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5th grade · Social Studies · Unit 10 of 12

Governments of the Americas

The US, Canada, Mexico and the OAS

What your child practices

How the governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico are organized, the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights, people who struggled for equal rights or self-government, and groups such as the Organization of American States, the United Nations and the Red Cross.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 5.6a; 5.6b; 5.6c; 5.6d · the governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico, US founding documents, struggles for equal rights, and international organizations

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The US has three branches: legislative, executive and judicial.
  2. Mexico is divided into states, like the US. Canada's head of government is the prime minister.
  3. Groups like the OAS and UNICEF help countries work together and help children.

Example: Who is the head of government in Canada? The US has a president. Canada's government is led by a prime minister. Answer: the prime minister

Governments of the Americas in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 10 of 12 in 5th grade Social Studies, after Cultures of the Americas and before Economies & Trade.

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

    Canadians' rights are protected by…

    • The Bill of Rights of Mexico
    • The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
    • The Treaty of Tordesillas
    • The Magna Carta of Peru

  2. Question 2

    The Red Cross is a… that helps people in disasters.

    • Political party
    • Government army
    • Trading company
    • Nongovernmental organization

  3. Question 3

    The OAS has its headquarters in…

    • Lima
    • Ottawa
    • Mexico City
    • Washington, D.C.

  4. Question 4

    A constitutional democracy is a government where…

    • People choose leaders, and leaders must follow a written constitution
    • No laws are written down
    • One ruler makes every law
    • Only soldiers can vote

  5. Question 5

    Canada is divided into…

    • Provinces and territories
    • States
    • City-states
    • Kingdoms

  6. Question 6

    The president of Mexico serves…

    • One year
    • For life
    • One six-year term
    • Two four-year terms

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