Lesson Plan

What Is Authority?

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This What Is Authority? lesson plan also includes:

Young scholars examine the concepts of power and authority as they begin learning about government in this elementary social studies lesson. Through a series of readings, discussions, and problem solving activities, children learn about different people who have authority and the powers they are given.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Teach this lesson at the beginning of the year, using it to guide children in creating a set of classroom rules
  • Create a student packet including the reading passages, guiding questions, and problem-solving activities from the lesson
  • Engage students by having them act out some of the different scenarios described in the lesson
  • If working with young children still learning to read and write, considering completing the included graphic organizers as a whole class
Classroom Considerations
  • Though intended for first and second graders, this lesson can be adapted to any elementary grade level
Pros
  • Reading passages use simple language and sentence structure, making them accessible to young learners
  • Guiding questions are provided for discussing the concepts of power and authority
  • Multiple real-life situations are presented that clearly demonstrate the concepts of power and authority
Cons
  • None