Cities in the Classroom - Ron Wetherington

What Does My City Do For Me?

 Objective: 

Students will understand varying types of government funding including intergovernmental revenue and taxes.  Students will learn in what ways these funds are allocated including service provision and public works.

 Rationale:

Students do not understand the huge array of service provision and everyday impact that government has on their lives. This unit of study is designed to demonstrate how close the lives of citizens are tied to their local government.

 Next Generation Standards:

SS.7.C.3.1.4

SS.7.C.2.14

Time:

1-3 class periods (50 minute)

 Materials needed:

  • Computer access for students
  • Citizens’ Report on City Government Operating Budget
  • Guest Speakers
  • Vis-A-Vi Markers
  • Laminating capability

 Guest Speaker:

Mayor John Marks, Commissioner Andrew Gilliam, Commissioner Mark Mustian, and Carrie Blanchard (Mayor’s Chief of Staff)

 

Lesson:

  1. Introduce the lesson by asking students to create a Venn diagram on which one side they write all the things they know that their local government does for its citizens (give example).  The other side of the diagram will be filled out after the completion of the lesson.
  2. Begin a discussion about where the funds government has comes from.  Keep a list on the board as to what the students say.
  3. Allow students to go to www.centeroncongress.org and play the game in which students can learn all the ways in which government affects their life.
  4.  Assign homework in which they discuss with their parents what they have learned and hopefully learn about their parents own experience with local government.  Student should also ask parent/guardian where the money to do things comes from. (see worksheet) Note: This exercise should provide good fodder for discussion with the guest speaker
  5. Give students a list of definitions that will be used throughout the remaining lesson (from Florida League of Cities curriculum booklet).  Students should complete a crossword puzzle including these terms as well as other important vocabulary words.
  6. Have class discussion with local elected official such as Mayor Marks and allow him to explain his job as the executive.  Students will be allowed to ask questions and interact with the speaker. (1 full period)
  7. Provide students with Citizen’s Report on Budget and have students create large pie charts indicating revenue and expenditures.  When finished laminate and have students write, with erasable markers, which sections include different services.

 Assessment:

Students will be shown the correct format for a letter and be asked to write a letter to the Mayor or their City Commissioner in which they will explain their understanding of city revenue and expenditures to include a discussion of things the student would like to see greater revenue allocated to. (teaching letter writing skills may require it own stand alone lesson)

 Parent/Guardian Discussion Verification

Parent Section:

 My child explained the following in reference to Local government…

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

Student Section:

 My Parent\Guardian told me the following…

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

  

 I acknowledge that my Student and I discussed the role of local government and I shared with him\her my own thoughts and knowledge of this subject.

 Parent\Guardian Signiture:__________________________________________________Date:­­­­_______

 Student Signiture:______________________________________________________________________