Virginia SOL 3.8.c

Social Studies3rd Grade

The Standard

identifying and explaining the government

Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students name the Roman Republic and explain how it worked. They describe how citizens elected leaders to make decisions and laws for them.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can label citizens, elected leaders, and the Senate on a simple government diagram. They can explain how a republic differs from direct democracy or rule by one emperor.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think Rome was always ruled by emperors. They may also think every person could vote, but political rights were limited to certain Roman citizens.
How to Assess It: Ask students to write two sentences explaining how a Roman citizen could influence government without voting on every law. Require the words citizen, representative, and republic.

Lesson moves

Give groups citizen, elected leader, and senator role cards, then have them pass a classroom rule through a mock Roman republic.
Ask students to explain how a republic differs from a government where one ruler makes every decision.
Have pairs sort government scenario cards into republic, direct democracy, or rule by one leader.
Show a sample local election ballot and ask how choosing representatives is similar to government in the Roman Republic.

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