Title: Local Government Scavenger Hunt
Level: High School
Overview: Students will delve into their local government online. This two day activity
will enable students to search various web sites and find out information about people,
places, ideas and facts about their surrounding government. They will use this information
for the next lesson.
Length: 1-2 days
Standard: 4.2 Purposes of and limitations on the foundations, structures and functions of
government.
Evidence outcome: b. Identify the structure, function, and roles of members of
government and their relationship to democratic values.
e. Use media literacy skills to locate multiple valid sources of information regarding
the foundations, structures, and functions of government.
Activities
1. Warm-up- review the vocabulary words from the previous students. Also ask
students what they know about their state and local government and what they
want to know. (KWL).
2. Students will spend the remainder of time completing the online Scavenger Hunt.
KEY WORDS: On-line local government Scavenger hunt: federalism, state vs. local, school
board, special districts
Scavenger Hunt
Goal: to gain a better understanding of federalism and our local government
Part ONE:
Go to the following website: www.centeroncongress.org
Click on Learn about Congress.
Click on The Importance of Citizen Participation at the bottom of the list on the right.
Click on The Importance of Civic Participation under the heading of E-Learning Modules.
Scroll down to the section labeled “The Impact of Congress” and click on the image (a cartoon-looking
picture)
You will see a cartoon town titled, “An Ordinary Day: The Impact of Congress/Government.”
Starting in “your home,” navigate through the house and out into various places throughout
the town. Click on everything you see, and discover how government affects you in your
everyday life.
List and describe 10 ways government has an affect on your daily life:
Remember to also click on the arrows at the bottom of the tour and the tab called, “Where am I?”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Did this bring to mind any specific issues that are currently going on in national
government, state government, or in your local area?
Part TWO:
Next, find “The Importance of Civic Participation.” Click on the image in this section, it is a
graph. Next, click on, “Where to go with a Problem.” Follow the prompts that will guide
you through this section. Here you will learn about the duties and responsibilities of the
national, state and local governments.
Carefully read each question and answer. List two responsibilities for each:
Federal:
1.
2.
State:
1.
2.
Local:
1.
2.
How does this relate to FEDERALISM (one of the principles of the Constitution)?
What is “the Bottom Line?” Why do you think we have so many levels of government in the
United States?
Part Three:
Go to your county web site. Click here to find it. Surf around and find the following and Fill
in the chart:
2 things I learned there
My reaction is…
Leaders
Departments
Services
Meeting
Agenda
Budget
Go to your city or town (or a nearby city or town) web site. Click here to find it. Surf
around and find the following and Fill in the chart:
2 things I learned there
My reaction is…
Leaders
Departments
Services
Meeting
Agenda
Budget
Part Four: School Board
1. What do you think the purpose of the school board is? Explain.
2. Go to the following website: Colorado Association of School Boards
http://www.casb.org/
What issues is the Colorado Association of School Boards focusing on?
Now, find out more information about your own school board. Who is on the
school board? What are they focusing on? You can find a link to your school
board here.
Why is a school board a “form of government?” Explain.
What do you think is the most important issue your school board should be
focusing on? Explain.
Part 5: The 33,000 Special Districts nationwide are organized to provide one or more
services such as water and sanitation, mosquito control, transpiration, parks and
recreation, flood control etc. Special districts have the authority to levy taxes and to spend
public money. What are the special districts in your area? For example, who is in charge of
your bus services? Click here to find a sample of Special Districts in Colorado. Click here to
find all governments in your county including Special Districts. Research at least three
special districts in your area and create a list of their specific functions in your area.
Special district
Overview
Function