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3rd grade · Social Studies · Unit 5 of 7

Governments & Human Rights

Kinds of government and fair treatment

What your child practices

Democracy, monarchy and dictatorship, how leaders are chosen around the world, the role of citizens, human rights, prejudice and discrimination, and peaceful ways people work for change.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 3.7a; 3.7b; 3.7d; 3.8a; 3.8b; 3.8c · how governments around the world choose leaders and make laws, the role of citizens, human rights, and taking action against prejudice and discrimination

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. In a democracy, citizens vote for leaders. A monarchy is led by a king or queen. A dictatorship is ruled by one person with total power.
  2. Human rights belong to everyone.
  3. Discrimination is treating people unfairly because of who they are.

Example: In which kind of government do citizens vote for their leaders? A monarchy has a king or queen. When people choose by voting, it is a democracy. Answer: a democracy

Governments & Human Rights in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 5 of 7 in 3rd grade Social Studies, after Communities Around the World and before Trade Around the World.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    The United Nations is a group of…

    • sports teams
    • schools
    • countries working together
    • stores

  2. Question 2

    Prejudice means…

    • sharing lunch
    • learning a language
    • judging people unfairly before knowing them
    • helping a neighbor

  3. Question 3

    Martin Luther King Jr. used peaceful protest to work for…

    • more holidays
    • bigger roads
    • equal rights
    • new flags

  4. Question 4

    A country led by a king or queen is a…

    • democracy
    • council
    • republic
    • monarchy

  5. Question 5

    In Australia, adults are required by law to…

    • own a kangaroo
    • speak French
    • live on a farm
    • vote in elections

  6. Question 6

    Leaders in different countries are chosen in…

    • a single contest
    • different ways
    • no way at all
    • exactly the same way

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