Public learning track
The Structure of American Government and Rights
4th Grade · Social-studies · US-WI-SS
10 lessons
Goal
Explain the three branches of government, checks and balances, federalism, tribal sovereignty, and the constitutional protections provided by the Bill of Rights.
10 lessons
0 of 10 done
- 1Separation of Powers: Dividing Governmental AuthorityUp nextStart
- 2The Legislative Branch: How Congress Makes Federal LawsPremiumNot started yet
- 3The Executive Branch: The President's Duties and AgenciesNot started yet
- 4The Judicial Branch: Interpreting Laws and the Supreme CourtNot started yet
- 5Checks and Balances in Action: Monitoring PowerNot started yet
- 6Federalism: Sharing Powers Between States and the NationNot started yet
- 7Tribal Governments and Tribal Sovereignty ExplainedNot started yet
- 8The Bill of Rights: Protecting Individual FreedomsNot started yet
- 9The Amendment Process: How the Constitution ChangesNot started yet
- 10Comparing Local, State, and National GovernmentsNot started yet
Standards Covered
- SS.PS4.b.mWisconsin Social Studies Standards · Social-studies · Grade 4 (target) · Grade 4Provide examples of diplomacy, pluralism, and consensus building (between individuals, groups, and institutions).
- SS.PS4.b.5Wisconsin Social Studies Standards · Social-studies · Grade 4 (target) · Grade 4Describe what influences different political attitudes and actions and how diverse groups can work towards consensus.
Curriculum Framework
4th Grade · Social-studies · US-WI-SS
1
10 lessons
Civic Decision-Making: Compromise, Consensus, and Diplomacy
Learn how individuals, communities, and nations use compromise, pluralism, and diplomatic consensus to solve problems and make decisions.
2
6 lessons
Historical Compromises in U.S. History
Examine major political compromises in American history, analyze their lasting impacts and ethical consequences, and practice civic consensus skills.
3
6 lessons
Origins and Creation of the U.S. Constitution
Explore why societies create governments and how early American historical documents and debates led to the Constitutional Convention and the Preamble.
4
10 lessons
The Structure of American Government and Rights
Explain the three branches of government, checks and balances, federalism, tribal sovereignty, and the constitutional protections provided by the Bill of Rights.
5
7 lessons
Citizenship, Rights, and Voting in a Democracy
Understand the meaning of citizenship, the balance of rights and responsibilities, and the history and mechanics of voting in the United States.
6
7 lessons
Civic Action and Community Problem-Solving
Explore methods of civic participation—such as advocacy, volunteering, and respectful dialogue—and design a student-led project to solve a community problem.
7
7 lessons
Foundations of Map Skills and Global Orientation
Master foundational cartographic tools, coordinate systems, and the global layout of Earth's continents and oceans.
8
8 lessons
Physical Geography, Climate, and Thematic Mapping
Explore world landforms, climate zones, human-environment interactions, and how to interpret and design thematic maps.
9
7 lessons
Regions of the Eastern and Central United States
Explore the physical geography, states, capitals, climates, and major economic sectors of the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest regions.
10
8 lessons
The American West, National Resources, and Regional Trade
Examine the landscapes and economies of the Southwest, West, Alaska, and Hawaii, as well as national river systems, resources, and interstate trade networks.
11
7 lessons
Indigenous Nations: Regional Cultures and Environments
Explore how diverse First Peoples across North America adapted to their environments through unique technologies, housing, and social structures.
12
7 lessons
Indigenous Traditions, Treaties, and Modern Sovereignty
Analyze indigenous knowledge systems, continental trade, historical impacts of treaties and displacement, and the enduring sovereignty of Native nations today.
13
7 lessons
The Age of Exploration and Early Encounters in the Americas
Examine the motivations and technologies driving European exploration, and analyze the initial encounters, trade networks, and ecological impacts on Indigenous peoples.
14
9 lessons
Life and Society in the Thirteen Colonies
Investigate the founding of early English settlements, compare the regional economies and cultures of the Thirteen Colonies, and analyze colonial labor systems and daily life.
15
9 lessons
Foundations of Economics: Choices, Production, and Markets
Introduce fundamental economic principles including scarcity, opportunity cost, factors of production, and how supply, demand, and competition determine market prices.
16
5 lessons
Money, Personal Finance, and the Global Economy
Explain how money and banks function, how to manage a personal budget, and how international trade and supply chains connect economies worldwide.