Know – Understand – Do Organizer
8th Grade Social Studies
Government
Name:
Topic:
Date:
Course/Subject: Georgia Studies
School/District: Glynn County
Team: 8th grade
Which Standards are students learning in this unit?
SS8CG1 - The student will describe the role of citizens under Georgia’s constitution.
SS8CG2 - The student will analyze the role of the legislative branch in Georgia state government.
SS8CG3 - The student will analyze the role of the executive branch in Georgia state government.
SS8CG4 - The student will analyze the role of the judicial branch in Georgia state government.
SS8CG5 - The student will analyze the role of local governments in the state of Georgia.
ELACC6-8RH1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary ad secondary sources
ELACC6-8RH3 Determine the central ideas or information of primary or secondary sources; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior
knowledge.
By the end of this unit, students will be able to ……..
Know




General Assembly
Grand Jury
Criminal Law
Civil Law
Understand
The state and federal government are
mirror images of each other, each with
three branches, similar jobs and similar
election requirements, but with a
different set of rules for subjects under
the age of 17.
Do
















Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
Explain voting requirements and elections in Georgia
as well as the role of political parties.
Analyze the role of the legislative branch in Georgia
State Government.
Explain the qualifications, term, election, and duties of
the General Assembly, governor and Lt. Governor.
Describe the organization of the General Assembly
Trace the steps of the legislative process for a bill to
become a law.
Describe the organization of the executive, with the
emphasis on major policy areas of state programs.
Explain the structure of the court system.
Explain the difference between criminal law and civil
law.
Describe the history of the juvenile court.
Describe the adult justice system, emphasizing the
different jurisdictions, terminology, and steps in the
criminal justice process.
Describe the rights of juveniles when taken into
custody.
Describe ways to avoid trouble and settle disputes
peacefully.
Explain the origins, functions, purposes, and
differences of county and city governments in Georgia.
Compare and contrast the weak mayor-council, the
strong-mayor council, and the council-manager forms
of city government.
Describe the functions of special-purpose governments.
Know – Understand – Do Organizer
Launch Activity Options:
 Schoolhouse Rock - “I’m just a bill” (Legislative Branch)
 Georgia Stories : Criminal Justice and the Juvenile
Assessment Activity Options:
 Standardized Test
 Students will complete a Brain Chain graphic organizer (from http://mrroughton.com) illustrating the process in which a bill becomes a
law.
 Other students will complete flash cards that describe the different types of courts in Georgia’s judicial system.
 Quiz over the seven crimes that you can commit that will allow a juvenile to be tried as an adult.
Other Activity Options:
 Twelve Angry Men (Black and white copy) – Judicial Branch
 Graphic organizer comparing and contrasting the roles of the governor and Lt. Governor – Executive Branch
 Mock election
 Ask local judicial officers to come in.
 “Do it or Dance It” – Match the court case with the correct court (Probate, Magistrate, Superior, or Supreme). The student dances if the
answer is incorrect.
 Compare and contrast adult justice system terms with juvenile system terms.
