Government and Civics
Grade 3
Standards of Learning
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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
Standards of Learning
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SOL 3.10
The student will recognize why
government is necessary in the classroom,
school, and community by
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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.
Standards of Learning
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SOL 3.11
The student will explain the importance of the
basic principles that form the foundation of a
republican government by
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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.
Terms to Know
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Community
Rules
Laws
Government
What is a community?
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A community is a place where people live,
work, and play.
What are Rules?
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Rules are guidelines for what we must and
must not do.
What are Laws?
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Laws are rules that are made by the
government that people must live by.
What is the purpose of rules and
laws?
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The purpose of rules and laws is to tell the
people how they should behave.
What is Government?
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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.
What are the basic purposes of
government?
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The purpose of government is to make
laws, carry out laws, and decide if laws
have been broken.
Why is government necessary?
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Governments are necessary because they
develop the laws and protect the rights
and property of individuals.
What would happen without rules,
laws or government?
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Think about it!
How did we get our form of
government?
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The Greeks and Romans influenced our
ideas about government
How did the Greeks influence our
government?
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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.
How did the Romans influence our
government?
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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.
More Terms to Know
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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
What are the basic principles held
by all American citizens?
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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.
Holidays to Honor
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We have special United States holidays
during the year to honor people who have
served to protect the country’s freedoms.
Memorial Day
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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.
Veterans Day
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Veterans Day is a day to recognize and
show respect for Americans who served in
the armed forces.
It is observed in November.
Citizens that have defended
American Principles
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George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Abraham Lincoln
Thurgood Marshall
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rosa Parks