Florida SS.3.CG.3.1

Social Studies3rd GradeStructure and Functions of Government

The Standard

Explain how the U.S. and Florida Constitutions establish the structure, function, powers and limits of government.

Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students compare diagrams and short excerpts showing how the national and Florida governments are organized. They identify government jobs, powers, and rules that prevent leaders from acting without limits.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can match the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to their basic jobs at both government levels. The student can sort national and Florida powers and explain one limit that protects people.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think the U.S. Constitution and Florida Constitution cover the same responsibilities, or that one replaces the other. They may also mix up branches with government levels or assume elected leaders have unlimited power.
How to Assess It: On an exit ticket, ask students to name one way the U.S. and Florida governments are organized alike, one job for each, and one limit both follow.

Lesson moves

Give pairs branch, job, and limit cards to build side by side U.S. and Florida government charts on poster paper.
Ask, "Why should a president or governor have limits?" Students write three sentences using one right or branch as evidence.
Play Constitution Sort: teams place scenario cards under U.S., Florida, both, or not allowed, then explain each choice.
Examine a Florida public school calendar and a U.S. postage stamp, then identify which government level supports each service.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to SS.3.CG.3.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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