do we organize our town?

                        2. Who makes the decisions in our town?

                        3. How do we make decisions that can affect everyone in town?

                        4. What happens if people in town do not agree with a decision?

Student Product /Performance

Students will write a letter inviting a local municipal official to come to the classroom and be interviewed by the students. Each student will ask a question of the official.

Resources

Local Government in Maine [online book]

If inviting a municipal official, you may want to send them a copy of Tips for Speaking with Younger Students

 Criteria for Evaluating the Quality of the Product or Performance

Students will be able demonstrate an understanding of the material asked and answered by the official. Students will write a thank-you letter to the official.