WS/FCS
Unit Planning Organizer
Subject(s)
Grade/Course
Unit of Study
Unit Title
Pacing
Social Studies
Fourth
Unit 3
Civics and Government
15-20 days
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Conceptual Lenses
Rule of law
Government systems
Rights and responsibilities
Unit Overview
The points of focus in this unit include the structure and function of democratic government, the
role of individuals in state government, and the rights and responsibilities provided for citizens
through the governing documents of North Carolina. Students will develop an understanding of
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The structure and function of North Carolina government, including the role and
responsibilities of state leaders.
Key principles and revisions to the North Carolina Constitution.
The influence of historical events on the governing documents of North Carolina.
Rights and responsibilities of citizens guaranteed by the state constitution.
Unit Enduring Understanding(s)
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Democratic governments often set the
standard by which laws are developed.
Leaders, citizens, and others play a variety
of roles in state governments.
Values and religious beliefs often influence
the governing documents of a state.
Local governments are similar to that of a
state’s government.
Democratic governments protect the rights
and privileges of citizens and exist to serve
the people.
Citizens have rights and responsibilities
that are outlined by a state’s government.
Unit Essential Question(s)
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How do democratic governments set the
standard by which laws are developed?
What is the role of leaders, citizens, and
others in state governments?
How do values and religious beliefs
influence the governing documents of a
state?
What are the similarities between local and
state government?
What is the function of democratic
governments?
In what ways do state governments define
the rights and responsibilities of citizens?
Essential State Standards
Priority Objectives
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4.C&G.1.1 Summarize the key principles
and revisions of the North Carolina
Constitution
4.C&G.1.2 Compare the roles and
responsibilities of state elected leaders
4.C&G.1.3 Explain the influence of the
colonial history of North Carolina on the
governing documents of our state
4. C&G.1.4 Compare North Carolina’s
government with local governments.
4. C&G.2.1 Analyze the preamble and
articles of the North Carolina Constitution
in terms of rights and responsibilities.
4. C&G.2.2 Give examples of rights and
responsibilities of citizens according to
North Carolina Constitution.
4. C&G.2.3 Differentiate between rights
and responsibilities reflected in the North
Carolina Constitution.
“Unpacked” Concepts
(students need to know)
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Supporting Objectives
Three branches of
government outlined in North
Carolina Constitution.
Changes made to the
North Carolina Constitution.
The organizational
structure of the state
government of North
Carolina.
References to
governing documents of
early US settlers and
colonists.
The structure of local
government compared to
state government.
Values, principles,
purposes, and rights
identified in the North
Carolina Constitution.
Constitutional rights
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4.H.1.4 Analyze North Carolina’s role in
major conflicts and wars from the PreColonial period through Reconstruction
“Unpacked” Skills
(students need to be able to do)
 Summarize
 Key principles and
revisions to the
state constitution.
 Compare
 Roles and
responsibilities of
state elected
leaders.
 State and local
governments
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Explain
 Influence of
colonial history on
governing
documents
Give examples
 Rights and
responsibilities of
state citizens
COGNITION
(RBT Level)
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Summarize
Compare
Explain
Analyze
Differentiate
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and responsibilities of
citizens.
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Differentiate
 Rights and
responsibilities of
state citizens
Analyze
 Preamble of state
constitution in terms
of rights and
responsibilities of
citizens
Essential Vocabulary
Key principle
Revision
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Bill of rights
Checks and balances
Standards
4.C&G.1.1
Summarize the
key principles
and revisions of
the NC
Constitution.
Unit “Chunking”
& Enduring
Understandings
Enrichment Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson
Essential Questions
Democratic
What is the purpose of
governments
the NC Constitution?
often set the
standard by which
laws are
developed.
What are the
fundamental values and
principles expressed in
the Preamble of the NC
Constitution?
Why is it necessary to
make
revisions/amendments
to the NC Constitution?
Possible Factual
Content
Example(s)
from
Unpacked
Standards
Contains three
branches of
government:
Legislative,
Executive, and
Judicial.
A key principle is
a general or
fundamental truth
used in deciding
conduct or
choice.
A revision is to
alter something
already written or
printed in order to
make corrections,
improve, or
update.
Changes to
allow women
to vote, slaves
to be freed
Constitution of
1776, 1868,
and 1971.
4.C&G.1.3
Explain the
influence of the
colonial history
of NC on the
governing
documents of
our state.
Values and
religious beliefs
often influence
the governing
documents of a
state.
How did colonial history
influence the governing
documents of a state?
References which
offer background
to the history of
the early US
settlers and
colonists
The Mayflower
Compact
(1620), Pitt’s
Speech to
Parliament on
the Stamp Act
(1776), and
Burke’s
Speech to
Parliament on
Conciliation
with America
(1775), The
Declaration of
Independence
(1776), and
the
Constitution of
the US.
4.C&G.1.2
Compare the
roles and
responsibilities
of state elected
leaders.
State elected
leaders have
roles and
responsibilities
based on the
state’s
government.
What is the organization
structure of the NC
government?
The
organizational
structure of the
federal
government of the
US (legislative,
executive and
judicial).
Bill of Rights,
checks and
balances, and
3 branches of
government
What is the purpose and
function of the
Legislative Branch of
state government?
Legislative branch
makes the laws
and is called the
General
Assembly
The Executive
Branch includes
the governor,
department, and
agencies that
enforce state
laws, or see that
they are carried
out.
The Judicial
Branch – State
Supreme Courts
– decide whether
What is the purpose and
function of the Executive
Branch of the state
government?
What is the purpose and
function of the Judicial
Branch of the state
government?
laws have been
broken or whether
they go against
the NC
Constitution.
4.C&G.1.4
Compare North
Carolina’s
government with
local
government
Local
governments are
similar to that of a
state’s
government.
4.C&G.2.1
Analyze the
preamble and
articles of the
North Carolina
Constitution in
terms of rights
and
responsibilities.
Democratic
governments
exist to serve the
people and
protect the rights
and privileges of
citizens.
4.C&G.2.2
Give examples
of rights and
responsibilities
of citizens
according to NC
Constitution.
Citizens have
rights and
responsibilities
that are outlined
by a state’s
government.
How do decisions of the
state government affect
local government and
interact with federal law?
How are local
governments similar to
that of a state’s
government?
What is the purpose of
the North Carolina
Constitution?
Cities and
municipalities
have mayors, city
managers, city
councils, and are
also elected by
the people.
Local
governments can
be compared to
American Indian’s
tribal
governments.
Purposes of the
NC Constitution
are identified in
the Preamble of
the Constitution.
North Carolinians
are guaranteed
rights through the
articles in the
state constitution,
which was
modeled after the
US Constitution.
What are the guaranteed People have the
rights to NC citizens
right to life,
established in the
liberty, and the
articles of the state
pursuit of
constitution?
happiness, and
there are articles
in the state
constitution that
outlines those
and other basic
rights.
Examples of
types of rights
that citizens
have are
freedom of
speech,
freedom of
religion, right
to own
property.
What responsibilities do
citizens have according
to the state constitution?
4.C&G.2.3
Differentiate
between rights
and
responsibilities
reflected in the
NC Constitution.
A democracy
protects the rights
for citizens but in
turn citizens in a
democracy have
important
responsibilities.
What is the relationship
between the rights and
responsibilities of
citizenship?
Rights and
responsibilities as
citizens such as
holding public
office, respecting
the law, being
informed and
attentive to public
issues, paying
taxes, registering
to vote and
voting, serving on
a jury when
asked, etc.
Citizens should
help express and
insure rights
through
participation in
elections.
Examples are
respecting the
rights of
others, voting,
obeying laws,
etc.