NY Social Studies 4.4c

Social Studies4th GradeKey Idea 4.4

The Standard

Government in New York State is organized into counties, cities, towns, and villages.

New York State K–12 Social Studies Framework

Key Idea 4.4

GOVERNMENT: There are different levels of government within the United States and New York State. The purpose of government is to protect the rights of citizens and to promote the common good. The government of New York State establishes rights, freedoms, and responsibilities for its citizens.

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do: Students locate their community on a map and connect it to its county and New York State. They identify local elected leaders and explain how local and state governments work together.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students correctly label their city, town, village, or borough and county on a map. They name an elected local leader and describe one responsibility of local government.
Common Misconceptions: Students may use city, town, village, borough, and county as if they mean the same thing. They may think a mayor leads the county or that local government operates separately from state government.
How to Assess It: Give students a local map and ask them to label their community, county, and state. Then have them name one elected local leader and one responsibility.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

Have pairs build a map showing their community within New York State. Outside New York City, show the community within its county; in New York City, label the borough and matching county within the city.
Ask students to write: Who leads our local government, and what problem might that leader help solve?
Play a card sort matching local offices, services, and leaders to the municipality, county, or state level.
Use a local government website to find an elected leader, a current meeting agenda, and one issue being discussed.

Free download