Texas TEKS 3.9.A
The Standard
identify characteristics of good citizenship, including truthfulness, justice, equality, respect for oneself and others, responsibility in daily life, and participation in government by educating oneself about the issues, respectfully holding public officials to their word, and voting
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students judge everyday actions and decide which citizenship quality each one shows. They explain how informed people can take part in government, question leaders respectfully, and vote when eligible.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a school or community scenario, a student names the quality shown or missing and points to a specific action as evidence. The student suggests a truthful, fair, respectful, and responsible response.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think good citizenship means obeying leaders and never questioning them. They may treat fairness as everyone getting the same thing, or assume only adults can participate in community decisions.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: A citizen checks facts about a park issue, asks the mayor about an unkept promise, and votes. Name two citizenship qualities shown and explain your evidence.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs 12 scenario cards to sort under truthfulness, justice, equality, respect, responsibility, or civic participation, then defend one choice.
Ask, "How can a citizen disagree with a mayor respectfully and still hold the mayor accountable?" Students answer with two actions.
Play Citizenship Charades with action cards. Classmates name the quality shown and explain which detail proves it.
Read a child-friendly local election guide, compare two issue statements, and write one factual question to ask a public official.
Free download
Printable 3.9.A Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 3.9.A, 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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Related Standards
- 2.10.A
The 2nd Grade version of this standard.
- 2.10.C
identify ways to actively practice good citizenship, including involvement in community service.
- 8.19.C
identify examples of responsible citizenship, including obeying rules and laws, staying informed on public issues, voting, and serving on juries.
- 1.12.A
identify characteristics of good citizenship, including truthfulness, justice, equality, respect for oneself and others, responsibility in daily life, and parti...
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